6:00 AM: Fairgrounds Gate 'G' opens for Blue (Staff) and Yellow (Commercial Vendors) ONLY. Commercial buildings open and set up commences.
7:00 AM: Fairgrounds Gate 'G' opens for Clubs & Associations passholders only to occupy their traditional spaces. NO "FOR SALE" ITEMS DISPLAYED OR SELLING IS PERMITTED UNTIL 9:00AM!
9:00 AM: Pre-Paid Entry, Gate 'F' opens for RED ticket and passholders only. Once the Pre-Paid entry line has entered the General Admission line will enter through Gate 'E'. Flea Market and Tailgating buying and selling commences. Please note our flea market parking policy:
This is the ENTERTAINMENT BUILDING, see map for location.
Portable operation is a great way to enjoy the hobby. The Buddipole antenna system is a versatile platform for deploying antenna configurations in a variety of situations. Yagis, verticals, and dipoles can be made with this system to support nearly every situation. Scott is the author of this informative book that is sold by Buddipole and will review using this antenna system ?in the field? NEAR-Fest will give away a copy of Scott's book that was generously donated by Buddipole for this occasion to one lucky audience member. Don?t forget a Buddipole antenna system is Fridays Main door prize here at NEAR-Fest!
1:30 PM: ? Introduction to Radio Contesting? presented by Mark Pride, K1RX (Located in the Entertainment Building, see map) Contesting is a very popular activity within amateur radio. We are pleased that Mark, New Member Manager of the Yankee Clipper Contest Club, will be here this spring. I?m sure that anyone interesting in contesting or the seasoned contest veteran will enjoy this!
3:00 PM: ? Introduction to Software Defined Radio Using Inexpensive USB TV Tuner Sticks? presented by Ron Senykoff, KG1T (Located in the Entertainment Building, see map) One of the latest cool things to do is to use Asian or European USB TV Tuner sticks and free SDR software to put together receivers for simple radio reception. This has grown into even more applications including trunked radio, digital signal decoding and Aircraft tracking of Mode S transponders. Ron (ex KB1UMH) is back this spring by popular demand and will give us an introduction to this, reviewing some of the basic hardware and software options. Showing you how, using an existing computer and antenna, you can get a system up and running for less than $25!
4:30 PM: More R390a Fun with George Rancourt, K1ANX. (Located in the Entertainment Building, see map) Arrive early as this is always a packed house! George will again share his experience with bringing back to life, this series of radio that, introduced in the early 1950?s, still holds its own against most of the radios available today! In this installment George shows us his tricks for capacitor replacement to keep these radios up and running!
7:00 PM: NEAR-Fest's Legendary Ad-Hoc "Ham-Jam Session"
(Located in the Entertainment Building, see map) For full details see:
http://near-fest.com/index.php?topic=783.0Saturday, May 2nd 2015.
9:00 AM: ?DMR New England Update? moderated by Bill Barber, NE1B (Located in the Entertainment Building, see map) New DMR repeaters continue to pop up all over New England. Now with NEW DMR radios available for $180, more and more people are getting active in this interesting mode. Bill Barber, NE1B, the contact for New England Digital Emergency Communications Network (NEDECN) will be back this spring, by popular demand, to give us updates? and there is lots of news? on whats going on in the DMR world and what you need to do to get involved.
10:30 AM: ?DMR Radio Programming Seminar Glenn Shiffer KB1SMN and Roger Coulson WA1NVC plus other guest wizards?
(Located in the Entertainment Building, see map) A cast of local DMR wizzards will review with you both the Motorola programming logic as well as the Connect Systems programming logic and show shortcuts and hints for a quick "on The Air" experience with Your New DMR radio. A great follow up session to the earlier State of the DRM State address by Bill Barber earlier Saturday morning.
10:30 AM:Volunteer Exam Session conducted by Bruce Anderson, W1LUS and the NEAR-Fest VE Team The exam session is located in the Meeting Room (in the Arts & Crafts Building) right across from the flagpole. The entrance is around the back of the building, (see map)
The Volunteer Examination session begins at 10:30 sharp. Be sure to have two forms of identification (one with photo), original and one copy of your Amateur license (if you have one), documentation and $15.00 exam fee ready. For more information on the Volunteer exams or if you are a ARRL accredited VE wishing to help, please contact the VE Coordinator at w1lus@verizon.net. Despite what it says on the ARRL Web site, pre-registration is not required. Just show up and give it your best shot. Try the higher level exams even if you don't feel you are ready - you never know..........at least you'll know what to expect the next time. Good luck!
2:00 PM: Closing Ceremony, Awards and Door Prize Drawing (Located in the Relaxation Grove, see map)
More than simply a prize drawing, this is the time we honor individuals, present updates to the NEAR-Fest mission, and provide a little insight as to what lies ahead. See a list of past LIFETIME PASS recipients:
See you all at Deerfield bright and early Friday morning!
73,
John Flood, KB1FQG,
Forums Chairman
