HAMFEST

A 'Hamfest' is a social occasion where Amateur radio enthusiasts get together. A very common feature of hamfests is a "flea market", where the attendees buy and sell equipment, generally from and for their personal stations. Some of the larger hamfests will have a separate section with trade show-like booths for new equipment vendors and manufacturers to demonstrate and sell new equipment.
One form of hamfest, known as a 'Convention', in addition to the primary social aspect, offers seminars on technical, operational and legal aspects of Amateur Radio, and Amateur Radio license examination sessions. Hamfests are usually annual or semiannual events lasting one-half to three days, generally over a weekend. In some larger metropolitan areas, regular monthly "swap meets" have arisen which do not focus exclusively on Amateur radio, but nonetheless draw many local amateur radio operators, and take on the overall feel of a hamfest.
Regular attendees often visit their first hamfest in search of some piece of equipment, but end up returning due to the social aspect (see, for example "Dayton: The Epicenter of Amateur Radio" by Tom Holmes N8ZM, May 2007 QST Magazine).
A popular tradition at small to mid-sized local hamfests is to begin with an event such as a pancake breakfast, with proceeds going to the sponsoring organization or a worthy charity. The 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 or individuals may rent space from the sponsoring organization to show and sell their wares. 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 which originally sold for thousands of dollars to commercial users (such as public safety agencies) can be found at a fraction of the price, just a few years later. Likewise, accessories which are no longer available from the manufacturers may be found, and many sales of complete systems are made buyers who only need one or two components. Junk boxes abound, filled with often-unidentifiable parts, often left over from projects or equipment long-since gone.
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 large items seeking customers who own aircraft carriers.
The 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. The Dayton Hamvention, the 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.

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External links

External links

★ The ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database

★ The Dayton Hamvention

★ Radio Expo Chicago

★ Allen County Amateur Radio Technical Society, host of the Fort Wayne (IN) Hamfest each November

★ 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)