2020 CHARLOTTE HAMFEST AND ARRL NC SECTION CONVENTION, CONCORD, NC (3/13-14) – The Charlotte Hamfest will be held on Friday, March 13th from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, and on Saturday, March 14th from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, in Concord, NC. The location for the event is the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, 4551 Old Airport Road, Concord, NC 28025. Talk-In: 146.655 MHz (no tone); backup on 146.940 MHz (118.8 Hz). In addition to the flea market and commercial vendor exhibits, the 2020 Charlotte Hamfest will have raffle prizes; and, on Saturday, QSL card checking and VE testing by WCARS. The forum sessions will include presentations on RFI issues for radio amateurs; radio and the disappearance of Amelia Earhart; building a solar generator; and, the ARRL and Charlotte Area Club forums. The 2020 Charlotte Hamfest is sponsored by W4BFB – Mecklenburg Amateur Radio Society Inc. Public contact: Tim Slay N4IB, via phone at 704-948-7373 or email at info@charlottehamfest.org For further information, see http://charlottehamfest.org/ (sources: Charlotte Hamfest and ARRL websites)
48th ANNUAL RARSFEST AND ARRL ROANOKE DIVISION CONVENTION (4/11) – The 48th Annual RARSfest and ARRL NC State Convention will be held on Saturday, April 11th from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, in Raleigh. The location for the event is the Jim Graham Building, North Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607. Talk-in via W4DW 146.640 MHz (no tone); backup on 146.880 Mhz (131.8 tone). In addition to the flea market and commercial vendor exhibits, RARSfest will have door prizes, a hands-on construction project area, QSL card checking, an indoor fox-hunt, a satellite communications demonstration, and walk-in VE testing at 9:00 AM sharp. The open forum sessions will include discussions on the ARRL Roanoke Division and the NC Section. In addition, there will be presentations on D-STAR, Fusion, and DMR voice mode technology; Satellite communications with amateur radio; and, NWS SKYWARN Basic Spotter Training. The 48th Annual RARSfest is sponsored by the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society. Public contact: Charles Littlewood, K4HF, via phone at 919-818-8171 or email at k4hf@arrl.net For further information, see https://www.rarsfest.org (sources: RARSfest and ARRL websites)
UPCOMING HAMFESTS IN NORTH CAROLINA – April 4: Down East Hamfest, sponsored by Down East Hamfest Association, Lenoir Community College Gymnasium, 231 NC Hwy 58 South, Kinston, NC 28501. Talk-In: 146.685 MHz (PL 88.5). Public contact: Byron Highland, K4BMH, via phone at 252-347-1498 or email at bhighland@nc.rr.com
April 25: 23rd Annual Catawba Valley Hamfest, sponsored by McDowell Amateur Radio Association, Burke County Fairgrounds, 145 Bost Road, Morganton, NC 28655. http://cvhamfest.com Talk-In: 147.150 MHz (PL 94.8). Public contact: Michael Fox, KF4MWX, via phone at 828-437-2787 or email at kf4mwx@gmail.com
May 9: 16th Annual Rockingham County Swapfest, sponsored by Rockingham County Amateur Radio Club Inc, Community Baptist Church, 509 Triangle Road, Reidsville, NC 27320. http://n4iv.org Talk-In: 147.345 MHz (PL 103.5). Public contact: James Patterson, N4CE, via phone at 336-453-4218 or email at n4ce_patterson@yahoo.com
May 30: The 46th DurHamFest, sponsored by Durham FM Association, Durham Public Schools Staff Development Center, 2107 Hillandale Road, Durham, NC 27254. http://dfma.org Talk-In: 145.450 MHz (PL 82.5) and 442.150 MHz (PL 131.8) monitored. Public contact: Linda Jackson, KF4LJZ, via phone at 919-805-0289 or email at KF4LJZ@aol.com
July 11: 35th Annual 2020 Firecracker Ham-Fest, sponsored by Rowan Amateur Radio Society, Salisbury Civic Center, 315 Martin Luther King Avenue S, Salisbury, NC 28144. http://www.rowanars.com Talk-In: 145.410 MHz (PL 136.5). Public contact: Ralph Mowery, KU4PT, via phone at 704-279-4737 or email at rmowery28146@earthlink.net
July 18: 47th Annual Cary Mid-Summer SWAPFEST, sponsored by Cary Amateur Radio Club, Harold D. Ritter Park, 301 W Lochmere Drive, Cary, NC 27511. http://caryarc.org Talk-In: 146.880 MHz, (-600, no tone). Public contact: Jim Williams, W4VCF, via phone at 919-552-1980 or email at w4vcf@arrl.net
July 25: Waynesville Hamfest 2020, sponsored by Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society, Haywood County Fairgrounds, 758 Crabtree Road, Waynesville, NC 28785. http://www.wcars.org/wcarshamfest.htm Talk-In: none. Public contact: Ruth Berner, WA4VT, via phone at 828-216-2510 or email at ruthberner@gmail.com
August 8: 22nd Annual Ole Fashioned CFARS SwapFest, sponsored by Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society, Cumberland County Shrine Club, 7040 Ramsey Street (US Hwy 401 N), Fayetteville, NC 28301. http://www.cfarsnc.org Talk-In: 146.910 MHz (PL 100). Public contact: David Cowart, KR4OE, via phone at 910-624-1394 or email at kr4oe@nc.rr.com
September 4-6: 64th Shelby Hamfest, sponsored by Shelby Amateur Radio Club, Cleveland County Fairground, 1751 East Marion Street, Shelby, NC 28150. http://shelbyhamfest.org Talk-In: 146.880 MHz. Public contact: Jane Hamrick, K4JPH, via phone at 704-466-8032 or email at janephamrick@gmail.com (sources: ARRL and hamfest websites)
LICENSE CLASSES –
Gastonia (NC): Technician license class, April 4, sponsored by Gaston Radio Club, contact Tony Jones, N4ATJ by phone at 704-827-2138 or by email at N4ATJ@twc.com for further information.
Gastonia (NC): Technician license class, June 6, sponsored by Gaston Radio Club, contact Tony Jones, N4ATJ by phone at 704-827-2138 or by email at N4ATJ@twc.com for further information.
Gastonia (NC): Technician license class, August 8, sponsored by Gaston Radio Club, contact Tony Jones, N4ATJ by phone at 704-827-2138 or by email at N4ATJ@twc.com for further information.
Gastonia (NC): Technician license class, October 3, sponsored by Gaston Radio Club, contact Tony Jones, N4ATJ by phone at 704-827-2138 or by email at N4ATJ@twc.com for further information.
To find upcoming classes, go to www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class Please note that a license class sponsored by your club or organization will not be listed on the ARRL website unless you register your class. ARRL Registered Instructors may list upcoming classes on the ARRL website. For further information, see http://www.arrl.org/License-instructor-registration (source: ARRL website)
73 and be safe!
Karl W4CHX, ARRL NC Section Manager (2014-2020), 919-669-6068 (mobile)
W4CHX w4chx@arrl.org