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ARRL Alabama Section Convention

Prizes, Vendors, Flea Market, Forums, Testing, and Lots More!


Date and Time
Saturday and Sunday, March 3 - 4, 2012
Doors open at 9:00 AM each day; Hamfest ends at 5:00 PM on Saturday and 2:00 PM on Sunday.
Admission
A BARC Hamfest button is $8.00 per person and required for admission
Each button includes one prize ticket.
Children under 12 are free.
License Exams
Amateur radio license exams will be given at 9:00 AM and 1 PM on Saturday and 9:00 AM on Sunday.
For more information contact Joe Ford, K4NVJ@arrl.net (205) 668-6853.
Dealer Information
Dealer Set-up is scheduled for Friday, from 12:00 Noon - 5:00 PM; Saturday from 7:00 AM until 8:45 AM; Sunday from 7:00 AM until 8:45 AM.
The back door (Vendor entrance) Closes at 7:50 AM each day.
A form to reserve inside tables is available HERE.
The Club will have volunteers available to help dealers move their Setups to the Display Floor.
For more information, contact Ken Adkisson, Sr., WB4FAY; ken@wb4fay.com (205) 960-1647.
Outside Flea market (Tailgate)
Flea Market Spaces are $12.00 per table without an admission badge.
Tables with an admission badge are $20.00.
For more information, contact Gary Green, W4GRE; w4gre@BellSouth.net (205) 938-1250.
Prize Tickets
Prize tickets will be available at these prices:
$1 -- 1 ticket
$5 -- 6 tickets
$10 -- 15 tickets
$20 or more -- 2 tickets per dollar (best value!!)
Prizes 
Saturday 4:00 PM Drawing (you do not have to be present to win):  ICOM 718 HF Transceiver
Sunday 2:00 PM Drawing (you do NOT have to be present to win):   Ameritron AL-811 HF Amplifier

The following are various hourly prizes given away at every hour from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM on Saturday 
and 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Sunday.   For these prizes, the winner must be present to claim the prize.  
Additional prizes will be added to the list as they are firmed up.

MFJ - 259B Antenna Analyzer

MFJ - 4225MV - 25Amp Power Supply  (great for your "go kit")

MFJ - 4245MV - 45Amp Power Supply

ICOM IC-V82 - 2 Meter HT  (D-STAR capable with the addition of the UT-118 option)

ICOM IC-V82 - 2 Meter HT  (D-STAR capable with the addition of the UT-118 option)

Yaesu FT-1900R - 55W 2 Meter Mobile Transceiver

Should there be a problem with the receipt of these prizes from the provider(s), a similar prize will 
be substituted in place of the original listed prize.

View images from BirmingHAMfest 2011 on our Facebook page here.
Forums

Saturday Forums
09:00 AM - VE Testing in Room # 1 (Club Room)
09:00 AM - Alabama Repeater Council in Divan Room (Rm 3)
09:30 AM – Satellite Communications Mecca Room (Rm 2)
10:00 AM - D-Star in Mecca Room (# 2)  
10:00 AM - Bell Ringers in Divan Room (# 3)
10:00 AM - ALERT/Skywarn in HillBilly Room (# 4)
11:00 AM - ARRL/ARES/AL Section in Mecca Room (# 2)
12:00 PM - Fox Hunting with live demo in Club Room (# 1)
12:00 PM – APRS in Mecca Room (# 2)
12:00 PM – Alabama Historical Radio Society in Divan Room (# 3)  
12:00 PM – MARS in HillBilly Room (# 4)
1:00 PM – VE Testing in Club Room (# 1) 1:00 PM – Ham Radio in High Schools in Divan Room (# 3)  
1:00 PM - Public Information Officers/Public Relations in HillBilly Room (# 4)  
2:00 PM – Digital Operating in Mecca Room (# 2)  
2:00 PM – Central Alabama Simplex Net in Divan Room (# 3)  
2:00 PM - Contest Grade HF Transceiver Comparisons: HillBilly Rm (# 4)  

Sunday Forums
09:00 AM – VE Testing in Club Room (# 1)
09:00 AM - Central Alabama Simplex Net in Divan Room (# 3)
10:00 AM – Ham Radio in High Schools in HillyBilly Room (# 4)  
11:00 AM – QRP DX in Mecca Room (# 2) -
A Fireside Chat About Out-Performing the Big Guns with 5-Watts or Less  
12:00 PM – Fox Hunting with live Demonstration in Divan Room (#3)
1:00 PM – Amateur Radio in the 21st Century in HillBilly Room (# 4)

Note: A special prize will be given to a participant in this Forum.
This Forum is presented by Mr. Dan Henderson, N1ND (ARRL Representative)

Note: Access to Mecca Room (# 2) and the Divan Room (# 3) is from the outside of the Arena.
Exit through the front door, turn right and then follow the signs. Note: The forum Rooms have aliases.
Room # 1 - Club Rm
Room # 2 - Mecca Rm
Room # 3 - Divan Rm
Room # 4 - Hill Billy Rm

As we get closer to the Hamfest Date, check back for additional Forums and the Scheduled times of each Forum. For more information, contact Ronnie King, WX4RON@arrl.net, (205) 745-1199

Directions
Hamfest is at the Zamora Shrine Temple 3521 Ratliff Road, Birmingham, AL 205-956-3636


View Larger Map


Additional driving information:

BirminghamFest
Zamora Shrine Temple
3521 Ratliff Road
Irondale, AL

Approaching I-459 Exit 27 from I-59/20 Exit right to Grants Mill Road.
Turn right on Grants Mill Road to Grantswood Road (short distance right turn only).
Turn right on to Grantswood road and follow it to Ratliff Road (4 way stop sign).
Turn right on Ratliff Road and watch for entrance to Zamora Shrine Temple.

Approaching I-459 Exit 27 from I/65 Exit right to Grants Mill Road.
Turn left on Grants Mill Road back across the interstate to Grantswood Road (right turn only).
Turn right on to Grantswood road and follow it to Ratliff Road (4 way stop sign).
Turn right on Ratliff Road and watch for entrance to Zamora Shrine Temple.

Contacts
Hamfest Chairman is Bob Thomas, KC4AF, KC4AF@arrl.net (205) 283-4000
Club President is Bill Davidson, KW4J, KW4J@arrl.net (205) 587-1993
Club Vice President is Ken Adkisson, WB4FAY, ken@wb4fay.com (205) 960-1647