Technical Presentations
Presentations aren't necessarily technical--they cover the breadth of the VHF/UHF ham radio hobby. Highlights in past years have been demonstrations of Software Defined Radio and Laser Communication beyond line-of-sight. Presentations vary from 15 to 45 minutes and step you through the highlights of the topic at hand, with complete texts published as articles in the proceedings. Your speaker is available for follow-up questions throughout the remainder of the conference.

Talks will be listed here as they are added to the program: (check back for updates!)

Technical Program

Four-band microwave transceiver -- Nx1N
Why Oscillator Phase Noise is Important -- WD0ACD
Useful Javascript calculators -- ND2X

Building Cheap Yagis (workshop) -- WA5VJB
How to stack antennas -- TBA
Antenna System Parameter calculator -- ND2X
The Simple Rover -- WD0ACD

Antenna Range
Friday morning, we have an antenna range in the hotel parking lot at which you can have your own antennas tested against standards and determine gain. If you are driving to the conference, bring your antennas from 50 MHz through 47 GHz for testing. Even if you don't bring an antenna for testing, watching the range in operation teaches you about antenna theory, performance, and construction techniques. The Antenna Range also has much fine conversation and socializing during the morning.

Noise Figure Testing / Pre-amp Workshop
You can learn much about Pre-amp design and performance by bringing a pre-amp for testing or tweaking. Fellow members, who are frquently engineering professionals, will assist you while you fine-tune your pre-amplifier for testing. It's fun and always increases your knowledge. Bring your pre-amps for 50 MHz through 47 GHz.

Testing of passive devices
We all use passive devices, including relays, directional couplers, filters, coaxial cable adapters, coax jumpers, attenuators and the like. Something as simple as a bad coaxial connector/adapter can keep an otherwise viable system from working. We are offering to test your passive components through 24GHz. At this writing, a network analyzer good through 40 GHz is available, from Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), and a SwRI Engineer will be operating the equipment and making the tests. Attendees wishing to test their bits and pieces are asked to package them in lots of 12; in order to insure everyone gets an opportunity to get some of their pieces tested, we will be testing up to 12 pieces per person and then moving to the next. You can go through the que as many times as you wish as long as the equipment is available. Planned sessions are from 0800 to 1630 on Friday, and 0800 to 1500 or we run out of items to test, which ever comes first, on Saturday.

Getting Started in VHF & UHF weak signal operations Program
In keeping with stated CSVHFS policy and concern, we are offering an inaugral effort to entice new operators to VHF & UHF weak signal operations. Our target is everyone from new hams such as Boy Scouts to the "old-timer" who has worked all there is to work on HF and is searching for new challenges in amateur readio. Presentations will stress basic principles and operating practices unique to the higher frequencies. A "Cheap Yagi" workshop will be included at which attendees will build their own yagi. This will allow the "shack on the belt" crowd to break into the world of horizontally polarized communication. Our initial impression is that most of the attendees will originate from an area relatively local to the conference, but younger hams who are family members or relatives of the usual "grey-beard" CSVHFS attendee would be especially welcomed! Discounted conference rates are planned for "Getting Started" attendees, as this program will be offered on Saturday only.

Rover Row / Dish Bowl
All Rovers are encouraged to bring their completely outfitted Rovermobiles. It's a great way for the Rover to give a shack-tour. We will have a designated dog-pound for all Rovermobiles on Friday morning. While the Antenna Range is in operation, many attendees will come see how you conquered installation and configuration issues in your Rovermobile. Similarly, if you have a microwave dish, please bring it for show-and-tell in the dog-pound as well. By showing your handiwork, others will gain ideas and motivation to construct their own dish systems and give all of us more operators on the high bands.

Poster Sessions / Table-Top Displays
All day Friday and Saturday, a portion of the Dealer Area will have Poster Sessions for viewing. Our concept is that some times a topic may not have enough meat for a full presentation or paper. Further, many basic VHF/UHF themes can be reviewed (taught) via poster sessions or table-top displays. Tri-Fold poster boards are available at Office Max/Office Depot. Students often use them for Science Fair Projects. This is a new program area for CSVHFS. We need your creativity and effort to bring more content to the event. Think about a poster session or table-top display you could create for this year. Perhaps a big operating event. Or perhaps photos of a recent construction project. You are not limited to the poster boards, you may bring actual physical items for display on the table as well. The tables will be chaperoned for security. If you are a good teacher, consider covering some basic VHF/UHF topics. That way, your presentation can be used again in subsequent years. See the guidelines for Authors and Presenters for guidelines for Poster Sessions/Table-top displays.

Vendor Area
All day Friday and Saturday, an entire room will be available for vendors. Between talks you can peruse their wares. For dealers, we offer up to 6 tables free (waivers available) for your use with free electricity if required (please notify). If you attend as a dealer, you're guaranteed to have shoppers interested in test equipment, and VHF/UHF/microwave equipment and parts. For non-vending attendees bringing used equipment to move, we'd prefer if you'd bring your material to the Flea Market (see below). If you must have a dealer table, however, your space will be limited, so make your reservations early!

Dealers who have pledged their attendance include (watch this page - additions will be made as dealers are identified):

Downeast Microwave
Hanger 18 Surplus
Discovery Amplifiers

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