About Hamvention
Contact Information
Hamvention History
Hamvention Hours
Lost Items
Special Event Station
Past General Chairmen
DARA Officers
DARA Website
Contact information
Email addresses
Phone numbers
Fax numbers
US Postal Service Address
Emergency number during Hamvention ®
Talk in
Email
Flea Market - fleamarket@hamvention.org
Volunteers - volunteers@hamvention.org
General Information - info@hamvention.org
Inside exhibits - exhibits@hamvention.org
Media - media@hamvention.org
Ticketing information - tickets@hamvention.org
Website - webmaster@hamvention.org
Telephone
Main Telephone Number: (937) 276-6930
Committee telephone numbers:
Inside Exhibits (937) 276-6931
Flea Market (937) 276-6932
Fax
Committee FAX Numbers:
Advertising (937) 312-0688
Inside Exhibits (937) 276-6934
Flea Market (Outside Exhibits) (937) 276-6934
Prizes (937) 276 6935
General Information (937) 276-6934
USPS Mail:
Hamvention
Attn: Inside Exhibits
Box 1463
Dayton, OH 45401-1463.
Hamvention
Attn: Flea Market
Box 1466
Dayton, OH 45401-1466
Hamvention
Attn: Tickets
Box 1446
Dayton, OH 45401-1446.
Hamvention
Attn: ADA Parking
Box 1446
Dayton, OH 45401-1446.
For any other Hamvention Committee:
Hamvention
Attn: (Committee you wish to contact)
Box 964
Dayton, OH 45401-0964.
Emergency Phone Number during
Hamvention weekend:
(937) 276-6930
Talk-in Frequencies...
For directions and assistance in the Dayton Area during your visit to Hamvention®,
contact "Talk-In" on the DARA Repeater 146.94 (-), alternate 146.64
(-). Dayton Hams also monitor 223.94 (-)and 442.1 (+). MIDCARS will again monitor
and provide travel assistance on 7.258 MHz. Talk-In will be in operation starting
on Wednesday at Noon and running through Sunday at 5:00 PM. Talk-In will be
off the air nightly between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM.
Where it all started...
Since 1952 Hamvention® has been sponsored by Dayton Amateur Radio Association
(DARA). For many years it has been the world's largest amateur radio
gathering, attracting hams from throughout the globe.
About 1950, John Willig, W8ACE, had asked the Dayton Amateur Radio Association
to sponsor a HAM Convention but was turned down. John wanted to have a quality
affair. Speakers and prizes would be a drawing point. John finally found a champion
in Frank Schwab, W8YCP (W8OK), the newly elected president of the club. A meeting
was held and the DARA Board allocated $100 to get started. The first organizational
meeting was held in January 1952.
The Southwestern Ohio Ham-vention was born. The first committee consisted of:
John Willig, W8ACE, General Chairman Al Dinsmore, W8AUN, Arrangements Bob Siff,
W8QDI (K4AMG), Prizes and Exhibits Frank Schwab, W8YCP (W8OK), Publicity Bob
Montgomery, W8CUJ, Finance Clem Wolford, W8ENH, Program Ellie Haburton, W8GJP
(W4ZVW), Women’s Committee The next year the name became "Dayton
Hamvention®" and was registered as a trademark.
April was determined to be the best time but the Biltmore Hotel, in downtown
Dayton was booked. March 22 was the chosen date, causing a short lead time.
How far did $100 go? Not far! A 12’ TV was raffled off to help raise funds.
The FCC agreed to give license exams and Phil Rand, W1BDM, a pioneer in TVI
elimination was on the program. First prize, a Collins 75A2, was purchased locally.
Hoping for 300 visitors, the committee was amazed that over 600 showed up! There
were 7 exhibitors and 6 forums. The ladies program was successful with a luncheon
at the Biltmore and a trip to a local TV station. In 1955 the Awards Program
began with the "Amateur of the Year." The Flea Market has grown from
200 to more than 2000 spaces. In 1964 the Hamvention® moved to Hara Arena.
Shuttle buses and handicapped parking were added in 1969. In 1973 it became
a 2 day event with Sundays added in 1974. The program has grown to a "Souvenir
Program" and in 1976 the dimensions changed from 6"x 9" to the
current 8-1/2"x11".
The growth of the Dayton Hamvention® can be attributed to caring, energetic
people who enjoy being on a winning team.
***Schedule for forums will be posted on the forums page when completed.***
Friday Activities
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Outside Exhibits open. Forums and scheduled bus service available (all buses are scheduled to pick up passengers to arrive at HARA by 8 AM). Programs available at all ticket selling points.
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Inside Exhibits open, prizes on display, hourly drawings.
Saturday Activities
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Outside Exhibits open. Bus service available.
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Inside Exhibits open, forums, exams, scheduled activities.
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m Hourly prize drawings.
Sunday Activities...
8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Outside Exhibits open.
7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Bus service available.
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Inside Exhibits open; prizes on display.
9:00 a.m. - noon. Hourly prize drawings.
9:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Forums and scheduled activities.
1:00 p.m. Prize Drawings: unclaimed hourly prizes followed by main prizes.
Lost Items
The four Hamvention® Information Booths in the Hara Arena lobby, East Hall, Conference Center and Ballarena will accept lost items. To retrieve lost items, please go to the information booth in the Hara Arena lobby.
Special Event Station
Dayton Hamvention will broadcast to the world via the Special Event Station
W8BI in the Ball Arena. The station will be operating during the hours of the
inside exhibit area. Frequencies (+/- QRM) will be:
40M - 7.227/7.050
20M - 14.270/14.050
10M - 28.470/28.050
443.775/448.775 ILRP Node 4267
Times 0900-1800 EDT Friday & Saturday and 0900-1300 EDT Sunday. CW will be tried on the hour as conditions permit.
The special event station will be utilizing a Flex Radio5000A and an Icom IC-7200.
QSLs and certificates provide Self-addressed and stamped 8x11 envelope.:
DARA/W8BI
PO Box 44
Dayton, OH 45401
Past General Chairmen
Hamvention® General Chairs, 1952-2008
|
1952-55 1956-57 1958 1959-60 1961-62 1963-64 1965-66 1967 1968-69 1970-71 1972 1973-76 1977 1978 1979 |
John Willig, W8ACE Rudy Plak, W8ZOF (W6TIK) Frank Schwab, W8YCO (W8OK) Ed F. Bonnet, W8OVG Joseph McNutt, W8GFN Sheemon Wolfe, W8WJL Edgar Smith, W8RKL Robert Wilcox, K8EJ Jack Ohmart, K8CUA Kenneth Mills, W8RLY George Shearer, WA8IHC (KE8WJ) Ted Suarez, K8BSC Wallace Wright, WA8ZCA (AD8N) John Basilotto, WA8ZAN (KC2EH) Sandford Cohen, W8JEZ (N8HWQ) |
1980-81 1982-83 1984-85 1986-87 1988-89 1990 1991-92 1993-94 1995-96 1997-99 2000-02 2003 2004-05 2006-07 2008-09 |
Noel McKeown, WB8QQC Harold Judd, WA8KNM Jack Mitchell, AA8Q Jim Simpson, WB8QZZ Bill McNabb, WD8SAY Ed Hillman, N8ALN Ross Brown, WA8DQH Dave Grubb, KC8CF Ken Allen, KB8KE Dick Miller, N8CBU Jim Graver, KB8PSO Pat Neff, N8IGS Gary DesCombs, N8EMO Jim Nies, WX8F Carl Rose, K8CPR |
