Hamfests & Conventions

ARRL Headquarters Open House & Tag Sale, June 14, 2025

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ARRL logoDouglas 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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Authors Track at HamXposition

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book iconLarry Krainson, W1AST, writes:
 
I’m tinkering with the idea of having an “Authors Track” or “Meet the Authors” at this year’s HamXposition.
 
Calling all hams in New England who are book authors! Your books do not have to include ham radio, but it would be fun if they did.
 
If you are interested in learning more, please contact Larry, W1AST, at W1AST@HamX.org with your name and call.
 
 

2025 HamXposition Prizes Announced

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From Northeast HamXposition.org:

Major prizes have been announced at the 2025 Northeast HamXposition. 

“Our website lists the door prizes that have been both donated by vendors and purchased by the committee,” explains Prize Chair Larry Krainson, W1AST.

“One of our top prizes — the FT-891 and ATAS-120 — go together as a complete HF mobile station. I think people will be excited by our offerings.”
 
For the full list of major prizes offered at the Friday evening DXCC-Contest Banquet, Saturday morning Keynote Address, Saturday afternoon hourly drawings, Saturday evening Grant Banquet, and Sunday Closing Ceremony, visit https://hamxposition.org/prizes.
 
2025 HamX prizes

AREDN at NEAR-Fest, May 2-3, 2025

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AREDN logoJay Taft, K1EHZ, writes:
 
Merrimack Valley Amateur Radio Association is planning to establish a 5 GHz mesh network at NEAR-Fest on May 2-3, 2025.  The club also has a table in the Vendor building. Stop by to learn more about AREDN [Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network] deployments in New Hampshire, or just to say hello.
 
Purpose of the NEARFest 5 GHz network:
  • Train our club members in using AREDN ad hoc networks in the field
  • Give ALL interested hams an opportunity to learn more about AREDN
Two ways to explore AREDN at NEARfest:
 

1. Smartphone or other browser device

    • TeamTalk conferencing:
      • Install the TeamTalk app on your smartphone in advance from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
      • Set up TeamTalk on phone
        • Open the Server List by clicking + in the upper right
        • Name = N1MVA TeamTalk
        • IP = 10.162.135.114
        • TCP Port = 10333
        • UDP Port = 10333
        • Username = ham
        • Password = ham
        • Nickname = your callsign
        • Click Save
      • When you arrive at NEARFest
        • Logon to the N1MVA-AREDN wifi with password nearfest
        • Click Connect next to the N1MVA TeamTalk server you created
        • Talk and message with others on the channel
    • Citadel email server
      • Logon to the N1MVA-AREDN wifi with password nearfest
      • Type localnode:8080 into a browser to access a node
      • Click on the square grid (mesh) in the upper left margin
      • Look over routers listed for the Citadel server link
      • Click the link
      • Register for an account – User name = your first and last name and callsign, password of your choosing.
      • Explore the program and send me a message if you like
      • NOTE – Email is local only, no internet
2. Bring AREDN equipment to join the 5 GHz network
  • Radio configuration:
    • Firmware – a very recent nightly build with babel routing
    • Channel 160
    • Bandwidth 20 MHz
    • Radio purpose setting – Mesh
    • There will be several omni-directional antennas on site to access with any type of antenna
Hope to see you at NEAR-Fest!
73, 
Jay K1EHZ

NEAR-Fest XXXVII, May 2-3, 2025

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NEAR-Fest logo

The New England Amateur Radio Festival (NEAR-Fest) will be held Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3, 2025 at the Hillsborough County 4H Fairgrounds, 17 Hilldale Lane, New Boston, NH. 

“We’ve got an incredible flea market lined up, packed with radios, electronics, unique finds (You never know what you might find!), and all the camaraderie that makes NEAR-Fest the legendary gathering it is. Whether you’re a seasoned ham, a first-time attendee, or love the thrill of the hunt, there’s something for everyone! We can’t wait to see all of our friends — old and new — for another unforgettable event.”

Further details on NEAR-Fest can be found at: https://near-fest.com/.

Upcoming NH Hamfests and Flea Markets

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ARRL New Hampshire Section Section Manager Peter J Stohrer, W1FEA, writes on the ARRL NH members list:

Spring is in the air and time for Hamfests and Amateur Radio Flea
Markets. Here is a list of upcoming events.

CVRC 2025 Ham Radio Indoor Flea Market

Sunday, March 16th, 2025 (Snow date March 23rd) The Henniker Community
School 51 Western Avenue, Henniker, NH (West of Concord) Talk-in: Call
K1BKE 146.895 (-600 kHz, PL 100 Hz)
Directions from Concord I-89 North to Exit 5, to Route 202/Route 9. Take
Route 114 exit and bear left onto Route 114 South Go to center of town
and turn right at the flashing light. School is 5th building on the
left. Entrance in front.

 
Contoocook Valley Radio Club | K1BKE www.k1bke.org

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Port City Amateur Radio Club Spring Hamfest and flea market

The annual hamfest and flea market Saturday April 5th at the Saint James
Masonic Lodge 77 Tide Mill Road. 8a to noon with a VE session at 1p
Admission is $5 and children under 12 are admitted free.

www.w1wqm.org
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Lakes Region Repeater Association Spring Hamfest

Saturday, April 12,2025 7a to 1P. Location at the Ossipee Town Hall 55
Main Street, Center Ossipee, NH 03814
Vendor setup at 7a, Handicap Access, Refreshments, Tailgating
Admission fee $10. Vendors free

www.w1bst.org
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NEARFEST XXXVII

May 2nd and 3rd, 2025
Hillsborough County 4H Fairgrounds 17 Hilldale Lane, New Boston, NH

https://near-fest.com

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2025 Northeast HamXposition Ticketing & Hotel Reservations Now Open

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2025 HamX banner

 

There are only 172 days until HamX—the 2025 Northeast HamXposition and New England Division Convention! 

Thursday evening, Juston McKinney returns for the second annual Comedy Kickoff.
 
Ned Stearns, AA7A, is our guest speaker for the Friday DXCC/Contest Dinner sponsored by DX Engineering.
 
Saturday morning, our Keynote Speaker will be Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL, on how mentorship will carry the hobby into the future. 
 
Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, will talk about the HamSCI project at the Saturday Evening Grand Banquet.