A Hamfest is a convention of amateur radio enthusiasts^[1], often combining a trade show, flea market, and various other activities of interest to hams.

Contents 1 Activities 2 Hamfests in North America 3 Hamfests worldwide 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Activities

Hamfests are events organized by amateur radio enthusiasts, for social gathering and promotion of the amateur radio hobby. Typically annual or semiannual events held over a weekend, they can last from several hours to several days. Most feature a flea market where the attendees buy and sell radio and related equipment. The equipment found at 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 at great expense to commercial users (such as public safety agencies) can often be found at a fraction of the price. Likewise, accessories which are no longer available from manufacturers may be found, and many sales of complete systems are made to buyers who only need one or two components. Junk boxes are common, frequently containing scraps and remnants from finished projects or equipment long-since gone. Some hamfests feature demonstration and sales booths manned by vendors and manufacturers of commercial amateur radio equipment. Hamfests may also include meetings of amateur radio clubs, seminars on technical, operational, or legal aspects of amateur radio, and license examination sessions.

The Dayton, Ohio Hamvention, the International DX Convention, the HAM RADIO event in Friedrichschafen, Germany, and the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club Field Day near Sydney in Australia are events where manufacturers most commonly introduce new products to the amateur radio marketplace.

[edit] Hamfests in North America

USA

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.

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. ^[2]

The Dayton Hamvention is generally considered to be the largest hamfest in North America. ^[3] 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 (verified by the ARRL) ARRL. 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 Shelby Hamfest, hosting 8,000 to 12,000 visitors per year is perhaps the second largest hamfest in the United States, and claims to be the largest in the Southeast.^[4]

The largest hamfest in New England is the New England Amateur Radio Festival, commonly known as NEAR-Fest which is held twice a year at the Deerfield Fairgrounds in Deerfield, New Hampshire. Deerfield is located approximately 15 miles east of Manchester on Route 43.

Canada

The largest Hamfest in Canada is HAM-EX,^[5] held by the Peel Amateur Radio Club (PeelARC) and the Mississauga Amateur Radio Club (MARC), once a year at the Brampton Fall Fairgrounds just north of Brampton Ontario. The HAM-EX Hamfest typically attracts over a thousand visitors each year. Many smaller Hamfests are also held in every province across Canada each year. A full listing of Canadian Hamfests can be found on the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) website. ^[6]

[edit] Hamfests worldwide

In Western Australia, the biggest Hamfest is run by the 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.^[7]

The International Exhibition for Radio Amateurs known as HAM RADIO in Friedrichshafen, Germany is Europe's largest and well-known hamfest which includes a trade show and "youth days". The first HAM RADIO took place in 1976 with 62 exhibitors. ^[8]

In India too Hamfest has become popular since 1991 and this year 2009 it is going to be held in Bangalore - The Garden City of India along with Golden Jubliee Celebrations of Bangalore Amateur Radio Club VU2ARC ^[9]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• HAM means Help All Mankind; Video Clippings of Hamfest India 98
• The ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database
• The Dayton Hamvention
• Manhattan Beach Swap Meet (The largest in California)
• The Annual International DX Convention, a Convention focused on socializing and technical forums, with no flea market or testing sessions
• 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.
• SEA-PAC: The ARRL Northwest Division Convention at Seaside, Oregon (The largest on the West Coast)
• 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.
• Enid Hamfest in Enid Oklahoma. An annual convention for Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas amateur radio operators.
• Cowtown Hamfest in Fort Worth Texas. An annual convention for Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and New Mexico amateur radio operators.
• RAC (Radio Amateurs of Canada) Upcoming Canadian Hamfest Database.