Review of: The 2012 Charlotte Hamfest & ARRL Roanoke Division Convention

One of the things since I passed the Technician I've most been looking forward to is going to my first Ham Fest, licensed. I've been to HamFests before, more than a couple but less than several. I've been to the Huntsville Hamfest multiple times and possibly MemFest a couple. But either way I was looking forward to it. Well my dream came true, today March 10th 2012 was the Charlotte Hamfest in Concord, NC. I got up extra early this morning travel to it from Wilmington, 4 hours and I was there. I went to this by myself but hope to drag the fiance to one sometime. I tell you, I walked in bought my ticket went through admission area and looked forward and I was like wow. I was a little overwhelmed, but in a good way. I guess it's different when you are taking it in by yourself and this time I understand most everything I see in front of me.

I proceeded to the flea market first. If your not familiar with a HamFest all the ones I've been to have manufactures and large ham stores in an area, then kind of small business like name plates, shirt, small antenna builders in the next section of the arena. And then segregated together, normally either to one side or the back, is the flea market. And the flea is one word "everything." Seriously, there are resellers of hard components, connectors, electronics gear, radios, tubes(there's always at least one person with 4 tables of vacuum tubes), old computer, cameras, and anything you as a consumer of electronics might be interested in or previously owned. I bought a good set of alligator clips and odds and ends connector. Specifically I got a set of SO-239 panel mount connecters with a very thick flange. Those will go to an antenna project.

Long story short. The Charlotte Hamfest 2012 was a very nice hamfest and I had a very nice time. They had great programs planned(I caught most of a D-Star program), nice flea market, and great vendors area. It was in a comfortable heated and cooled arena. It was very well accessible to get into and parking. And was very well attended. I was also told it appeared that attendance was up which is great! I look forward to it next year!

Here's some pics I stole from MFJ's Facebook, props to MFJ for these:

Antenna Tuner

As stated previously; I'm new to the hobby of Ham Radio. I am a Tech right now, soon to be a General. Right now I'm slowly amassing gear to put together a shack/station that can operate HF freqs. I have bought a second hand ICOM IC-746 Pro with match ICOM power supply. Well I want to take care of my investment so I also have bought a in store display antenna tuner. The tuner I bought is the MFJ-945e tuner. It covers 1.8 mHz all the way through 6 meters, up to 200 or 300 watts. Which is prefect and plenty for me. MFJ I guess has it listed as a "mobile" tuner but they do mention, as do other users, it's perfectly at home in the shack. I'm pretty excited! This coming weekend is the NC QSO Party and I'm really hoping I'll have my station up and operating for it. As still being a Tech I've only got a portion of the 10meter band to work with but I'm still going to try. Should  I not be up and running I'll be at the Battleship North Carolina(which if you take part is 50 point station) station operating, NI4BK.

• North Carolina QSO Party
• NI4BK
• Azalea Coast Amateur Radio Club (operates NI4BK)

MFJ-945e