Hamfests & Conventions

Carl Achin, WA1ZCQ, writes on the NEQRP mailing list:

Most of you have this on your annual calendar of must attend events, but, just in case you don’t, Chowdercon 2025 is this coming weekend. Friday the 19th through Sunday the 21st.

What is Chowdercon? It’s a long running fun event that mostly takes place on Four Tree Island New Hampshire.

It’s a celebration of the end of Summer, beginning of Fall (always held on the 3rd Saturday/, the equinox weekend) in September.

There’s a 4:30 PM kick-off dinner banquet at Al’s Seafood in North Hampton, usually a breakfast gathering in Portsmouth around 7 AM and to Four Tree Island by 8 AM to grab a picnic table and set-up your Field-Op station.

Lunch is at Geno’s Sandwich Shop, and around 4 PM we breakdown and head to our farewell seafood supper banquet.

Diehards sometimes return on Sunday for more Island operations and a late lunch / early supper.

Anyone interested in the Friday 4:30 PM Seafood opening supper??? Please RSVP so I can arrange seating at Al’s Seafood.

More later. Hope to see YOU at Chowdercon 2025.

7 3 

The Northeast HamXposition (“HamX”) and ARRL New England Division Convention on August 21-24, 2025, was a resounding success. The weather for the Marlborough, Massachusetts, event was picture-perfect, the flea markets were buzzing with sales, and major equipment manufacturers Elecraft and Flex were back to exhibit their wares along with other vendors inside the bustling exhibition area. 

According to HamX Program Chair Skip Youngberg, K1NKR,“This year’s four-day program featured 72 presenters who gave 82 talks and four workshops spanning over 101 hours.” It’s believed that this programming surpasses that of any amateur radio convention in the world in terms of quantity — or quality.

Topics included everything from antennas, outdoor EmComm vans and trailers on display, along with on-air activities such as POTA, contesting, and DX. There was even a special technical talk entitled “Demystifying Quantum Computing: Application of RF Control System.” 

Special interest forums and “meet and greets” included YL, QCWA, New England QRP, MARS, ARRL sections, along with a well-attended youth forum.

HamXposition kicked off on Thursday night, featuring nationally known comedian Juston McKinney. On Friday, twenty convention-goers went on a bus tour of W1AW and ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, while full length educational seminars were held, including the ever-popular mini-Contest University hosted by K1EP and K1G. The Friday evening DX/Contest Banquet talk was presented by well-known multi-multi station owner Tim Duffy, K3LR, CEO of DX Engineering, a major sponsor of the convention.

On Saturday morning, popular QRP YouTube podcaster and influencer Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL, gave an inspirational convention keynote address to a standing-room-only crowd. 

The Saturday Grand Banquet featured Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, from the University of Scranton. ​​Nathaniel is founder of Science Citizen Investigation (“Ham-SCI”). He enthralled the audience with descriptions of cutting-edge experiments conducted by ordinary radio amateurs who are helping to advance the knowledge of propagation and the Earth’s ionosphere.

Dozens of youth members of New England Sci-Tech, a nearby STEM/makerspace, attended throughout the weekend and at the two evening banquets. “Having young hams in the middle of the action in the [hotel] Atrium and running a number of presentations demonstrated the spirit of the future leaders in our hobby,” said Volunteer Chair Barbara Irby, KC1KGS.

 
HamX featured kit-building sessions led by Bob Phinney, K5TEC, and other volunteers. Under supervision, beginners were invited to build easy kits for a nominal cost in under an hour, ranging from Morse code oscillators, “blinky” name badges and night lights. All tools were provided. The kits were invented by students from New England Sci-Tech. 

Members of the Providence (R.I.) Radio Association staffed the convention’s GOTA station, W1XPO. Under the guidance of experienced operators, newer hams made their first HF contacts.

Over $15,000 in prizes were awarded to convention attendees.

The flea market was the scene of many transactions, beginning early Friday morning and lasting until Sunday afternoon. “I want to give particular praise for the flea market, which had more vendors with better selections than in past years,” commented HamX attendee Chuck Chandler, WS1L.

HamX also featured programs on the lighter side, like the Board Games and Social Hour facilitated by Seth Kendall, KC1PZY. Additionally, late-night Open Mic Story Telling, led by Phil Temples, K9HI, allowed attendees to share their ham-radio-related “tall tales” to an attentive audience. 

Diane Ortiz, K2DO, Vice President of YLRL, had high praise for the Northeast HamXposition. “I hadn’t been to this event in over 15 years and was amazed . . . It was truly a mini Dayton Hamvention!” 

The St. Albans Amateur Radio Club (STARC) Annual Hamfest will be this Saturday, August 9 from 8 AM to Noon. Admission is just $5.00 – under 18 is free admission. This includes tailgaters and inside sellers.

Amateur radio test session at 9 AM.

Door prize drawing at 10:30 AM.

The location is the St Albans VFW – 353 Lake Street St Albans, VT.

Additional information can be found at this link: https://www.starc.org/starc-hamfest-2025-2/

Please come out and support this great club with your appearance. I hope to see you there.

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ARRL Vermont Section
Section Manager: Paul N Gayet, AA1SU
aa1su@arrl.org
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ARRL was well-represented at the 2025 Maine State Convention in Augusta, Maine, on August 2.

The convention, sponsored by the Androscoggin ARC, featured a robust indoor flea market along with presentations covering: Parks On The Air; an ARES Meet and Greet; QCWA chapter meeting; UFB New England; and an ARRL Forum featuring New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI; Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI; and Maine Section Manager Phil Duggan, N1EP. 

Don’t miss the 2025 ARRL Maine State Convention, at 76 Community Drive, Augusta, Maine, on August 2, 2025, sponsored by the Androscoggin ARC.

Vendor Tables are $20 per table in advance. $25 each if purchased the day of the convention, so take advantage of advance table sales. Commercial vendors – no vendor admission fee, contact KU1U for more information. Other vendors (not commercial) still receive a 50% discount on admission ($5.00 per vendor, max 2 per table).

General Admission $10 per person, 18 and younger are free. If you purchase your tickets online, they will be held for you at the Registration Table/Will Call line.

The Northeast HamXposition has posted its preliminary schedule of talks and forums to be held on August 21-24, 2025. 

The list is available at https://registration.hamxposition.org/Schedule/. 

Carl Achin, WA1ZCQ, writes on the New England QRP mailing list:

Go to Rex Harper’s Website:
http://www.QRPme.com
and read the latest “UPDATE”. … As most of you know, Rex as stopped sponsoring Lobstercon. It was a Great Run of 25 years, till 2024. At our last Lobstercon many of us talked about keeping this Radio Family Reunion going in future years. I’ve been trying to do just that since our last and final Lobstercon at Thomas Point Beach Campgrounds. It’s been a long road of trying to track down Mike Mulligan (now the former owner of TPB Campgrounds), talking to Rex about, logistics, planning, and, scheduling, and, tracking down the new owner of the Campgrounds. And you know what? I finally did it. After calling and trying to sell our Annual Radio Family Reunion to Brian (the new owner) I was thinking, all is going smoothly. In reality, Brian has BIG plans for his new Campgrounds. I talked to him yesterday, July 4th. As I type, there are trenches and holes at many places at the old Campgrounds. All utilities have been shut-off. A large in ground pool is going in and individual underground utilities for each campsite. It’s a major project. I was hoping we could use the North Field as in the past, but Brian is concerned with liability with the place dug-up and holes and tranches everywhere. So, yesterday Brian said it wouldn’t be safe, even for our minimalist need. (Tenting in the North Field without any bathroom facilities.)

That, (the above info), isn’t going to stop some of the Diehard July Annual Radio Family Reunion Campers. There will be a gathering, despite being much smaller, with no cooking onsite. There are plenty of breakfast, lunch, and dinner/supper restaurants in and around Cook’s Corner (Brunswick) Maine.

So, I’ll be hanging around the Cumberland Farms gasoline station and variety store, right at Cook’s Corner, and monitoring Thee National Simplex Frequency (146.52 MHz direct/simplex) from Wednesday the 9th through the 13th. If you dare to continue the tradition, come and enjoy all that Cook’s Corner Maine has to offer. The past memories are PRICELESS!

#1.) Wednesday 3PM – 6PM “Pizza Party”dinner at the NEW Demoulas – Market Basket Kitchen/Cafeteria in TOPSHAM, about a 12 minute drive from Cumberland Farms, Cook’s Corner.

#2.) Thursday – Sub Sandwiches and Drinks, etcetera, 3PM till the conversation dwindles 😉

#3.) Friday 3:30PM – 6PM+ “Taste of Maine” for a Seafood Extravaganza!
https://tasteofmaine.com

#4.) Saturday – Cook’s Lobster House, Lands End, for Our “Saturday Lobster Feast!” Kicking-Off at 3:30PM till the last drink is downed!
https://www.cookslobster.com

#5.) Farewell Breakfast – To be determined. (Most likely, Breakfast Sandwiches, O.J. & Coffee.)

* Have any ideas? Chime-in !!!

Someone was wondering if we could have a QRP Flea-Market Saturday afternoon. I DOUBT IT, since we won’t have a home-base/location for this function this year. BUT, perhaps next year things came be polished-up to resemble our last 2 decades of Tradition.

Some of us have been HAMfest’n at Campgrounds since the 70’s starting at “Charlotte” Vermont, and after that in Cook’s Corner Maine. It’s an Annual Tradition now! *** You have to CREATE Memories to have Great Lifetime/Lifelong Memories! Don’t miss out. Life’s too short! Start packing today for the NEW L-Con Radio Family Reunion TRADITION TODAY. This coming Wednesday the 9th through the Sunday the 13th, and perhaps even Monday the 14th(?).

*** SEE THE DIEHARDS THERE! ***

* * * REMEMBER: Comms on: 146.52 simplex * * *

* Need a Campgrounds? Click here:
https://www.google.com/search?q=campgrounds+in+Cooks+Corner+Maine

Douglas E Sharafanowich, WA1SFH, writes on the Connecticut ARRL members list:

TOMORROW !!!

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Hours 9 AM to 2 PM

225 Main Street, Newington, Connecticut 06111

Rain or Shine

So much to do and see!

• Tag Sale. Cash Only. Amateur radio equipment including power supplies, amplifiers, used books, various electronics, and more! First come, first serve (subject to availability; all equipment sold as-is, and untested; no reasonable offer refused).

• Get on the air from W1AW using the world’s most famous call sign!

• Tour the ARRL Lab, Radio Laboratory — W1HQ, and ARRL’s historic radio collection.

• Join, renew or extend your ARRL membership in-person. Get automatically entered in the Dream Station Sweepstakes when you join or renew. See the Icom IC-7760 prize!

• Donate to the ARRL Diamond Club. See the many names and call signs honored in the ARRL Diamond Club Terrace.  Shop the ARRL Store in the main lobby – and get your 2025 ARRL Field Day t-shirts and gear!

• DXCC Card Checking and LoTW Help Desk.

• Historic US Manufactured Amateur Radio Exhibit.

• See the ARRL campus, towers, and antenna arrays.

• Meet many HQ staff and volunteers.

• Explore opportunities to VOLUNTEER at ARRL HQ.

• Enter to win a door prize.

• Check out CAREER opportunities for you, or someone you know. Work for ARRL!  And, come share with us what you enjoy about amateur radio and ARRL!

BONUS: Meet your Connecticut Section Manager and say “HI”.

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ARRL Connecticut Section

Section Manager: Douglas E Sharafanowich, WA1SFH

wa1sfh@arrl.org

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