News

Years ago when changing the frequency of a transmitter meant swapping out a crystal, amateur operators kept a box of crystals handy so they could swap out on the fly.  These days, most operators don't have a box of crystals handy.  Those of us who enjoy tinkering with older technology radios often will acquire a radio that once had a crystal in it, but those have long since disappeared, and all that is left is two holes where the crystal once lived.  These images were taken from order forms and and a catalog sheet from JAN Crystals of Ft. Meyers,...

The Huntsville Hamfest is one of the hamfests everyone needs to attend at least once in their radio life.  It's a two-day hamfest, and there is so much to see that it will take two days to cover it all (or maybe just most of it). This first thing to see is the commercial displays.  This is the first area one sees after entry.  It's where MFJ, HRO, and the other commercial outfits set up shop for the weekend.  New products are on display, favorite products are available (sometimes with hamfest special prices), and new vendors can be discovered. Second,...

July 22, 2023 was the Cullman, AL hamfest.  By all rights it should be oppressively hot at this please (July in Alabama? No A/C?  Hot!), but the host club keeps good air flow with large floor fans, and despite the outside temps, the inside of this cinder block building at the fairgrounds stays very comfy all day.    The three hour drive over was wet but pleasant. We arrived as early as they would allow, and got unloaded and set up in record time. The crowd at Cullman is always a fun group.    Lots of gear there to see,...

The Black Warrior Hamfest (commonly known as the Tuscaloosa Hamfest) was last held June 17, 2023.  The venue for this small hamfest is the high school gym in Northport, AL, and was a one-day event.  One of the great things about this hamfest, for us, is its only 90 miles from Fat Cat World Headquarters. As usual, the host club helped us unload early on Saturday, and we really enjoyed the well-lit and air conditioned facility.  There was plenty of room for a lot more vendors, who (unfortunately) just weren't there.  The host club, as usual, made sure the tables...

I don't know how long this hamfest has been going on.  Nobody seemed to know for sure, but someone pointed out that the father of the current hamfest chair ran the hamfest several decades ago.  The club itself has been around since the 1930s. Load in and setup was Friday at the Gulf Coast Fairgrounds in Mobile, and the actual hamfest was scheduled for 8-2 on Saturday.  It wrapped a bit early, more like 1:00. This was in a huge facility (see photos), I think the Huntsville hamfest could have been held in this space.  Lots of vendors, plenty of...