Hamfests & Conventions

New Hampshire Section Manager Peter J Stohrer, K1PJS, writes on the NH ARRL Members List:

CVRC 2022 Indoor CVRC
Ham Radio Flea Market
Sunday March 20, 2022
The Henniker Community School
Henniker, NH (West of Concord)

Talk-in: Call K1BKE 146.895 (-600 kHz, PL: 100Hz)
Doors open at 8:00 AM (7:00 AM for sellers) and close at 2:00 PM
Grand Prize Raffle drawing at 1PM for Yaesu 2980 2 meter mobile.
Need not be present to win, just fill out your address on the back of your ticket

Admission: $5 for buyers, $10 for sellers.
Please note: There is no smoking on school property.
Admission price for sellers includes a free table, extra tables are $10 each. There is a limited supply of tables Electrical outlets will be on a
1st come,1st served basis. Questions or Table Registrations please

email Fest@k1bke.org

The V.E. session starts at 9:30 AM
(Registration starts at 9:00) No admittance after 9:30 AM
Contact John Moore (603)496-4482
Candidates must bring the current ARRL-VEC test fee of $15.00, FCC FRN, one photo ID, and one non-photo ID or a valid passport and the original and one photocopy of any amateur license or CSCE that you currently hold.

Refreshments Available!

Special Programs From

Pete Stohrer K1PJS
ARRL Forum 9a-10a

Bob Sletton KB1QV
Self Driving Cars 10a-11a

Dale Clement AF1T
Antennas 11a-12p

Directions from Concord
I-89 north to 202-9 exit left to 114 off ramp left on Rt 114 go to center of town turn right at flashing light. The school is the 5th building on the left. Use entrance in the rear of the school.

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ARRL New Hampshire Section
Section Manager: Peter J Stohrer, K1PJS
k1pjs@arrl.org
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Bob Beaudet W1YRC, writes on the RI ARRL Members list:

Greetings fellow RIers:

ARRL has asked me to blast this information to our small but mighty section. Vermont has lots of snow and possibly the ski fans here can justify heading to Vermont for the 26th and take in the convention as well as spending some time in lots of snow. Have fun.  73, Bob W1YRC

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HAM-CON, the ARRL Vermont State Convention,  February 26

The ARRL Vermont State Convention, known as HAM-CON, will be held Saturday, February 26, at 8AM-1PM live in Colchester, VT and On-Line at HAM-CON.ORG.

If you are in our primary coverage area of Vermont, Northern NH, Northern NY and Southern Quebec, we hope to see you in person. However, anyone, anywhere can take part in HAM-CON. On-Line attendees will get to participate in the forums, will see the flea market room, will get to converse with other attendees in separate video rooms and even watch our special event station W1V.

We have a super line-up planned for this year! ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, will start things off by telling us about 2021 happenings at ARRL and what to look forward to in 2022.  Our newly elected New England Director, Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, will detail accomplishments made and planned for in his first 100 days in office. Dave Casler, KE0OG, author of the “Ask Dave” column in QST, will be on hand to answer all of your technical questions. Ed Hare W1RFI will focus on current issues in radio frequency interference to ham radio operations. We’ll have other great forums on technical and operating topics, plus a totally fun forum never seen before. You won’t want to miss it!

Advanced admission to HAM-CON is only $6, available right on the web site http://www.ham-con.org. If you are not sure of your plans, buy your ticket now and it can be used live or on-line. The price jumps up to $10 on February 20, so don’t wait! Details on early vendor admission and table reservations can also be found on the site.

HAM-CON is one of the first Conventions of each year and the only New England Convention held in the first quarter. Be sure to join us to keep connected with other ham radio operators from the North Country and learn why we are considered the “best little hamfest in the world.” Hope to see you there, live or on camera!

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ARRL Rhode Island Section
Section Manager: Robert G Beaudet, W1YRC
w1yrc@arrl.org
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ARRL New England Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, has approved several ARRL-sanctioned hamfests and conventions for 2022:

The Androscoggin Amateur Radio Club will host the ARRL Maine State Convention in Lewiston on April 1- 2, 2022.   Details can be found at http://w1npp.org.

The Port City Amateur Radio Club has received approval for its Seacoast Amateur Radio Flea Market to be an ARRL-sanctioned hamfest in Hampton, New Hampshire, on April 9. More info is available at http://www.w1wqm.org.

The Radio Amateur Society of Norwich, Connecticut, will host an ARRL hamfest in Gales Ferry on April 23, 2022.   For more information, visit https://rason.org.

The Southern Berkshire Amateur Radio Club will hold an ARRL-sanctioned hamfest in Goshen, Connecticut on May 21, 2022. More information can be found at http://www.sberk.org.

The Federation of Eastern Massachusetts Amateur Radio Associations will once again sponsor the Northeast Hamxposition and host the ARRL New England Division Convention in Marlboro, Massachusetts on August 26-28, 2022.  Details will be published at https://hamxposition.org.

The Meriden Amateur Radio Club’s Nutfest will host the ARRL Connecticut State Convention  in North Haven on October 9, 2022.  Details to follow at https://www.nutmeghamfest.com.  

See https://nediv.arrl.org/arrl-sanctioned-hamfests-and-convention-rules-regulations/ for the official rules on becoming an ARRL-sanctioned event.  The application form can be found at http://www.arrl.org/hamfest-convention-application.

The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo returns on March 12-13, 2022 and has become a twice yearly event.  

Amateur radio is like a big circus.  It has its main tent with three rings in the center.  In those rings could be Contesting, DXing, and Rag Chewing.  However, amateur radio now has a “midway of a thousand smaller tents” according to Eric Guth, 4Z1UG, founder of the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, and host of the QSO Today Podcast, an interview program featuring the most interesting amateur radio operators.  It is exactly this midway that the “Expo” was founded to explore.  

The Covid-19 Pandemic closed ham radio conventions, hamfests, and monthly meetings all across the World in 2020.  It was because of these closures that Eric, 4Z1UG, got the idea to create an on-line, and virtual convention that has all of the elements of a real ham radio convention, similar to the most notable live conventions.  

The First QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo was in August 2020 where over 15,000 amateurs attended on the Expo weekend, attending on their computers over the Internet instead of in-person.  Over 80 presentations were made, with live Q&A on Zoom webinar, and attendees could come back over a 30 day on-demand period to view the recorded presentations that they missed.  

We discovered something unique in August from surveys that we made following the expo.  Sixty percent of the attendees, almost 9000 hams do not go to live expos, preferring to stay at home.  The Covid-19 Pandemic has made this all the more important.  

The Expo has also become the place to discover more niches in amateur radio through the presentations given at each one.  In March 2021, while there was some difficulty with the platforms, over 6000 hams came and viewed almost 100,000 presentations from the over 80 that were offered in March.  Our Expo in August 2021 had over 90 presentations in 8 tracks of amazing amateur radio content. 

From the NEQRP mailing list:

“BarbeQRPcon” (pronounced: Bar-Be-QRP-Con) is coming up this SATURDAY, JANUARY 15th, 2022. It’s ALWAYS ON THE 3rd SATURDAY IN JANUARY, ANNUALLY!

This annual event has been on-going for many, Many, MANY years and is a TRADITION in the NEQRP yearly activities/events. It’s THEE BEST WINTER BBQ in New England, … possibly the World!!! 🙂

Are you suffering from the Winter doldrums/blues?
Need to get out-of-the-house and take a break from the COLD WINTER days??
Want to get together with like-minded friends for a fantastic day of: BBQ LUNCH, Stops at, ‘HAM Radio Outlet’ to check out the latest new gear and supplies, ‘Harbor Freight’ for needed tools for that next home-built project/kit???
Well, YOU’RE IN LUCK!!!

That’s what BarbeQRPcon is all about. A day of, camaraderie, eating together, and, hitting a few local hangouts for a great break from WINTER with like-minded friends in the Amateur Radio Community. What could be better than a BBQ in the middle of WINTER?

It starts-off this year (2022) at a *** NEW LOCATION ***:

#1.) “KC’s Rib Shack”, 837 2nd St, Manchester, NH at 12-NOON.
There’ll be: Meet-‘N-Greet, Show-‘N-Tell, Lunch, and, more socializing from 12-noon to approximately 2PM.
https://www.ribshack.net
https://www.ribshack.net/menus/#sandwiches

#2.) Then it’s a caravan over to: “HAM Radio Outlet” in Salem (NH) for checking out: rigs, books, antennas, parts, and other gear, from 2:30 to 3:30PM.
https://www.hamradio.com/locations.cfm?storeid=9

#3.) From there it’s down the street to “Harbor Freight” for tools and other well-needed items for that next home-brew project/kit, from 3:30 to 4:30PM.
https://go.harborfreight.com/store/harbor-freight-tools-in-salem-nh-03079
https://www.harborfreight.com/?utm_source=go&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=toplogo&_gl=1*1ldbnyj*_ga*YW1wLXdMSWRaS18zOXZfVENoQnlGcHFiZlE.

#4.) AND if that’s not enough for YOU, there’s our Traditional Farewell Dinner/Supper at the Famous Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant also in Salem, approximately 4:30 through ~6PM+.
https://locations.bertuccis.com/us/nh/salem/275-rockingham-park-blvd
https://www.bertuccis.com/menu

Need directions? – Here you go! Just re-enter your starting point in the “A” Window in the link below:
https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=1c8afc7f-5a52-4428-8c12-0ffb47742243&cp=43.096686~-72.556538&lvl=8&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027

Hopefully the WEATHER (check it out in the link below) will cooperate with us on this fantastic day of tradition known as “BarbeQRPcon”.
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=42.8258&lon=-71.2322#.Ydx-TkxOmM8

Questions? Just ask.

Yes, the locations and various stops/times, over the years, have changed through the decades, but, this is an ALL NEW SCHEDULE for *** BarbeQRPcon 2022 ***.

*** IT’S THE BEST BARBECUE OF THE YEAR, AND, IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER TO BOOT!!! ***

Come join us and see what this Winter TRADITION is all about.

* “THE EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING …” ***

See YOU this coming SATURDAY the 15th at 12-NOON.

Stay healthy and safe, es 7 3 . .

** NOTE: All Communications will be on “THEE NATIONAL SIMPLEX FREQUENCY” (146.52 direct). Bring your H/T or join us on “52 direct” via your mobile rig. – CUL

*** P.S. – Join-in on whatever fits into YOUR schedule. Only one of the stops, a few, or, all of them, it’s up to YOU. ENJOY!
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The ARRL Vermont State Convention, known at HAM-CON is Saturday, February 26, 2022 at the Hampton Inn Convention Center in Colchester, Vermont. The Convention will use a hybrid format and many activities will also be available at ham-con.org. HAM-CON is the only New England ARRL Convention held in the first quarter of 2022.

HAM-CON will feature 8 forums running throughout the morning hours. There will also be a vendor flea market. For the first time, we will include an outdoor segment of the flea market, weather permitting. The on-line site will feature several video chat rooms where attendees can meet up with friends in a more private setting.

Admission to HAM-CON is only $6 if you purchase an advance sale ticket before February 20. This admission is good for either live or on-line access. Please go to our Web Site, http://www.ham-con.org for other prices, travel details and program information.

For specific questions or program ideas, contact Mitch at w1sj@arrl.net or 802-879-6589.

73, Mitch