Topic: NEAR-Fest XXIII Schedule of Events.

[W1RC]

NEAR-Fest XXIII Schedule of Events   

Friday, May 4th 2018.

6:00 AM: Fairgrounds Gate 'G' opens for Blue (Staff) and Yellow (Commercial Vendors) ONLY.  Commercial buildings open and set up commences. 

8:00 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 advance ticket and passholders only.    Once the Pre-Paid entry line has entered the General Admission line will enter through Gate 'F'.  Flea Market and Tailgating buying and selling commences.  Please note our flea market parking policy:

NEAR-Fest Flea Market Parking Policy

This is the ENTERTAINMENT BUILDING, see map for location.

10:30 AM: Skywarn Training, presented by Nikki Becker, NOAA Gray, ME.   (Located in the Entertainment Building, see map) If reportimg weather observations is of interest this forum is for you. 

11:00 - 5:00 PM:00 AM: NEW! The New England Tech Trek NE(T)² Day One. (Located in the Arts & Crafts Building, see map) This science and technology ?hands-on? exposition, mainly for area middle and high school students, is being co-sponsored by NEAR-Fest and the Deerfield Fair Association. This is a FIRST TIME event and we invite all NEAR-Fest attendees to check it out as well. 

NE(T)² is being held in the Arts & Crafts Building which is the upper level of the building where the volunteer Exams are held on Saturday.  It is across the road from the Administration Building.

More info: http://www.near-fest.com/?page_id=5378

12:00 PM:  ARRL FORUM moderated by Tom Frenaye, K1KI. Another first for NEAR-Fest!  We welcome New England Division Director Tom Frenaye who will bring us up to date on all the latest happenings from Party, er.....I mean, League Headquarters in Newington.
 
(Located in the  Entertainment Building, see map)

1:30   Antenna Modeling with Tony Brock-Fisher, K1KP
 
(Located in the  Entertainment Building, see map) q

3:00 PM:?FT8: Most Popular Mode?? with Mitch Stern W1SJ.  This presentation is a tutorial of how to get up and running in the new FT8 digital mode. (Located in the Entertainment Building, see map)
 
(Located in the  Entertainment Building, see map)

4:30 PM:  George Rancourt, K1ANX, R-390A and ?Spy Radio? Forum.. Always a full house, this is the most popular forum at NEAR-Fest.  Topic to be announced.
 
(Located in the  Entertainment Building, see map)


7:00 PM: NEAR-Fest's Legendary Ad-Hoc "Ham-Jam Session"
(Located in the Entertainment Building, see map).

For full details see: --> Jam Discussion

Saturday, May 5 2018.

9:00 - 3:00 PM:00 AM: The New England Tech Trek NE(T)² Day Two.  (Located in the Arts & Crafts Building, see map)

9:00 AM: ?DMR New England Update and Programming help? moderated by Bill Barber, NE1B New DMR repeaters continue to pop up all over New England.  Now with NEW DUAL-BAND DMR radios available for under $100 and a wide assortment of surplus commercial equipment easily found, 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. After the Update there will be DMR programming help! (Located in the Entertainment Building, see map)[/size]

11:30 AM:  Timtron Shows ?em How with Tim Smith, WA1HLR. Last February The Timtron, WA1HLR, travelled to ARRL Headquarters to modify a Gates AM broadcast transmitter to work on 160 and 75 meters. In his inimitable style Tim tells us of his adventures.

10:00 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 10:00 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, bring money 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,

Mitch Stern, W1SJ,
Forums Chairman