38th Dalton Hamfest scheduled for Saturday

Published 12:02 am Tuesday, February 18, 2020

“The Best Hamfest in Georgia” is back for another year. Every year since 1983 the Dalton Amateur Radio Club has brought together HAMS (Amateur Radio Operators) from all over the southeast.

The event is Saturday at the North Georgia Agriculture Fairgrounds, 500 Legion Drive. Gates open at 8 a.m. for the public and 7 a.m. for vendors. All admission is through the rear gate only. The front/main gate will not be open.

Parking is free. Admission is $5 for adults; those under 18 are admitted free.

Multiple buildings and the famous outdoor boneyard will be filled with vendors featuring the latest digital radios, antennas and more, plus the famous “swap and sell” boneyard featuring used equipment. You’ll be able to find most anything a HAM may be looking for.

A number of forums and meetings will take place including: 8-9 a.m., Frank Dean (K4SJR, Ga SEC), Ham Radio Skills; 9-10 a.m., Jack Thompson (N5UOV), forum on contesting; 10-11 a.m., Mikey Baker (N4MB, southeast division director), ARRL forum; 11 a.m. to noon, Felton Floyd (AF4DN, ARES DEC Northwest), northwest district meeting.

The Dalton area has repeaters for D-Star and Fusion as well as FM repeaters on multiple bands. A “talk-in” for HAMS coming to Dalton will operate on the W4DRC repeater on 145.230.

WESTCARS VE license testing will be given at 1 p.m. at Western Sizzlin on the day of the Hamfest. All tests are $10.

Door prizes from many vendors will be given away including three grand prizes: first prize, Icom IC-7300; second, Icom ID5100A Deluxe; and third, Yaesu FT70DR. You do not have to be present to win.

For more updated information visit the Dalton Amateur Radio Club’s website at www.W4DRC.com or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DaltonAmateurRadioClub.