Hamfests & Conventions

From arrl.org:

08/12/2022—Two major ham radio events in August will host Division Conventions for ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®. On August 20 – 21, the Huntsville Hamfest will be the host of the ARRL Southeastern Division Convention at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. On August 26 – 28, the Northeast HamXposition will host the combined ARRL New England and Hudson Division Conventions at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

“Both conventions include an exceptional amount of programming to encourage and instruct radio amateurs across a variety of interests,” said ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K5ATA. Goodgame, who used his recent experience as a school teacher to help high school students earn their ham radio licenses, will participate in both events. He will lead forums to share ways for engaging youth and offer tools and tips for approaching schools about including amateur radio in their programs and curriculum.

The Huntsville Hamfest will also include a Youth Lounge where young and prospective hams can participate in hands-on activities and demonstrations, including kit building, fox hunting (find the hidden transmitter), and opportunities to get on the air.

Other forums at the conventions will cover topics geared toward inspiring attendees to get more active and involved in amateur radio. Forums at the Huntsville Hamfest include “Arduino: The Next Generation,” with ARRL author Glen Popiel, KW5GP; “Grounding and Bonding,” with ARRL editor and author Ward Silver, N0AX; “Fox Hunting 101,” with co-presenters Joe Domaleski, KI4ASK, and Mary Catherine Domaleski, KI4HHI, and “Kit Building Techniques for Success,” presented by ARRL Handbook contributor Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB. Eisenberg is also the speaker for the Saturday Grand Banquet at the Northeast HamXposition.

A similar lineup of forums has been organized for the Northeast HamXposition, including “How to Solve Radio Frequency Interference,” “Linux in Your Ham Shack,” and “Playing Radio ‘Outside’.”

ARRL will have exhibits at both conventions, where attendees can connect with membership program representatives and elected volunteers from the Board of Directors and Field Organization. ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, and CEO David Minster, NA2AA, will attend the Huntsville Hamfest. Minster will give the opening Keynote Address on Saturday morning at the Northeast HamXposition.

The convention exhibit halls will also include the participation of manufacturers and equipment resellers — an opportunity for attendees to browse and shop in person for the latest in amateur radio equipment and accessories. Among the confirmed exhibitors for the Huntsville Hamfest are ABR Industries, BridgeCom Systems, Diamond® Antenna, DX Engineering, Elecraft, FlexRadio Systems, GigaParts, Ham Radio Outlet, Icom America, MFJ Enterprises, N3ZN Keys, RT Systems, SteppIR Communication Systems, and Yaesu USA. Exhibits at Northeast HamXposition will include, among others, Elecraft, Ham Radio Outlet, Momobeam, and Quicksilver Radio Products. Both conventions include a flea market.

Audrey McElroy, KM4BUN, an 18-year-old student who recently started her studies at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), will be presented with the 2022 Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year award at the Huntsville Hamfest. In July, the ARRL Foundation awarded McElroy a $25,000 scholarship, sponsored by Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC).

Proceeds from the Northeast HamXposition go to the FEMARA Scholarship fund, which helps students attend a college or trade school of their choice. Scholarships are administered by the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program.

Visit the official convention websites for advance tickets and a complete listing of activities:

• Huntsville Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Southeastern Division Convention; Huntsville, Alabama | August 20 – 21, 2022
• Northeast HamXposition, hosting the ARRL New England and Hudson Division Conventions; Marlborough, Massachusetts | August 26 – 28, 2022

A list of all ARRL-sanctioned hamfests and conventions is published at www.arrl.org/hamfests and includes these upcoming events:

• QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo (online event) | September 17 – 18, 2022. ARRL is a QSO Today partner.
• HRO Superfest, hosting the ARRL Central Division Convention; Milwaukee, Wisconsin | September 23 – 24, 2022
• Red River Radio Amateur Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Dakota Division Convention; West Fargo, North Dakota | September 24, 2022
• ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Cheyenne, Wyoming | October 7 – 9, 2022
• Pacificon hosting the ARRL Pacific Division Convention; San Ramon, California | October 14 – 16, 2022

Electronics and Amateur Radio Hamfest: September 11, 2022 

Sponsored by the Candlewood Amateur Radio Association 

We are back for 2022, In a NEW LOCATION and DATE!

The Candlewood Amateur Radio Association (CARA) will be hosting the Western Connecticut Hamfest and Swap meet at a NEW location! on Sunday, September 11 from 8 AM till 1 PM. Rain or shine. Location is at Police Athletic League, 35 Hayestown Road, Danbury, CT.  This is “The Biggest Little Hamfest in Western CT” and is sure to have plenty for all electronics, makers, and Amateur Radio enthusiasts. This is an IN-DOOR and Tailgating event. 

Every year, enthusiasts from the greater Danbury area and surrounding states gather to swap gear, knowledge, and stories.  This year there will be an Amateur Radio License testing session (9:30 am) as well as a presentation by the Fred Kemmerer, ARRL New England Director, we will also have the Region 5 Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) forum at 10:30AM.  Get those books out and take your first FCC Amateur Radio License or upgrade your Radio license, at the same time you look around and find that piece of tech you can’t go home without. 

There will be electronics and radio equipment vendors, demonstrations, and refreshments as well.  Door prizes will be announced periodically, you are entered with your admission ticket.  Raffle tickets will be sold for some great gear as well. 

Spaces are available, at $20/spot, bring your own table and chair, each spot include one admission. Get rid of that gear you don’t use anymore.  There is sure to be someone there interested in your unused computer, electronic or radio gear. Regular admission is $8 at the door ($1 discount with the flyer, available at our website). Don’t forget Kids under 12 are free! 

For further information go to http://www.hamfest.cararadioclub.org or contact John Morelli W1JGM at www.hamfest.cararadioclub.org or call 203-417-0160. 

73

John G. Morelli (W1JGM)
VP Candlewood Amateur Radio Association (CARA)
Chairman; Western Connecticut Hamfest
cararadioclub.org Club Call W1QI

Two items of note, per HamXposition General Chairman Bob DeMattia, K1IW:

Mike Crestohl, W1RC, writes:

Lose something at NEAR-Fest or Other Area Flea Market? Maybe you can get it back.

If you had something stolen from your table at a flea market or hamfest in NH or Eastern Mass. within the past several years, please contact Officer John Delaney of the Deerfield Police Department as soon as possible. His contact information is <jdelaney@townofdeerfieldnh.org> or telephone 603-463-7258 and leave a message for him to call you back. Be prepared to provide Officer Delaney with a detailed description, giving make, model, serial number, photograph, band(s) covered, what was programmed into it, etc.

This information is needed by the Deerfield Police for an ongoing investigation into thefts of equipment that have occurred at NEAR-Fest and other local area events over the past several years. Five stolen radios have already been recovered and there may be more.

Please copy Paul, W1PRA (pauldepetrillo@gmail.com) and MrMike, W1RC (w1rc@near-fest.com) on all correspondence with Officer Delaney.

Thank you for your cooperation.

73,

Paul DePetrillo, W1PRA,
NEAR-Fest Sergeant-at-Arms,
pauldepetrillo@gmail.com

Mister Mike, W1RC,
Benevolent Dictator,
w1rc@near-fest.com

From <http://www.qrpme.com/?p=product&id=L22>

Lobstercon2022! campground reservations have now been confirmed! We will be gathering at Thomas Point Beach & Campground on the weekend of July 8, 9 & 10 2022.

The 2022 event will be the 23th year that W1REX has hosted the QRP event at TPB&C! I have already reserved the group campsite for the 2022 event and set the dates so you have plenty of time to still plan your weekend getaway to Maine! I plan on coming up with a few special activities to make our awakening event from this pandemic very special and an event that you will not want to miss. If you have often thought about coming to Lobstercon but never got a round tuit, you have better make this one.

New England’s premiere QRP gathering, a weekend of QRP camping, BBQ eating, operating, socializing, lobster eating, prize winning, all round great QRP time. A $50.00 registration fee gets you wake-up coffee, juice, cereal, bagels and donuts ( if you wake up early enough) and 2 GIANT meals on Saturday: a BBQ lunch and FRESH Maine lobster dinner. Lobstercon lobsters are fresh out of the ocean for less than an hour before they go into the pot. YOU CAN TASTE THE DIFFERENCE! Pictures of all the fun had by Lobsterconners at previous years events can be found at http://www.newenglandqrp.org

Where: Thomas Point Beach & Campground, Brunswick Maine

When: July 8, 9 & 10, 2022

Fill out the PDF or WORD Registration form and send it back to QRPme, via Email or snail mail, to hold your spot at the lobster feast. Use Paypal, check or money order to complete the registration. See registration form for details.

Activities: (Friday afternoon through Sunday morning)

Campsite setup and meeting old friends

No-host dinner Friday night at

Taste of Maine???

N1RX/W1REX Friday night Stargazing (weather permitting)

Partying into the night

Wake-up coffee & donuts Saturday morning

QRP hobnobbing

BBQ lunch off grill

QRP fleamarket

NT1R/W1REX Lobster feast/banquet

RAFFLE Prize drawings

QRP music jam

POSSIBLE Sunday morning No-host breakfast at a local eatery.

Registration is $50 per person for all meals & activities on Saturday. Camping is additional and reservations should be made through Thomas Point Beach & Campground. You DO NOT need to register for camping until Lobstercon time next year unless you want to reserve a dedicated campsite with hookups ($35 per night). Do not forget to tell the Thomas Point Beach people that you are with the crazy radio gang. 2022 Camping fees are $10 per person/night in our group site.

***************************************

The Group site does not have electricity or hookups. We do run extension cords to the closest power pole. Campers requiring electricity will be charged $5 per night. Regular park camping fee camping fee is $32 per camping unit /family of 2 adults & 2 children

It would be best if most camping reservations were made on-line through the TPB website.

The camping request is in the camping section OR you can call 1-207-725-6009

Advise each camper to include “With Lobstercon” in the Special Needs section so the correct price will be charged to them.

Thomas Point Beach & Campground

(NOTE from Rex: if you plan on camping with the main QRP group in the group site, you already have a spot in the GROUP campsite when you register with me! The *formal* reservation and payment to TPB&C can be made at any time before you come to Lobstercon. Check the TPB&C for the opening date. If you want a regular site close to the group site, send ME an email to let me know. I will be holding a couple of close sites, in reserve, for just that purpose.)

The 34th Annual Hermon Hamfest will be held on June 4, 2022 at the Hermon High School at 2415 US 2, Hermon, Maine 04401. 

Rain or Shine!!!   7:30 AM for tailgaters & 8:00 AM for all others
Admission is $5.00 (12 & under FREE) — Exam fee is $15.00. Just coming for the Exam? No admission needed unless you plan to stay before or after testing.

Planned Events:
– License testing: all classes at 9:00 AM ***No Walk-Ins for ham testing***

 Email Pete Bither -AI1O to pre-register
-Great Food
– 50/50 raffle
– Tailgaters
– QCWA meeting after Hamfest at a local restaurant — (1:00 PM)

Talk-in is on 146.940 -0.600 offset and a 136.5 tone.

This venue has a huge parking area for easy distancing! Large lodge to get under cover.

 Contact Jerry, K1GUP, at k1gup -at- roadrunner -dot- com if you have any questions.

The Southern Berkshire ARC will hold its annual hamfest at the Goshen, Connecticut Fairgrounds from 8 AM – 12 Noon on May 21, 2022. Buyers pay a $5 admission; children under 12 admitted free with an adult. License exams will be administered at 9:30 AM.  For more information, email k1lee@arrl.net or visit https://www.sberk.org/.

From ARRL News:

05/04/2022- Dayton Hamvention® is offering a free mobile app for smartphones and tablets to help attendees navigate the large-scale event, which runs May 20 – 22 at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio. The app, which was introduced in 2019, is offered in a collaborative effort with ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio®.

The free ARRL Events app is now available and already includes Hamvention’s full program, so attendees can browse and schedule forums, find affiliated events, and preview the extensive list of exhibitors. During the event, attendees can use other app features to follow the hourly prize drawings populated by the Dayton Hamvention Prize Committee, and browse building and site maps.

Attendees are also encouraged to tap on the MyProfile icon in the app to add their name and call sign, email address, and any additional information they would like to share with other Hamvention guests. Additionally, the MyBadge icon displays a QR code of your event badge that can be scanned by another attendee or exhibitor using the Scan Badge icon – instantly connecting shared contact information with other hams at the event.

The app is available for Apple and Android smart devices, or access the web browser version which is optimized for nearly any browser or other type of mobile device. Visit your app store to download the app (search “ARRL Events”) or access the links available on the ARRL EXPO web page. If you’re reading this article on a mobile device, click here to be redirected to the appropriate app store, or redirected to the web browser version (www.tripbuildermedia.com/apps/arrl). Please email hamventionapp@arrl.org with any questions about the app.

For more information, please visit these official websites: 

• Dayton Hamvention www.hamvention.org
• ARRL EXPO at Dayton Hamvention www.arrl.org/expo

Northeast HamXposition General Chairman Bob DeMattia, K1IW, writes:

Our electronic ticketing is now live!  Visit our website to purchase general admission, flea, and Friday and Saturday banquet tickets!

A full schedule of events and activities for NEAR-Fest XXXI has been posted at <http://www.hamclass.net/nears22.html>.

ARRL New England Division Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, will host the ARRL Forum on Friday, April 29 at 11:00 AM. Fred will present an update of ARRL actions including: the ARRLClub Grant Program; and news about potential legislation in New England that could adversely affect amateur radio. Bring all your questions to this fast-paced forum!

All forums will be held in the Arts & Crafts Building, opposite the Administration Building. Look for the flag pole. This is near the main entrance, which is not used for NEAR-Fest.

The VE Session will be conducted in the back of this Arts & Crafts building, in the basement.