HAMFESTS, where and when - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: MetraCollector
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 16, 2012, 06:55:15 pm
content: Hello gentlemenI really like visiting every hamfest in Czech and Slovak Republic and spend all my student income for old craps and useless electronic just for pleasure. I have acquired almost every multimeter ever made in CZSR, but I am fed up with this malfunctioning machines and I would really like to buy some "new", from "western world", like Philips, Fluke or HP instruments.Is there anybody from Europe who knows some good hamfest in middle or western Europe, such like Germany or Austria ? Unluckily I missed the FriedrichshafenYou all from the EEVblog can write in this topic annoucement about hamfests, where and when they are, I think it could be useful for membersLooking forward to your tips, perhaps we can meet on some hamfest

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2012, 03:24:32 am
content: I was going to mention Friedrichshafen ,but then I saw that you already mentioned it!Germany & France have quite a lot of Hams,so the best idea is probably to Google for the National Societies in those countries (& others in Europe).They usually have links to the clubs that run these events.QRZ.com occasionally has news on upcoming events in Europe,although it is mainly US oriented.Have you tried asking local Hams?Some of them may have already done what you are planning,although usually when people go to another country for a Hamfest,it's for something like Friedrichshafen or Dayton!If you find a Ham who has lived in another country,they may have local knowledge which most people wouldn't have.

author: MetraCollector
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2012, 01:11:41 pm
content: Hello, I would like to notice you about coming hamfest in Holice, in Czech Republic during dates 24. - 25. August 2012.Official announcement is here:http://ok1khl.com/view.php?cisloclanku=2012031901Photos of former years:http://ok1quido.rajce.idnes.cz/ZHAVE_HOLICE_2011/http://ok1quido.rajce.idnes.cz/HOLICE_2010_HALA/I hope it could be helpful for some people on EEVblog from middle-EU who like to take some journey here in CZ.I am looking forward to meeting youRegards Ondrej

author: djsb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2012, 06:52:14 pm
content: Anyone know of any in the UK or where these might be listed? I like Ebay, but sometimes it's nice to see the equipment in the flesh before buying. Good excuse for a trip out as well.

author: bullet308
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2012, 07:24:12 pm
content: Of not much utility to European readers, but in my neck of the woods, its all about the Shelby Hamfest, in Dallas, North Carolina:http://shelbyhamfest.com/

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2012, 09:18:56 pm
content: QuoteJFGI

author: poptones
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2012, 11:20:27 pm
content: Of course there's also the Dayton hamfest, held each may in Dayton, Ohio. I've met hams there from all over the world; first time we went I met a young fellow who had trekked all the way from Russia. This was back in the early 80's, before the Berlin Wall and Peristroika.

author: djsb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2012, 07:55:20 pm
content: Another abusive reply. I really have been p*****g people off recently it seems.I think I'll give up on this forum.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2012, 08:22:50 pm
content: I didn't wish to be abusiveexactly- but how much effort is it to put "radio rally" into google.co.uk - whereupon you will find the first link is to the RSGB list of radio rallies in the UK in 2012.

author: MetraCollector
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2012, 08:32:12 am
content: For instance, I have already typed something like "hamfest europe" in many variations in search and I didn't obtain anything useful except Friedrichshafen and some lithuanian hamfest.This invoke me an opinion that european radioamateurs aren't organised through the Internet. And that's why created this topic.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2012, 09:30:07 am
content: I supposehttp://eurao.org/might be the place to start for Europe.There is a thriving ham community in the UK with several "radio rallies" per year. There aren't perhaps as many as there used to be and the ones left might not attract so many visitors but I think that there is generally something happening most weeks during the summer (eg Telford this coming Sunday, Milton Keynes the one after and possibly others as well).

author: MetraCollector
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2013, 07:58:27 pm
content: Hello, little update, I have already reservation in some appartman in Switzerland near by southern coast of Bodensee, it should take only a while to fare to Friedrichshafen on the 28th to 30th of June 2013.Looking fordward to this hamfest.http://www.eventseye.com/fairs/f-ham-radio-hamtronic-9171-1.html

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2013, 08:52:31 pm
content: They have pretty much died out in the UK due to a combination of thr decline in hobby electronics and Ebay.The only one IMO still worth going to is Dunstable Downs near Luton on May 19th this year :http://www.ddrcbootsale.org/Here's a fairly long list of UK events, although I suspect many will be disappointing.http://www.southgatearc.org/rallies/index.htmI used to go to anything within about 90 mins drive, but nowadays Dunstable Downs is the only one I bother with, although even that is way down on what it used to be - many years since I regularly filled the car there.In general outdoor bootsale type events are better as the stall fees are cheap enough for people to use for clearouts - indoor ones tend to be the usual traders.Perhaps there are still some good ones up North?Here's a video of Canvey Island 2011 to give you an idea of what to expect - I stopped going to this one a few years agohttp://southessex-ars.co.uk/rallypics1.html

author: SLJ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2013, 09:04:47 pm
content: For those in the U.S.A. there is a list here search-able by State or zip code:http://www.arrl.org/hamfests-and-conventions-calendar

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2013, 11:43:29 pm
content: QuoteDidn't think it was all that good last year - it was bloody cold as well.I went to a few last year. In no particular order - Wythall OK, South Gloucester OK, Rugby quite good, Norbreck Castle still pretty large but ultimately disappointing especially as it was the 50th anniversary event, Milton Keynes dire - won't go again, Luton freezing (otherwise average, no parking marshals which was a bit of a pain), Newbury quite good, Reading disappointing, Telford smallish but quite interesting, Hack Green - small but might go again, LORN(Crianlarich, by total coincidence happened to be in the area) minuscule!North of England rallies were always felt to be better than those in the South - but then I'm a Yorkshireman so might be biased in that assessmentTo be honest apart from Milton Keynes which was crap and Crianlarich which was tiny and too out of the way pretty much any of them could still have interesting stuff - it just depends what is there on the day and that's pretty well down to luck.So far this year went to the Red Rose rally which was OK, I suppose, but there were no signposts from the road or even once I'd found the sports hall nothing to point out which bit it was in. I wasn't the only one wandering around asking "so where's the rally?". When I mentioned this to the organisers they didn't seem to care much. I know that there was probably a talk-in but not being a ham that's not much use to me. Did pick up a couple of nice 20x2 VFD's but will think twice about going again as it's a 200 mile round trip. Will think twice about Norbreck as well given the distance - might try the Great Northern instead. Not sure Reading was worth the drive either but probably OK if you live close as is Norbreck.Mike: - do you ever bother with the Kempton park one? If so, what's it like?

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 02:12:12 am
content: For Sydney there's the yearlyhttp://www.fieldday.org.au/Central Coast Amateur Radio Club Field Day at Wyongon Sunday 24 February 2013I've missed it the last couple of years, hope to make it this year.While looking up the Wyong hamfest, I came across this guy in Huntsville, AL, selling some nice gear. Just for interest:http://www.knology.net/~TheLanding/ForSale/ForSale.html

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 02:23:01 am
content: Victoria Australia in a couple of weeks -http://www.amateurradio.com.au/radiofest/

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 06:17:07 am
content: I go to a car boot once a month, and try not to come back with too much.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 10:25:36 am
content: One other comment of Mike'sQuoteDiminished and dying, I think, rather than dead but spot on as to why.Currently the total is 46 rallies listed on the RSGB events page for 2013, plus the RSGB convention, definitely down from what it used to be but not gone yet. You can see it's not a young person's thing though so I think the decline will continue.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 11:12:26 am
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on January 27, 2013, 10:25:36 amNot quite dead but a mere shadow of what they used to be - I remember the days of London Picketts lock sports centre with three packed halls, a queue round the block an hour before opening and always multiple trips back to the car to unload. At Dunstable Downs I occasionally manage one unload before going home nowadays.Of those 46 rallies I suspect a good proportion have declined to a dozen tables of crap in a carpark and some club stands. There may still be some of decent interest to radio hams but for general electronics it's pretty much gone.QuoteHow about a video report Dave? - I'm sure you can sell it to Mrs EEVblog as a family day out..Maybe take a table to unload all your garbage room finds and unwanted mailbag items? You'll probably also get a lower proportion of puzzled visitors than you did at Electronex!Before Ebay I used to do a rally once a year to clear out old stuff (though I often came back with other stuff).

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 11:21:16 am
content: QuoteMilton Keynes definitely fitted this desciption

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2013, 11:01:17 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on January 26, 2013, 11:43:29 pmIt is very weather-dependent. On a good day you get a lot of people clearing out their loft etc., and they just want to get rid of stuff so prices are often very flexible.QuoteOf course there's always the chance you'll luck out. e.g. the only thing I found at an otherwise very poor rally a few years ago was a display with 8 big nixie tubes, which I justsold on ebay for a ridiculous amountQuoteI seem to have usually either missed due to being busy it or forgetten about it - I've been once a while ago. ISTR it was mostly traders with little of interest. The problem with most rallies in 'proper' venues is that venue costs mean high stall fees which tend to disocourage random clear-out people & you only get traders selling new stuff and computer bits.