Don’t miss Contest University while you’re there!
The world’s second largest Hamfest will be in full swing this year from February 11-13 at the Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park in sunny Orlando, Florida. Expected to bring in more than 25,000 attendees, the event coincides with the ARRL National Convention that begins a day earlier (February 10-13) at the same location, so Hams can hit up both events for the ultimate vacation destination!
DX Engineering reps are scheduled to be there to discuss all things amateur radio with attendees. There will be a slew of vendors, speakers, forums, the chance to get on air, and no shortage of fun activities for hams of every age and skill level. Attendees can expect to see:
HamCation:
- Three vendor exhibit halls (see the “who’s who” list of commercial vendors here)
- Special event station, K1AA (find all the details here)
- Lectures, forums, and meetings (schedule)
- An indoor swap meet and outdoor tailgate swap
- Awards, prizes, food, and fun!
ARRL National Convention:
- National Convention luncheon
- AUXCOMM course at Orlando Emergency Operations Center
- Four all-day training tracks on February 10:
Contest University with DX Engineering’s own Tim Duffy, K3LR, and Teri Grizer, K8MNJ, as track leaders
Attendees will get to learn from some of the top contesters in the world, including Fred Kleber, K9VV/NP2X; Chris Blake, NX4N; Luis Romero, W4LT; Claudio Veroli, I4VEQ; and Max Fountain, KJ4EUT, who will be representing the youth perspective on contesting. Presentations will cover general contest operations, contest station skills, and additional info and tools to create a better experience for new and experienced contesters.
Emergency Communications Academy with track leader Rick Palm, K1CE
Emergency communications training will cover best practices, skills, and roles available for volunteers, message traffic handling, ARES®, AUXCOMM, Winlink, emergency antennas, emergency power, and more.
Hands-On Handbook
Gain an in-depth understanding of the holy grail of all things ham radio with a crash course on the ARRL Handbook. Topics (subject to change) include portable operating, remote station control, amateur satellite communications, and HF digital modes.
Technology Academy
Track leader Kristen McIntyre, K6WX, will lead a discussion on how to keep stations working at optimum efficiency with presentations by ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, and other technical experts. Antennas, radios, SWR, grounds, and hints and hacks to take your setup to the next level are scheduled for discussion.
For tickets to HamCation or the ARRL National Convention, general information, FREE event parking, and info on downloading the FREE ARRL Events App, please visit the HamCation website or the ARRL National Convention website for the latest event news.
