Interested in Ham Radio / Emergency Communications? Hamfest (Fri March 8 - Sat March 9) (Charlotte: 2013)

[neocharles]

Yeah... This is a copy/paste

Mecklenburg Amateur Radio Society Hosts Hamfest (Fri March 8 - Sat March 9)

* Mecklenburg Amateur Radio Society™ * W4BFB * Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co. NC *

Mecklenburg Amateur Radio Society Hosts Hamfest

Thousands of amateur radio fans and enthusiasts from North and South Carolina will travel to Concord and participate in the 2013 Charlotte Hamfest, which is sponsored by the Mecklenburg Amateur Radio Society (MARS). The event will be held at the Cabarrus County Arena and Events Center, 4571 Hwy 49 North, on Friday afternoon, March 8 and Saturday, March 9. Doors open on Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Amateur radio operators, also known as “hams”, will spend part of their weekend talking about the hobby of ham radio and looking at state-of-the-art communications equipment used by hams around the world. Those attending will be buying, selling, and trading equipment. They will also get a chance to attend forums, take tests to get their Federal Communications Commission license to become a ham, and participate in hands-on workshops.

Hamfest organizers strongly encourage parents to bring their children to the Hamfest, especially if the children are interested in science, math, computers, and technology. Many of the MARS members have worked with young people over the years to encourage development of technology knowledge as a means to a career in science and electronics.

Amateur radio enthusiasts represent a broad cross-section of society, ranging from blue-collar workers to white collar professionals; they range in age from eight to eighty. All have one common interest – advancing the role of amateur radio through public service in every community in the United States, Canada, and around the world.

With over 709,000 licensed hams in the United States (2,000 licensed in Mecklenburg, alone), amateur operators are at the forefront of every national and international disaster, providing emergency communications support to public safety agencies and volunteer non-profits. They provide reliable and instantaneous communications when other modes are knocked out and unavailable. They have a trained network of severe weather spotters and are the eyes and ears of the National Weather Service. Ham operators in the Metrolina area are active SKYWARN spotters assisting in the National Weather Service SKYWARN network.

The Charlotte Hamfest has the support of volunteers from amateur radio clubs in Cabarrus, Stanly, Gaston, Cleveland, Union, Rowan, and Iredell counties.

For more information, see www.CharlotteHamfest.org, Like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

[paulosfm]

This would be a great event for kids who have an interest in science, math, and electronics. There's an old expression from long time hams - when all other communications fail, amateur radio is always there ready to provide local, state, national, and international emergency communications. It's interesting to note that the number of hams is growing especially at a time when society seems so dependent on cell phones and their I-pads, which will be worthless during a disaster because the government can and will seize control of all cell phone service (not a myth - it's part of the national plan brought on by 9-11 and the inability of the government to use the national cell system to communicate during a national emergency - AND it's something the Department of Homeland Security does not talk about. Footnote: texting will most likely still work because the government is more concerned about being able to use voice commications). So, get interested in ham radio. It's a lot of fun for the whole family.

[frewroad]

I'm glad you mentioned this show. It reminded me that I wanted to go as I haven't been in several years. Thanks.

[neocharles]

We have had a good number of people fill out our Post-Hamfest survey, but I know there's a good number of you that haven't taken it yet. We will be using these responses to help improve next year's Hamfest. If you attended this year's hamfest, and if you can take some time to fill this out, along with passing the link along to your fellow operators and clubs, we'd *Greatly* appreciate it! http://goo.gl/rTGvY