THE VERMONT HAM RADIO CONVENTION
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2017

Holiday Inn Convention Center
Williston Road at I-89 Exit 14
South Burlington, Vermont

HAM-CON is sponsored by the Radio Amateurs of Northern Vermont. We are in a super location which is convenient for everyone and has all the facilities to make this a first class show. HAM-CON proudly carries on the Milton Hamfest tradition: 35 Years (1/3 Century) of Great Hamfests in the North Country! "and still the best little hamfest in the world!"

Pictures of Previous Hamfests!

HAM-CON 2014
HAM-CON 2013
HAM-CON 2012
HAM-CON 2011
HAM-CON 2010
HAM-CON 2009
Milton 2008
Milton 2004

The Details

Getting There

Show Admission

Hamfest Events

Forums Schedule

Vendor Information

Lodging Information

Restaurant Information

History of the Hamfest

Information: Phone: (802)879-6589, afternoons and evenings, BEFORE hamfest day. Or, via Email. Talk in on the WB1GQR repeater on 145.15 MHz(-600). This repeater is monitored all the time.

GETTING THERE

Holiday Inn is located at Williston Road and Dorset Street, right at the I-89 Exit 14 Interchange. From the South, I-89, Exit 14 East. Immediately move to the left lane and make a left at the light into the Holiday Inn. From the North, I-89, Exit 14 East. Immediately move to the left lane and make a left at the light into the Holiday Inn.

FROM THE SOUTH

From NH and Boston: I-93 North, I-89 North through New Hampshire and Vermont to Vermont Exit 14.

From WMa and CT: I-91 North, I-89 North to Exit 14.

From NY: New York State Thruway or Taconic Parkway to Albany. Adirondack Northway (I-87) to Exit 20 - Fort Ann. Route 149 12 miles to Route 4. Route 4 north 18 miles to Vermont Route 22A. Route 22A north 43 miles to Route 7. Route 7 22 miles north to I-189. I-189 to I-89 to Exit 14.

FROM THE NORTH

From Montreal: Autoroute 15 to border, I-87 Exit 42 to Rt 11 to Rouses Point Bridge to Vermont. Route 2 South to Route 78 East to Swanton. I-89 South to Exit 14.
Alternate route: Autoroute 10, Autoroute 35 to Route 133 South to Border. Then I-89 to Exit 14.

FROM THE WEST

• Crown Point Bridge is VT Route 17 connecting Addison, VT to Crown Point, NY.
  
• Rouses Point Bridge is US Route 11 connecting Alburgh, VT to Rouses Point, NY.
  
  

From Rouses Point area: Northway I-87 Exit 42, Route 11 to Rouses Point. Look for signs for U.S. Route 2 and Rouses Point Bridge to Vermont. Go 2 miles past Alburgh and go left on Vermont Route 78. Continue on Route 78 through Swanton and look for I-89 South. Continue on I-89 to Exit 14.

From Plattsburgh area: Northway I-87 Exit 39, Rt 314 to Ferry. (Runs every 15 min, $10 each direction). On Vermont side, right on Rt 314 to end at Route 2, right on Route 2 South, 20 miles to I-89. Go south one exit to Exit 14.

From Crown Point area: Northway I-87 Exit 28, New York Route 74. Go North on New York Route 9N. (DO NOT go into Ticonderoga or follow signs for Ticonderoga Ferry, as this is closed for the season). Continue on 9N for 11 miles and turn onto New York Route 17. This crosses the new brige into Vermont. Continue on Vermont Route 17 East to Vermont Route 22A. Go left and take Route 22A North. At Route 7, go left and continue North on Route 7. Take I-189 to I-89 North to Exit 14.

PARKING

We have free parking on site. Sometimes the parking area fills up due to other events going on. Come EARLY! That way you get a good parking spot AND you don't miss the morning activities.

SHOW ADMISSION

Admission at the door

• General admission is $8. Doors open for general admission at 8:00.
• Early admission is $15. Doors open for early admission at 6:00.
• There is no charge for tables. Tables are first come, first serve. Come early!
• No admission charged for those 12 years and younger.
• Canadian money accepted at par for Canadian residents with driver's or ham license.

Advanced Sales Admission

• Advanced sale general admission is $6.
• Advanced sale early admission is $12.
• Advanced sale early admission PLUS table reservation is $25.
• Advanced Sales close February 20.
• Tickets must be purchased though our Paypal system on-line or at a club meeting.
• Print out your receipt and present it for your ticket.

VENDOR ROOM
The Vendor Room will run from 8:00 until 2:00. There are scores of tables chock filled with goodies. The offerings range from new to boatanchors and we can never know what jewels will show up.


FORUMS
Forums will run from 8:30 until 1:00. Details are in the Forums section.


DEMONSTRATIONS AND MINI-FORUMS
The Activities Room will be home to several demonstrations and mini-forums including:

• W1V Special Event Station. Work the world from Vermont!
• Technical Table - Check out your radio's performance
• Mini-forums - Check the Forums section for times.
• Relaxation Area - Pull up a chair, relax and take in the activities!

SPECIALTY TABLES

• ADMISSION AREA
  • Admission to the Convention
  • Join RANV or renew your RANV Membership
  • Deposit Door Prize Stubs
  • Purchase the Vermont Amateur Radio Directory
  
  
• RANV TABLE Located in the Forums Lobby
  Come here for all things related to the Convention and RANV.
  • Hamfest Information
  • RANV Information
  • Copies of past RANV Newsletters
  
  
• RANV FLEA MARKET TABLE Located INSIDE the VENDOR Area.
  Bring your stuff for sale and we will try to sell it for you.
  • Service for RANV Members Only!
  • Limit of 10 pieces per person
  • Weight limit of 35 lbs per item, total 100 lbs
  • No boat anchors, computers, printers, monitors, etc.
  • Sellers to provide a manifest of all items, condition and price
  • Unsold items MUST go home with owner!
  
  
• W1V SPECIAL EVENT STATION Located in the Activities Room
  Visit HAM-CON's special event station W1V as we make contacts all over the world!
  We are always looking for operators - no matter what your license class! Stop by!
  
  
• TECHNICAL TABLE Located in the Activities Room
  Test equipment to provide basic measurments along with free technical advice.
  • Basic measurements only: voltage, power, sensitivity, deviation
  • No repair services
  
  
  
  

WHERE IS EVERYTHING LOCATED?

1. Forum Area
   Just as you enter the facility, just after admission, turn right and you will head down the Forums Hallway. In this hallway you will find Forum Rooms 1 & 2 and the Activities Room, along with the RANV Table.
   
   
2. Vendor Area
   Continue walking into the facility and go right at the Hotel Main Desk, then left. Here you will find the entrance to the Vendor Area.

• Facility layout  showing location of Vendor Area, Forums and Exams.
• Vendor Area layout  showing location of all tables.

This is LAST YEAR'S Forums and Activities information. Check back later in January for this year's activities.

HAM-CON will have the finest collection of Amateur Radio Informational Forums found at any small convention! There is something which interests every amateur operator. Stop in on a forum or two and learn a whole bunch of new stuff. The forum times are tight, so plan your schedule in advance for best results! No PA announcement will be made at the start of forums, so use your phone or watch alarm to alert you to get to forum room on time.

The forums will run in two different rooms. Forums will run from 8:30 AM until 1:00 PM. The Forum Room lobby is just to the right of the main entrance. Forums in Room 1 will generally start around the top of the hour and Forums in Room 2 will start on the half hour. Forums will conclude in time for attendees to attend the Closing Ceremonies.
Make sure you get to the forums on time. They will not wait!

FORUM ROOM 1

9:00
NATIONAL PARKS ON THE AIR - WHAT IS IT AND HOW CAN I JOIN THE FUN
Bob Henneberger KB1WXM

10:00
SET UP A GREAT HAM SHACK
Mitch Stern W1SJ

11:00
INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL VOICE RADIO
Don Price KB5VP

12:00
ARRL FORUM

1:15
EXAM SESSION
Forum Room 1

FORUM ROOM 2

8:30
MULTIBAND ANTENNAS
Joel Hallas W1ZR

9:30
REMOTE HAM RADIO
John Grow VE2EQL

10:30
THE DOCTOR IS IN!
Joel Hallas W1ZR

11:30
THE NK7U OREGON SUPER STATION
Joe Rudi NK7U

12:55
HAM-CON CLOSING CEREMONIES
Forum Rooms 2 and 3

ACTIVITIES ROOM VIDEOS, DEMONSTRATIONS AND MINI-FORUMS

VENDOR INFORMATION

We require that vendors and flea market sellers arrive EARLY to set up tables. The room gets too crowded to start carrying in sales items after 8:00. If you are selling, please buy an early ticket and have your table set up by 8AM.

1. Early entry opens at 6:00 AM.

2. Admission: $15 at door, $12 in advance. We highly recommend buying the admission in advance!

3. Tables are FREE. They are available on a first come, first served - No guarantees made on space or table availability. We usually have tables available, but on occasion we do run out.

4. Tables are reserved in specific locations for large vendors (more than 4 tables).

5. Tables can be reserved at a package price of $25, which includes 1 early admission. This will guarantee your table until 8:30. There are no refunds for tables reserved and not used!

Get a sneak preview of the Vendor Area by downloading the Vendor Area MAP in Adobe PDF format. The location of all tables and services are approximate. Not all tables will be available.

We ask that vendors take all unsold merchandise away at the end of the day.

HAM-COM makes every effort to help our vendors do well at the show. Please let us know how we can help you!

LODGING

The Holiday Inn is our Headquarters for HAM-CON.
They have reserved a block of rooms at a special convention rate of $95.
Why not stay the night and spend a leisurely weekend at HAM-CON?

The Room Block deadline is Saturday, February 11. Reservations made after that time are at the normal room rate.

Here are local phone numbers of other motels in the Burlington area. This list is information from the phone book. It does not imply any recommendation, although it's probably a safe bet that the roof doesn't leak at any of these lodgings.

 
I-89 exit 14 - Williston Rd
Anchorage Inn      863-7000
Best Western       863-1125
Comfort Inn        863-5541
Doubletree         658-0250
Ethan Allen Inn    863-4573
Hawthorne Suites   860-1212
Ho-Hum Motel       863-4551
LaQuinta Inn       864-4638
Sheraton Inn       865-6600
Swiss Host         862-5734
 
Rt 15 Colchester (1mi)
Days Inn           655-0900
Handy's Suites     655-6000
 
I-89 exit 16 Colchester (2mi)
Hampton Inn        655-6177
Quality Inn        655-1400
Motel 6            654-6860
 
Downtown Burlington (2mi)
Hilton             658-6500
Marriot Courtyard  864-4700

Dorset St - University Mall:

Applebee's IHOP

Mall Food Court Dunkin Donuts Fortune Cookie McDonalds Subway Tokyo

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• University Mall (largest in Vermont) is literally across the street! Bring the family and drop them at the Mall! Mall opens at 9:30.
  
  
• Burlington International Airport 1.5 miles East. Provides a quick way in and out of the Convention!
  
  
• Church Street Marketplace 1.5 miles West. Outside and Inside shopping in downtown Burlington.
  
  
• Echo Lake Aquarium 2 miles West, foot of College Street. Museum and Educational Center focusing on life around Lake Champlain. Open 10-5.

The Milton Hamfest started in 1983 as the "Northern Vermont Electronics Show." It was conceived by WB1BWV, WB2JSJ and others as a way to get Vermont hams together for swapping equipment and socializing during the long winter. The admission back then was $2. The philosophy of the Milton Hamfest has always been to bring hams and experimenters together for learning new things and having fun. The hamfest has always been organized and run by a tiny group of volunteers, who, like everyone else, pay admission!

The hamfest started with humble beginnings and an attendance around 150. Today, the hamfest draws around 300 people, which is a sizable number considering the small size of Vermont. Attendees come from Vermont, Northern New York, Quebec and New Hampshire. A few come from Southern New England as well.

Over the years, some changes were made which we hope will keep the hamfest a great one. After many years of being an independent show, Milton is now sponsored by the Radio Amateurs of Northern Vermont (RANV), and is the ARRL Vermont State Convention. And in 2009, we moved it to a Convention facility. We have worked hard to bring in more Forum Speakers and live demonstrations. The Forum program at HAM-COM is the best you find at a small show.

It is the goal of the HAM-CON to keep attendance levels stable and even show some growth even though hamfests all over the country have been declining in attendance over the last couple of years. We cannot do this without YOU! Please make every effort to join us!

Read the article about the 2001 Hamfest in the Burlington Free Pree

What Else??

Keep checking back here for new information.

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