This entry is a bit late since I've been busy with work lately, but I had to make an entry and talk about the Ozarkcon QRP conference this past weekend in Joplin, Mo.  Ozarkcon 2008 was yet another enjoyable QRP & homebrew gathering of amateur radio operators. 

This year we had a little extra fun with a wacky CW key contest.  Attendees were encouraged to design & build unusual CW keys prior to the conference.  I put together a breath-operated key using a short PVC tube, a paper clip, part of a rubber glove, and a small piece of PC board.  I built it Friday afternoon before leaving for Joplin.  Terry, WA0ITP brought a key operated by a can of compressed air, but the winner of the wacky key contest went to Walt, K5EST for his key made from a Datsun pickup tailgate.

The homebrew contest saw lots of great entries, and my Multiwonder 3 band CW transceiver won the Receivers/Transmitters/Transceivers class.  Dennis Burton, N5DRB won best in show with his homebrew CW paddles, and I'm happy to say the paddles went home with me since I finally broke down and bought a set.  I've admired his paddles ever since he began bringing them to Ozarkcon a few years ago. 

I also bought a BitX20a 20 meter SSB transceiver kit.  I do a lot of CW QRP operating, but I wanted to build a SSB transceiver.  I did a lot of searching around on the internet for schematics, but found the BitX20a kit available from Norcal QRP club, and Doug Hendricks brought some of the kits with him to sell at Ozarkcon. 

The talks given at Ozarkcon were interesting as usual, and I particularly enjoyed the VLF talk.  I haven't had a lot of time to devote to VLF listening lately, so the discussion got me interested in going out & trying to hear natural radio signals again.

Of course, I also managed to pick up quite a few odds & ends from the swap meet.  I bought a 10m hamstick antenna for my truck so I can mount my Uniden 2600 in it.  I also picked up a couple of junk CB's which will probably end up being future homebrew projects.