Dear Fellow Amateur Radio Operator,

We are excited that, after an absence of several years, the Roanoke HamFest is returning to the William Byrd Middle/High School complex.  This year’s HamFest is a unique partnership between the William Byrd Middle and High School radio clubs, and the Roanoke Valley Amateur Radio Club.  Plenty of parking, a larger tailgate area, more space for indoor vendors, more and bigger door prizes and great food are just a few of the improvements that will make this HamFest a memorable event. Be sure to visit our HamFest website for details, which includes a list of our sponsors, door prizes and more:  RoanokeHamFest.info

We need more young people involved in ham radio.  The Roanoke Valley HamFest is a great way to support the school radio clubs and ham radio overall.  We hope you will make plans to attend. 

73,
Darrell Little – KI4LLA
David Nance – W4SSE
HamFest Co-Chairs

William Byrd Amateur Radio Clubs and Roanoke Valley Amateur Radio Club
Roanoke HamFest 2023

Saturday, August 5, 2023
8 am – 1 pm

William Byrd Middle School
2910 E Washington Ave
Vinton, VA 24179

Admission:  $5.00 per person, free for under 18 or college ID under 25 years old
Tailgate Space: $5.00 (plus $5 admission)

More Parking – More Indoor Tables – Larger Tailgate Area

Well, Field Day 2023 Field Day operation is over. So, what’s next.

The amateur radio contest year starts on July 1, 2023.  So, things are ramping up for the 2023/2024 year.

This weekend is a celebration contest called the IAEU HF Contest.  You may be interested in trying your hand or voice in this contest, or you may not want to.  In any case, let me encourage you to learn a little more about the contest and what is being celebrated.

Take a look at this YouTube video, it is good.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGUU0NjG_w0

It is produced by ND3N, Tom Shelton.  Tom is a Potomac Valley Radio Club member.  The PVRC is well represented with members in our area.  The video is about 12 minutes long, and if you are not a contester, it is still well worth your time as an amateur radio operator to watch the video.

After the video, take a look at the ARRL IARU contest site for more information at: http://www.arrl.org/iaru-hf-world-championship

If you have questions, please respond to the group or me for answers or help.

73,

Rick
NN4RB

To all who made FD 2023 great this year:  THANK YOU!!  

From the antenna crew, headed up by Ron Burch and Dave Haring, to the CW OP recruiter, Mr. Knight Smiley NJ4Q, to the incredible Kay Brown and her niece Angela (and Jade and Rennie) who put together the most amazing Saturday evening dinner ever, to Dave KV4JK who brought the tower trailer over, to Buck K4IEE who got the generator maintained so it ran perfectly the entire time, to John Price N4QWF who got our first satellite contact and 100 point bonus in a number of years (and got our served agency bonus by chasing down a deputy in the parking lot…) to all who came and operated SSB, CW and digital, to Rick and Henry who kept the GOTA station going…

I could go on and on, and usually do.  Dave KD4EMU and I tried organizing this year, and despite our best efforts, the event came off well.  I don’t think we broke any records this year, but I think everyone had fun, we did make a lot of contacts on all modes, and Dave Haring’s N1MM display on the big monitor was a huge hit!  It showed we worked all states EXCEPT doggone Alaska.  Not sure how that happens.  We got many Canadian provinces as well, but not all of them.

But, of course, WAS is not what FD is all about, rather, how many contacts can be made.  We will see what the results are in November, when ARRl publishes its FD report. I’m quite sure that our intrepid group of pro CW ops will lead the point score, but the phone and digital folks contributed too.  And, in another highlight, Jan K3JAN made what I think was her first (and only…) HF contest contact with great style!

Thanks again everyone who helped.  It was fun. 

Geep Howell (WA4RTS)