Hamfest

A Hamfest is a convention of amateur radio enthusiasts where they swap information and gear. [Hello World: A Life in Ham Radio By Danny Gregory, Paul Sahre, 2003, Princeton Architectural Press, ISBN:156898281X]

Activities

Hamfests are events organized by amateur radio enthusiasts, for social gathering and comparison and sales of radio equipment. Most hamfests feature a flea market, where the attendees buy and sell equipment, generally from and for their personal stations. Some of the larger hamfests have another section, separate from the flea market, where vendors and manufacturers of new equipment demonstrate and sell their products at trade show-like booths. Some hamfests offer seminars on technical, operational, and legal aspects of amateur radio. Hamfests are usually annual or semiannual events lasting from several hours to several days, usually over a weekend, with longer meetings generally including license examination sessions.

A popular tradition at many regularly-scheduled hamfests in the USA is to begin with an event such as a pancake breakfast, with proceeds going to the sponsoring organization or a worthy charity. Larger hamfests almost always include one or more food vendors, staffed by volunteers, with the proceeds going to a local high school or other charity.

Clubs, amateur radio resellers, manufacturers, and individuals may rent space from the sponsoring organization to show and sell their equipment. The equipment offered at the sales section of a hamfest can vary significantly from the newest high-tech gear to used, refurbished, or even antique equipment, and haggling or bargaining is the most common means of sale. Equipment that originally sold for thousands of dollars to commercial users (such as public safety agencies) can often be found at a fraction of the price, just a few years later. Likewise, accessories which are no longer available from their manufacturers may be found, and many sales of complete systems are made to buyers who only need one or two components. Junk boxes abound, filled with often-unidentifiable parts, which are frequently left over from projects or equipment long-since gone. It is not unknown for a seller to ask more for a single part from the box than for the entire box, the intent being to have less stuff when it's time to go home than the seller arrived with. Larger old items are often referred to as boat anchors with the suggestion that they are obsolete and of such low value that this is the only use left for them. Numerous jokes are based on this concept, and some sellers will tie ropes to handles, or post signs on especially large and heavy items seeking customers who own aircraft carriers. Regular attendees often visit their first hamfest in search of some piece of equipment, but end up returning due to the social aspect. ["Dayton: The Epicenter of Amateur Radio" by Tom Holmes N8ZM, May 2007, QST Magazine]

Major hamfests in North America

The [http://www.hamvention.org/ Dayton Hamvention] is generally considered to be the largest hamfest in North America. It is held each May at the Hara Arena in Trotwood, Ohio near Dayton, Ohio. The Hamvention offers forums, exhibit space and a flea market and usually claims to have over 20,000 visitors, although this figure has never been validated. Many Amateur Radio enthusiasts go out of their way to attend the Hamvention, travelling from all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and various parts of the world and even as far as Australia, Japan and Russia. The Dayton Hamvention, the [http://www.dxconvention.org International DX Convention] and the Friedrichschafen hamfest in Germany, are the three most common trade show-like events where manufacturers choose to introduce new products to the amateur radio marketplace. The Shelby Hamfest [http://www.shelbyhamfest.org] , hosting 8,000 to 12,000 visitors per year is perhaps the second largest hamfest in the Unitied States, and certainly one of the largest in the Southeast. Celebrating 52 years, "The Granddaddy of them all" as it has so affectionately been known over the years, will be held in Dallas, North Carolina at Gaston County Park. Amateur radio enthusiasts come from around the world, and many will schedule their family camping vacations around this Labor Day event. The event is hosted by the Shelby Amateur Radio Club, The club will be celebrating it's 50th year of ARRL affiliation in 2009. Shelby Hamfest is known for it's friendly host (The Shelby Amateur Radio Club), it's even more friendly patrons and for pure family friendly fellowship. Although this event is not held in Shelby this year, it will remain the Shelby Hamfest. Shelby Hamfest is not a location, it's a spirit of fellowship. Shelby Hamfest has visitors nationwide and even from other nations.

The largest hamfest in New England is the [http://www.near-fest.com New England Amateur Radio Festival] , commonly known as [http://www.near-fest.com NEAR-Fest] which is held twice a year at the [http://www.deerfieldfair.org/ Deerfield Fairgrounds] , in Deerfield New Hampshire. Deerfield is located approximately 15 miles east of Manchester on Route 43.

Major hamfests worldwide

In Western Australia, the biggest Hamfest is run by the [http://www.ncrg.org.au Northern Corridor Radio Group] . They held their first few at the former Carine TAFE College site. Following its closure their hamfests have been held in Bassendean, a suburb of Perth. 2007 saw a demonstration of military radio equipment and a demonstration of a tesla coil. These were in addition to the "bring and buy" tables and stands for various retailers and groups. Hamfest India is held annually at various locations.

Europe's largest and well-known hamfest is an event that rivals Dayton. Information can be found here: [http://www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.de/html/en/index.php Messe Friedrichshafen] .

References

Hamfest - event 29th November 2008 Ed Tudor Pole headlining support from Fur Circus and M+J Further details to follow

External links

* [http://www.arrl.org/hamfests.html The ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database]
* [http://www.hamvention.org/ The Dayton Hamvention]
* [http://w6trw.com/swapmeet/w6trw_arc_swapmeet.htm Manhattan Beach Swap Meet (The largest in California)]
* [http://www.dxconvention.org/ The Annual International DX Convention, a Convention focused on socializing and technical forums, with no flea market or testing sessions]
* [http://www.microwaveupdate.org/ Microwave Update: an annual convention focused on amateurs who build and use equipment that operates on 1.2GHz and higher. Another convention with no flea market or testing sessions. This one occurs in a different city every year.]
* [http://www.seapac.org SEA-PAC: The ARRL Northwest Division Convention at Seaside, Oregon (The largest on the West Coast)]
* [http://www.near-fest.com The New England Amateur Radio-Festival (NEAR-Fest) The largest in New England, this is an example of a US-based hamfest that is not an ARRL Affiliated event.]
* [http://www.enidhamfest.com Enid Hamfest in Enid Oklahoma. An annual convention for northwestern Oklahoma amateur radio operators.]