This year’s Hamvention is fast approaching and operators worldwide are making travel plans to attend this year’s impressive event. With over 500 indoor exhibits and over 2,500 outside you’ll have no difficulty finding stuff to do.
In fact, for many first-time attendees the annual event that’s expected to draw more than 30,000 Hams from all stretches of the globe, can sometimes be a little overwhelming. That’s why we’ve prepared tips and strategies that will help you make the most out of your three-day immersion in all things Amateur Radio.
Let’s start with the basics:
Getting There
For the third year in a row, Hamvention will take place at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Exposition Center in Xenia, Ohio. It runs from May 17-19 and the new location has some definite benefits like covered walkways between buildings and gravel paths at the outdoor flea market. Regardless, the weather here in Ohio can be finicky and we strongly recommend you check your local forecast before hitting the road.
For the latest parking and weather alerts you can text Hamvention19 to 888777 for updated conditions, or better yet, set your radio frequencies to 146.94(-) and 145.525 for up-to-date info.
What to Expect
Hams from around the globe will be in attendance. You can expect to hear every accent as you meet thousands of other Ham radio operators, international vendors, listen in on educational forums, and talk with reps from iconic names like Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood, Flex, and Elecraft. You’ll be able to buy new gear, see the latest must have items and pick up a few freebies. Be sure to stop by the outdoor flea market for great vintage and rare items not for sale anywhere else. Print out the flea market map to carry at Hamvention.
Plan for the Crowds
30,000 is no small number and navigating a crowd like that can be intense—especially if you’re unprepared. That’s why we strongly recommend you plot out your must see list of vendors, forums, and activities prior to arriving at the show. You’ll find vendors to be experts in all things radio so take advantage of the opportunity to pick their minds and ask your most challenging questions. You can find a list of vendors and building maps here.
Historically, Sunday is the day when crowds thin out, but this year that’s likely to change. Jack Gerbs, WB8SCT, Hamvention General Chairman, said, “we have decided to open the doors to Hamvention to the public on Sunday, May 19, without buying a ticket. This will make it a little easier for someone with just a little interest in Hamvention to see what all the excitement is about.”
Meet the Team
Stop by our expansive DX Engineering display to meet our DX Engineering technical support specialists face to face. Members from our team will be on hand to share their years of experience about antennas, towers, DXing, contesting, handhelds, rigs and all things radio. You’ll get the latest news and product knowledge. We’re in the same location as last year with a large stretch of wall space in building #1, booths 1207-1210 and 1307-1311.
Parking and Food
There will be food trucks on site as well as weather dependent parking areas. Visitors are encouraged to use our remote lots with free shuttles. You can find the parking lot addresses and GPS information on the travel link. Buses run from 7 am to 6 pm Friday and Saturday, and from 7 am to 4:30 pm Sunday.
***If you aren’t attending Hamvention this year, you can still contact DX Engineering Customer Support and Phones Sales. Since we will be at Hamvention, all technical inquiries will be addressed starting Monday, May 20th.***
