Hamfest

Equipment that was originally sold at great expense to commercial users (such as public safety agencies) can often be found at a fraction of the price.

Likewise, accessories which are no longer available from manufacturers may be found, and many sales of complete systems are made to buyers who only need one or two components.

Some hamfests feature demonstration and sales booths staffed by vendors and manufacturers of commercial amateur radio equipment.

Larger hamfests almost always include one or more food vendors, staffed by volunteers, with the proceeds going to a local high school or other charity.

Numerous jokes are based on this concept, and some sellers will tie ropes to handles, or post signs on especially large and heavy items seeking customers who own aircraft carriers.

Regular attendees often visit their first hamfest in search of some piece of equipment, but end up returning due to the social aspect.

Japan, the primary source for new commercially made ham equipment, hosts at least one large annual hamfest with world-wide attendees.

[10] Many amateur radio enthusiasts go out of their way to attend the Hamvention, travelling from all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and various parts of the world and even as far as Australia, Japan and Russia.

A full listing of Canadian Hamfests can be found on the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) website.

In 2009, it was held in Bangalore, along with Golden Jubilee celebrations of Bangalore Amateur Radio Club VU2ARC [22] Two ham conventions, with mostly forums, were held by the National Institute of Amateur Radio in Hyderabad in recent years which uniquely coupled the events with major DXpeditions, allowing foreign hams to operate from the rare locales of Andaman I and Lakshadweep I.