THE VERMONT HAM RADIO CONVENTION
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2023
LIVE at the HAMpton Convention Center
THANKS EVERYONE
FOR A TREMENDOUS SHOW!
Everyone reports having a wonderful time!
Please let us know what you thought by filling out the Evaluation here or write directly to: w1sj@arrl.net
See You All Next Year: February 24, 2024!
|
Our theme for HAM-CON 2023 is
GETTING ON THE AIR
Hams get on the air from home,
from work, from cars, bikes, boats, parks, summits, farms and other places too numerous to mention.
Our program will focus on all the various ways to Get On The Air and we hope to induce everyone
to get more active by showing off all the fun things that can be done with Ham Radio!
|
HAM-CON is sponsored by the
Radio Amateurs of Northern Vermont.
We are in a super location which is convenient for everyone
and has all the facilities to make this a first class show.
HAM-CON proudly carries on the Milton Hamfest tradition:
43 Years of Great Hamfests in the North Country!
"and still the best little hamfest in the world!"
|
Can't Travel to the Show? NO PROBLEM!
Buy an early admission ticket and watch the forums ON-LINE!
|
Date: Saturday, February 25, 2023
Times: 8am until 1pm. General admission opens promptly at 8am.
Location: Hampton Inn, 42 Lower Mountain Rd, I-89 Exit 16, Colchester, and right here at hamcon.org.
Information: Phone: (802)879-6589, afternoons and evenings, BEFORE hamfest day. Or,
via Email.
Talk in on the WB1GQR repeater on 145.15 MHz(-600). This repeater is
monitored all the time.
Admission
- General admission is $10. Doors open for general admission at 8:00. PLEASE bring exact amounts!
- Early admission is $15. Doors open for early admission at 6:00.
- Tables are available only for those using early admission. NO VENDOR SETUP AFTER 7:45.
- No admission charged for those 12 years and younger.
- Canadian money accepted at par for Canadian residents with driver's or ham license.
Discount pricing is no longer available but you can still buy advance tickets at the regular price.
Purchase Advanced Sale Tickets
We require that vendors and flea market sellers arrive BEFORE 7:45 to set up their tables. The room gets too crowded to start
carrying in sales items after that. If you are selling, please buy an early ticket and have your table set up by 8AM.
1. Early entry opens at 6:00 AM.
2. Admission: $15 , We highly recommend buying the admission in advance!
3. Tables are FREE. They are available on a first come, first served - No guarantees made on space or table availability. We usually have tables available, but on occasion we do run out.
4. Tables are reserved in specific locations for large vendors (more than 4 tables).
5. Tables and spaces can be reserved at a package price of $25, which includes 1 early admission. This will guarantee your
table until 7:45. There are no refunds for tables reserved and not used!
Get a sneak preview of the Vendor Area by downloading the
Vendor Area MAP in Adobe PDF format. The location
of all tables and services are approximate. Not all tables will be available.
All vendors MUST take all unsold merchandise away at the end of the day. We have no facilities for hauling stuff away!
HAM-COM makes every effort to help our vendors do well at
the show. Please let us know how we can help you!
INDOOR FLEA MARKET - VENDOR ROOM
The Vendor Room will run from 8:00 until 1:00. Vendors must arrive no later than 7:45 to avoid crowds during setup. There are scores
of tables chock filled with goodies. The offerings range from new to boatanchors and we can never know what jewels
will show up.
FORUMS
We will have eight forums running all morning between 9AM-1PM. Forum speakers will be both live and via Zoom.
Forums can be viewed live, or via on-line access.
Details are in the Forums section.
DOOR PRIZES
We will have a limited number of gift certificates which will be awarded on-line to attendees who register before February 25.
We will also have some prizes to give away to attendees after 12:30.
QSL CARD CHECKING
Find Mitch W1SJ and give him an envelope with your cards, application and payment. You can then pick the cards up several days later.
No shipping will be available.
W1V SPECIAL EVENT STATION
The W1V Special Event Station is BACK! Our fully remote station (look ma, no wires!) will link to a nearby station with
large antennas. W1V will be located just after you enter the Convention. Be sure to put the headphones on and make a few
contacts. Person working the best DX will get a prize!
VE SESSION
The Volunteer Exam Session will be at 1:30 in Forum Room 2. All exams (Element 2, 3 and 4) will be offered.
All VE applicants must pre-register and have proper ID, FRN, copy of license and CSCE, if needed,
pen, pencil. There will be a $15 fee. Please go to http://www.ham-con.org/hcexam.html
for full details on how to pre-register and what to bring.
FCC COMMERCIAL LICENSE EXAMS
Exams for FCC Commercial Licenses (GROL, MROP, etc) will be at 1:30 in Forum Room 2.
YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER by contacting the commercial examiner at w1sj@arrl.net
or by calling 802-879-6589 weekday afternoons.
You will need to bring bring ID,
proof of citizenship, FRN Number, pen, pencil
and $50 exam fee.
SPECIALTY TABLES
- ADMISSION AREA
- Admission to the Convention
- Join RANV or renew your RANV Membership
- There will be no ticket box at the door this year.
- RANV FLEA MARKET TABLE Located INSIDE the VENDOR Area.
Bring your stuff for sale and we will try to sell it for you.
- Service for RANV Members Only!
- Limit of 10 pieces per person
- Weight limit of 35 lbs per item, total 100 lbs
- No boat anchors, computers, printers, monitors, etc.
- Sellers to provide a manifest of all items, condition and price
- Unsold items MUST go home with owner!
- TECHNICAL TABLE Located in the Activities area.
Test equipment to provide basic measurments along with free technical advice.
- Basic measurements only: voltage, power, sensitivity, deviation
- No repair services
- DMR INFORMATION TABLE Located in the Activities area.
The place to go to learn about Digital Mobile Radio (DMR). This activity will also be available On-line.
WHERE IS EVERYTHING LOCATED?
The areas at HAM-CON:
- Entry Area
As you enter the facility (remember to use Door C at the BACK!) you will pass the admissions table,
and further down the hallway come up to special event station W1V.
- Activities Area
After the entry hallway, turn right and you will head down through the Prefunction
area, just outside the forum rooms. Here you will find the activities such as the Technical and DMR Tables.
- Vendor Area
This is the first door on the right off of the Activities area
- Forum 1
This is the second door on the right off of the Activities area
- Forum 2
This is the third door on the right off of the Activities area
- Facility layout showing location of Vendor Area and forums.
2023 HAM-CON FORUMS AND ACTIVITIES |
HAM-CON will have the finest collection of Amateur Radio Informational Forums found at any small convention!
There is something which interests every amateur operator. Stop in on a forum or two and learn a whole bunch of new stuff.
The forum times are tight, so plan your schedule in advance for best results! No PA announcement will be made at the start
of forums, so use your phone or watch alarm to alert you to get to the forum room on time.
The forums will run in two different rooms. Forums will run from 8:30 AM until 1:00 PM.
Forums in Room 1 will generally start around the top of the hour and Forums in Room 2 will start on the half hour.
Forum speakers will be both live and remote.
Forums will also be available on-line. Simply follow the link and you will be directed to the correct meeting location.
Be sure to mute your microphone at all times, escept when you plan to ask a question.
Make sure you get to the forums on time. They will not wait!
FORUM ROOM 2
8:30
GET OUT AND OPERATE
Bob Henneberger K1BIF
Tired of sitting in the shack in the basement or attic day after day? Don't have a good antenna at home. Then take your ham shack on the road! These days, hams operate from parks, mountain summits, farms, boats, bicycles, and a plethora of other places. We will show you some of the tricks and techniques to help set up a station which works real well and makes many contacts.
9:30
THE WRTC COMPETITIVE EXPERIENCE
Pat Barkey N9RV
(Remote Presentation)
The WRTC is the World Radio Team Championship, or more colloquially, the Ham Radio Olympics. It runs every 4 years in different host countries. This year's event (postponed from last year) will be in Bologna, Italy, the home of Marconi. Our talk today tells the story of a competitor from the last event in Germany. We will look at questions like: What is it like to compete with the best in the world, and, How do you train and prepare for this? Pat has been there and will detail it for us. See how amateur radio operating can be taken to a whole new level.
10:30
GET IN THE RHYTHM OF THE QSO
Anthony Luscre K8ZT
(Remote Presentation)
If you watch a great operator, you'll notice that it is like dancing to music. There is a particular cadence and rhythm to the operation. When you find that rhythm, the contacts literally flow into the log. Our forum today will explore how to find your rhythm and make those QSO's - even with a QRP station!
11:30
OPERATE FROM ANYWHERE, REMOTELY
Gerry Hull W1VE
(Remote Presentation)
Don't have a good station or antenna? Tired of being a weak W1 in the pileups? The answer is simple: Move! No you don't have to move anywhere, you simply "move" your transmitter and antenna to a place which has been set up with a great station and operate remotely. Many hams are doing just that. Ever notice why there are so many stations in Maine in DX contests? Many have remotes up there to get closer to Europe. But you can remote to stations all over the world. Gerry does this all the time and he will explain the magic.
FORUM ROOM 1
9:00
BE THE BEST OPERATOR YOU CAN BE
Mitch Stern W1SJ
You got the equipment, but can you make the contacts? There is a definitive skill in operating. Great operators can make the QSO no matter what the conditions. And even more important, how effective are you when there is an emergency? Our forum will cover these important topics and present exercises to help you be the best operator you can be!
10:00
OPERATING AN HF MOBILE STATION
Fred Kemmerer AB1OC
Operating HF Mobile can be a lot of fun, especially on long trips. But this style of operating can be a bit more challenging. Our forum will focus on the building, installation and operation of a mobile station covering the HF bands, capable of contacting anyone in the world
11:00
ARRL FORUM
Fred Kemmerer AB1OC, ARRL New England Division Director
The ARRL just had its Board of Directors meeting this past month. What changes have been put into place? What steps will the ARRL take to improve the growth of amateur radio and protect our bands? And how can our clubs help promote amateur radio in our local area. Our Director has all the answers and he will explain everything and field all of your questions.
12:00
AMATEUR RADIO GAME SHOW!
Mitch Stern W1SJ
Who wants to be a millionaire? This game show is back and it asks the musical question, how much do you really know about amateur radio? Contestants will be asked a series of questions about amateur radio, both trivia and common knowledge stuff right from the licensing exams. Be sure to study! You may just win a million dollars! And be sure to attend the latter half of this show at 12:30, as we will be calling door prizes!
Forums At A Glance
| TIME |
ROOM 1
|
ROOM 2 |
8:30 |
|
Get Out And Operate (8:30) |
| 9:00 |
Be the Best Operator You Can Be (9:00) |
| 9:30 |
The WRTC Competitive Experience (9:30) |
| 10:00 |
Operating an HF Mobile Station (10:00) |
| 10:30 |
Get in the Rhythm of the QSO (10:30) |
| 11:00 |
ARRL Forum (11:00) |
| 11:30 |
Operate From Anywhere (11:30) |
| 12:00 |
Ham Radio Game Show (12:00) |
| 12:30 |
|
Hampton Inn is located on Lower Mountain Rd. This is just off of Roosevelt Highway, Routes 2/7, just north of I-89 Exit 16.
From the South, I-89, Exit 16. Make a right at the light onto Routes 2/7 and then another right at the next light
at Lower Mountain Road.
From the North, I-89, Exit 16. Make a left at the light onto Routes 2/7 and then a right at the next light
at Lower Mountain Road.
FROM THE SOUTH
From NH and Boston: I-93 North, I-89 North through New Hampshire and Vermont to Vermont Exit 16.
From WMa and CT: I-91 North, I-89 North to Exit 16.
From NY: New York State Thruway or Taconic Parkway to Albany.
Adirondack Northway (I-87) to Exit 20 - Fort Ann. Route 149 12
miles to Route 4. Route 4 north 18 miles to Vermont Route 22A.
Route 22A north 43 miles to Route 7. Route 7 22 miles north to I-189.
I-189 to I-89 to Exit 16.
FROM THE NORTH
From Montreal: Autoroute 15 to border, I-87 Exit 42 to Rt 11 to Rouses Point
Bridge to Vermont. Route 2 South to Route 78 East to Swanton. I-89 South to
Exit 16.
Alternate route: Autoroute 10, Autoroute 35 to Route 133 South to Border. Then I-89 to Exit 16.
FROM THE WEST
Lake Champlain Bridge Crossings:
- Crown Point Bridge is VT Route 17 connecting Addison, VT to Crown Point, NY.
- Rouses Point Bridge is US Route 11 connecting Alburgh, VT to Rouses Point, NY.
Lake Champlain Winter Ferry crossings:
| Ferry Crossing | Operates |
| Plattsburgh, NY to Grand Isle, VT | 24/7 |
| Essex, NY to Charlotte, VT | 7 AM - 5 PM |
The ferry crossings schedules are subject to adverse ice conditions. Always check their
web sites prior to crossing.
The Ticonderoga, NY to Bridport, VT Ferry is CLOSED for the season!
From Rouses Point area: Northway I-87 Exit 42, Route 11 to Rouses Point. Look for signs for U.S. Route 2 and
Rouses Point Bridge to Vermont. Go 2 miles past Alburgh and go left on Vermont Route 78. Continue on Route 78 through
Swanton and look for I-89 South. Continue on I-89 to Exit 16.
From Plattsburgh area: Northway I-87 Exit 39, Rt 314 to Ferry. (Runs every 15 min, $10 each direction).
On Vermont side, right on Rt 314 to end at Route 2, right on Route 2 South, 20 miles to
I-89. Go south one exit to Exit 16.
From Crown Point area: Northway I-87 Exit 28, New York Route 74. Go North on New York Route 9N. (DO NOT go into
Ticonderoga or follow signs for Ticonderoga Ferry, as this is closed for the season). Continue on 9N for 11 miles and
turn onto New York Route 17. This crosses the new brige into Vermont. Continue on Vermont Route 17 East to Vermont Route 22A. Go left
and take Route 22A North. At Route 7, go left and continue North on Route 7. Take I-189 to I-89 North to Exit 16.
PARKING
We have free parking on site.
Join RANV!
The Radio Amateurs of Northern Vermont sponsors HAM-CON.
We are based in Northern Vermont but have members all over.
If you would like to join RANV, or if you are an existing member
and would like to renew, please go to our
RANV Membership Portal.
Not sure if your dues are due? Look this up.
|
|
It will be the very same HAM-CON we all love:
- Flea Market, Vendors and Meet Your Pals
- Forums, Meetings and Demonstrations
|
Donate!
Prices for our facility have gone up a LOT!
If you found value in HAM-CON 2023, and have available funds, please consider
a one-time donation. Go to our donation site
click on "Send" and you can donate.
Thank you OH SO MUCH!
|
|
WHAT WILL THE ON-LINE PORTION OF THE EVENT BE LIKE?
Forums will be available to on-line attendees who bought at early ticket.
We will have 8 forums running from 9-1. The speakers will be both live and on-line.
Most of these forums will be streamed on Zoom and Youtube. Attendees on Zoom will
have the ability to ask questions.The forums will be available after the show.
|
HAM-CON uses the Zoom Meeting Platform
Please go here to learn how to set up and check your version of Zoom
Pictures of Previous Hamfests!
HAM-CON 2014
HAM-CON 2013
HAM-CON 2012
HAM-CON 2011
HAM-CON 2010
HAM-CON 2009
Milton 2008
Milton 2004
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! |
The Milton Hamfest started in 1983 as the "Northern Vermont Electronics
Show." It was conceived by WB1BWV, WB2JSJ and others as a way to get
Vermont hams together for swapping equipment and socializing during
the long winter. The admission back then was $2. The philosophy
of the Milton Hamfest has always been to bring hams and experimenters
together for learning new things and having fun. The hamfest has always been organized and run
by a tiny group of volunteers, who, like everyone else, pay admission!
The hamfest started with humble beginnings and an attendance around 150.
Today, the hamfest draws around 300 people, which is a sizable number
considering the small size of Vermont.
Attendees come from Vermont, Northern New York, Quebec and New Hampshire.
A few come from Southern New England as well.
Over the years, some changes were made which we hope will
keep the hamfest a great one. After many years of being an independent
show, Milton is now sponsored by the Radio Amateurs of Northern Vermont
(RANV), and is the ARRL Vermont State Convention. And in 2009, we moved it to a Convention facility.
In 2020 we held one of the last live hamfests before COVID. Our 2021 show was totally on-line and featured
forums and an on-line flea market. In 2022, we went to a hybrid show with both live and on-line elements.
Finally in 2023, we are back to a full live show, but we will continue to make the forums available to
off-site attendees.
We have worked hard to bring in more Forum Speakers and live demonstrations. The Forum program at HAM-COM
is the best you find at a small show.
It is the goal of the HAM-CON to keep attendance levels stable
and even show some growth even though hamfests all over the country have
been declining in attendance over the last couple of years. We cannot do
this without YOU! Please make every effort to join us!
Read the article about the 2001 Hamfest in the
Burlington Free Pree
What Else??
Keep checking back here for new information.
Back to RANV Home
HAM-CON
FEBRUARY 25, 2023
Last updated: January 18, 2023