Columbus Hamfest Happenings
I think this year's Columbus Hamfest was better than last year's. The atmosphere was that of a typical hamfest and there seemed to be a decent crowd. I don't know of any numbers so I don't know where this year stands against any other years. I normally would have such an event photographed, but I left the camera in the truck and was distracted to where I couldn't break away to grab it real fast. The photos I tried to take with my PDA's camera didn't expose right.
One aspect I like about going to the local hamfests is I get to see people that I don't normally see otherwise. There are a lot of people that I talk to on the local repeaters (keeping track of them all is hard!). Most of the time we go about our daily routines and get on the radio as part of our commutes. We don't have to go out of the way to see each other to talk - we talk on the go. So being able to get together at local events is a neat way to converse and see the people we talk to.
One aspect I was not aware of is the ARRL presence at the hamfest. I do not remember them being there last year, but I didn't pay attention enough to have taken that in. I didn't go to the forum if there was one.
This year we had the new Ohio Section Manager, Frank Piper KI8GW, and the Vice Director of the Great Lakes Division, Gary Johnson KI4LA, talk to us for a while as well as several other members of the Ohio section. I am very glad I caught the forum as I learned a lot and felt a bit more connected to the ARRL (of which I have been a member since 2002). The forum was an hour long.
Frank started us off and introduced himself with a little about his background in Emergency communications and coordination of the Central Ohio Traffic Net and Ohio Single Sideband Net. Then he turned the presentation over to Gary.
Gary started off with a moment of silence for and some personal memories and perspectives of the past Ohio Section Manager, Joe Phillips K8QOE, who passed away in June. Then he moved in to a presentation on giving us a virtual tour, of sorts, of the Newington, CT ARRL Headquarters. Most of us know they are there - but who are they and what does the facility look like? All of those answers were presented in Gary's presentation. He also hinted at the current project of reformatting the ARRL's website for 2010.
After Gary's presentation Frank introduced us to several other members of the Ohio section - net controllers, an official observer, etc.
Once the forum was over I met up with some people I know - who I was surprised to see still there. I figured after the forum let out most people would have left. So we all sat down and waited for the prize drawing. I missed one draw by 4...
A hamfest is not complete without taking home SOMETHING, right? Well, I just happened to spot one of the tables selling screw-outs (reverse-thread tapered tap-looking tools used for extracting broken off blots and screws). If you read my blog you may remember, within the past couple weeks, my attempt at an NVIS antenna for the truck. My monster bent-over whip snagged a tree and snapped the 3/8"x24 stud on the bottom Buddipole arm. I used a (borrowed) screw-out to extract it.
Anyway, there was a tag on the basket with the screw-outs, and sequentially every basket on the whole row, that said "1 for $1 or 11 for $10". I saw the deal and couldn't resist. So I picked out three sizes of screw-outs, a stereo 1/8" plug patch cable (for making CW paddle chords out of), a pack of 5 each - 1/8" stereo and 1/8" mono plugs, and an assortment of SO-239 chassis connectors. I probably would have paid more than twice what I paid for the whole batch of goodies for all the 1/8" plugs alone if I went to Radio Shack.
So that about wraps up my Columbus Hamfest experience this year. I did not make it over to the communications/emergency vehicles they had on display. Once I got inside I spent about 5 minutes in there talking with a few people and then caught the start of the forum. I didn't have time to wander around outside (or run back out to the truck to get the camera).
The end of the Hamfest is the start of my first "good event" of the day. More on that to come.
One aspect I like about going to the local hamfests is I get to see people that I don't normally see otherwise. There are a lot of people that I talk to on the local repeaters (keeping track of them all is hard!). Most of the time we go about our daily routines and get on the radio as part of our commutes. We don't have to go out of the way to see each other to talk - we talk on the go. So being able to get together at local events is a neat way to converse and see the people we talk to.
One aspect I was not aware of is the ARRL presence at the hamfest. I do not remember them being there last year, but I didn't pay attention enough to have taken that in. I didn't go to the forum if there was one.
This year we had the new Ohio Section Manager, Frank Piper KI8GW, and the Vice Director of the Great Lakes Division, Gary Johnson KI4LA, talk to us for a while as well as several other members of the Ohio section. I am very glad I caught the forum as I learned a lot and felt a bit more connected to the ARRL (of which I have been a member since 2002). The forum was an hour long.
Frank started us off and introduced himself with a little about his background in Emergency communications and coordination of the Central Ohio Traffic Net and Ohio Single Sideband Net. Then he turned the presentation over to Gary.
Gary started off with a moment of silence for and some personal memories and perspectives of the past Ohio Section Manager, Joe Phillips K8QOE, who passed away in June. Then he moved in to a presentation on giving us a virtual tour, of sorts, of the Newington, CT ARRL Headquarters. Most of us know they are there - but who are they and what does the facility look like? All of those answers were presented in Gary's presentation. He also hinted at the current project of reformatting the ARRL's website for 2010.
After Gary's presentation Frank introduced us to several other members of the Ohio section - net controllers, an official observer, etc.
Once the forum was over I met up with some people I know - who I was surprised to see still there. I figured after the forum let out most people would have left. So we all sat down and waited for the prize drawing. I missed one draw by 4...
A hamfest is not complete without taking home SOMETHING, right? Well, I just happened to spot one of the tables selling screw-outs (reverse-thread tapered tap-looking tools used for extracting broken off blots and screws). If you read my blog you may remember, within the past couple weeks, my attempt at an NVIS antenna for the truck. My monster bent-over whip snagged a tree and snapped the 3/8"x24 stud on the bottom Buddipole arm. I used a (borrowed) screw-out to extract it.
Anyway, there was a tag on the basket with the screw-outs, and sequentially every basket on the whole row, that said "1 for $1 or 11 for $10". I saw the deal and couldn't resist. So I picked out three sizes of screw-outs, a stereo 1/8" plug patch cable (for making CW paddle chords out of), a pack of 5 each - 1/8" stereo and 1/8" mono plugs, and an assortment of SO-239 chassis connectors. I probably would have paid more than twice what I paid for the whole batch of goodies for all the 1/8" plugs alone if I went to Radio Shack.
So that about wraps up my Columbus Hamfest experience this year. I did not make it over to the communications/emergency vehicles they had on display. Once I got inside I spent about 5 minutes in there talking with a few people and then caught the start of the forum. I didn't have time to wander around outside (or run back out to the truck to get the camera).
The end of the Hamfest is the start of my first "good event" of the day. More on that to come.
posted by Steve at
9:32 PM
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