This is a good news/bad news Surfin'.

First, the good news: Tom Medlin, W5KUB (formerly WA5KUB), and his crew will be broadcasting live video and audio of the Dayton Hamvention® again this year on his Web site. Tom says, "We are viewed each year in 150 countries and bring the Hamvention experience to those who cannot make it in person."

The fun starts live on Wednesday, May 14 at about 0800 CDT as Tom's crew begins the 550 mile trek from Memphis to Dayton. As in past years, they will broadcast the drive live and people can have fun trying to guess where they are or comment about what food they are eating as they wear their helmet cams into the restaurants.

They also will be transmitting live on Thursday, May 15 as they set up at Hamvention flea market spaces 3350-3351. If time permits, they may broadcast from the Air Force Museum on Thursday afternoon. Then -- Friday through Sunday -- they will broadcast the big show live and early afternoon on Sunday; they will begin the drive back home -- you guessed it -- broadcasting it live.

By the way, hams around the world can participate in the Web site's chat room and find lots of other information on the Web site including route maps and links that explain how Tom and his crew do the broadcast.

Now, the bad news: I am not going to the Hamvention this year. So, I won't be helping out at TAPR's new booth location (455-458). I won't be able to kibitz about the BoSox with my editor, K1SFA, at the ARRL Expo. I won't be moderating the APRS Forum (Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, will take my place), and I won't see my old friends and meet some new ones. I am really bummed out about it, but the good news is that I will miss taking the wrong exit in Akron and I can attend the Hamvention virtually via W5KUB's efforts.

Until next time, keep on surfin'!

Editor's note: Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, is having "Dayton withdrawal" and is bummed out big time. To communicate with Stan, send him e-mail or add comments to his blog. By the way, every installment of Surfin' is indexed here, so go look it up.

Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU
Contributing Editor