October 16 @ 1:00 am – October 18 @ 7:30 am UTC-8

http://pacificon.org

Note: Registration Closes @ Midnight on October 1st!

• Over $11,000 was given out as prizes.

• Three jumpers made parachute mobile contacts.

• People Got On The Air at the Special Event Station W1AW/6 hosted by paara.org.

• Elecraft released the KH1 radio and we gave one away as a grand prize to an attendee. Wayne Burdick N6KR interview by KK6USY.

• Pete Harris was awarded Volunteer of the Year.

• Our super Hospitality efforts kept vendors and staff going!

• theEpochTimes.com article

Pacificon℠ gives you three great days of activities for one low cost:

* A full slate of outstanding Forum presentations about a wide range of amateur radio topics

* An all-day Antenna Seminar (additional fee required)

* Gordon West, WB6NOA: Author, educator, speaker and irrepressible promoter of all things ham radio

* Large Vendor and Nonprofit expo filled with exciting products and exhibits

* Events including an outdoor Swap Meet

* Youth Activities

* Parachute Mobile contacts

* Electronics kit building and soldering instruction

* A One Day License Prep Class to prepare you to pass the amateur radio Technician license examination and get your first amateur radio license

* A One Day License Prep Class to prepare you to upgrade to the GeneralClass level

* Two days of License Testing

* A Special Events Station W1AW/6 where you can operate and contact other hams worldwide, even if you don’t have a license

* Our annual Wouff Hong Initiation ceremony

* A chance to hear about and discuss important national amateur radio issues with top ARRL leaders

* A chance to win radios and other great prizes throughout the convention

* M17 digital voice mode (patent free) and MMDVM talk and booths. M17 will be supported by our repeater W6CX soon.

And perhaps the best part – a chance to interact and share information with lots of other amateur radio enthusiasts to further (or begin) your own knowledge and to advance the hobby. 

Click here for the flyer: 

The post Pacificon 2026 Ham Radio Convention appeared first on TCARES.

March 16, 2024 @ 7:00 am – 12:00 pm PDT

https://www.w6ek.org/activities/hamfest

2.5 Hours of travel time from SONORA (up Hi-way 49)

The first Hamfest of 2024 at the historic Loomis Train Depot.  There will be plenty of coffee and donuts for you to enjoy while you shop for gear at our Club Table and swap meet, attending presentations.  Come on out rain or shine!!

DEPOT TIME

Depot Time is where you get to learn new things. Currently, we are working hard in our shack to bring you informative and exciting topics. Stay tuned and check back often.

ELMER TOURS

Are you a new ham? Or just wondering what all this stuff is and how to use it? Then an Elmer Tour is for you! Elmer tours are FREE and conducted by experienced members of the Sierra Foothills ARC. They will walk you through the swap meet showing you all the neat ham gear available. More importantly, they will explain why you would want it and how you might use it. They are there to answer all your questions! Inquire at the Test Table …

TEST TABLE

Need to test equipment you are thinking about buying? Bring it over to the Sierra Foothills ARC Test Table. There will be power supplies, antennas, antenna analyzers, and other test equipment to check out your potential purchase. The table will be staffed by experienced SFARC Elmers. You don’t have to go home wondering if you bought a boat anchor.

ARRL BOOTH

Loomis Hamfest 2024 is, once again, an ARRL sanctioned hamfest. Drop by the ARRL Booth and visit with your Section Manager and other local ARRL staff. While you are there, pick up the new color US Amateur Radio Bands chart. Learn how ARRL membership can enhance your Ham experience. Let ARRL help you!

SELLERS

Sellers can purchase spaces on a first-come-first-served basis on the day of the event. Spaces range in size from a standard parking stall to 8′ x 8′.  All spaces, regardless of size, cost $10 each.  Sellers may purchase as many stalls as desired.  SFARC staff will make every effort to accommodate requests for specific locations.

Sellers may arrive starting at 6:00 AM to set up.  Follow the “Seller” signs or ask our parking staff for directions to the Seller’s entrance.  Sellers may park in their stalls.  Vehicles must fit within the area purchased.  Additional parking is available at no additional cost.

​Sellers need to bring their own tables, chairs, pop-ups, generators, etc… No equipment will be provided.  No electrical power will be available to sellers.

Show up early on the day of with your $10 bill, get a spot, and join us for a day of fun!

SPECIAL NOTICE

California law requires Swap meet operators to obtain information on all sellers who conduct activities on premises.  Sellers are be required to fill out the State of California, Department of Tax and Fee Administration, Form 410d: Swap Meets, Flea Markets, or Special Events Certification.  This form is available at:  www.cdtfa.ca.gov/formspubs/cdtfa410d.pdf.  To expedite entrance into the Swap meet, please print and bring with you a completed and signed form.  Thank you!

Event Information:
Event Name and Place:  Loomis Hamfest, Loomis, Calif.
Event Date:  March 16, 2024

Forms will be available for you if you forget yours.

All sellers will be required to complete the form prior to setup.

Additional information is available in Publication 111, Operators of Swap Meets, Flea Markets, or Special Events on the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration website.

PARKING

Parking is FREE at Loomis Hamfest.

We have several lots to park vehicles.  Please follow SFARC parking staff directions.  They will direct you to the closest available spot.

​Disabled parking is available adjacent to the Hamfest site.  To access ADA parking, cross Taylor Road and turn right into the ally way behind Taylor’s Restaurant.  Please let the SFARC parking staff know you are looking for the disabled parking lot and they will guide you.

Sellers may park in their stalls.  Vehicles must fit within the area purchased.  Additional off-site parking is available at no additional cost.

The post 8TH ANNUAL LOOMIS HAMFEST appeared first on TCARES.

June 6, 2024 – June 9, 2024 PDT

The Northwest’s Largest Ham Convention

and the ARRL Northwestern Division Convention

To stay in formed about SEA-PAC, subscribe to the low volume eMailing List by sending an email with your name and callsign to info@seapac.org.
Commercial Exhibits – Giant Flea Market – Workshops – Seminars

Banquet – Prizes – VE Testing – DX & YL Luncheon

and lots more…

On the beautiful Pacific Ocean beach

Information: info@seapac.org

Facebook: SEA-PAC

The post SEA-PAC 2024, Seaside Oregon appeared first on TCARES.

October 10, 2025 @ 1:00 am – October 12, 2025 @ 10:00 am UTC-8

http://pacificon.org

Note: Registration Closes @ Midnight on October 1st!

• acificon awarded radios to the youngest ham and twin 11 year old girls from Napa that passed their Technician exam on Saturday morning, the second and third youngest. With permission, above is their reaction to their exam results with their proud father Nik W6QY.

• Over $11,000 was given out as prizes.

• Three jumpers made parachute mobile contacts.

• People Got On The Air at the Special Event Station W1AW/6 hosted by paara.org.

• Elecraft released the KH1 radio and we gave one away as a grand prize to an attendee. Wayne Burdick N6KR interview by KK6USY.

• Pete Harris was awarded Volunteer of the Year.

• Our super Hospitality efforts kept vendors and staff going!

• theEpochTimes.com article

Pacificon℠ gives you three great days of activities for one low cost:

* A full slate of outstanding Forum presentations about a wide range of amateur radio topics

* An all-day Antenna Seminar (additional fee required)

* Gordon West, WB6NOA: Author, educator, speaker and irrepressible promoter of all things ham radio

* Large Vendor and Nonprofit expo filled with exciting products and exhibits

* Events including an outdoor Swap Meet

* Youth Activities

* Parachute Mobile contacts

* Electronics kit building and soldering instruction

* A One Day License Prep Class to prepare you to pass the amateur radio Technician license examination and get your first amateur radio license

* A One Day License Prep Class to prepare you to upgrade to the GeneralClass level

* Two days of License Testing

* A Special Events Station W1AW/6 where you can operate and contact other hams worldwide, even if you don’t have a license

* Our wonderful Banquet & Keynote (video) Speaker Steve Goodgame K5ATA, ARRL Education and Learning Department  (additional fee required)

* Our annual Wouff Hong Initiation ceremony

* A chance to hear about and discuss important national amateur radio issues with top ARRL leaders

* A chance to win radios and other great prizes throughout the convention

* M17 digital voice mode (patent free) and MMDVM talk and booths. M17 will be supported by our repeater W6CX soon.

And perhaps the best part – a chance to interact and share information with lots of other amateur radio enthusiasts to further (or begin) your own knowledge and to advance the hobby. 

Click here for the flyer: 

The post Pacificon 2025 Ham Radio Convention appeared first on TCARES.

January 19, 2025 – January 25, 2025 PST

QuartzFest is special in part because it comes to life each year, rising from nothing in a remote area of the Sonoran desert in the southwestern USA. Hundreds of Hams and their families and friends choose to unplug from their daily lives, travel to and setup this desert community, and immerse themselves in this week-long one-of-a-kind ham radio, camping, learning and living event.

The educational classes at QuartzFest offer something for everyone including those new to ham radio or even the most seasoned veteran.

QuartzFest is a week-long ham radio, camping, learning and living event.

QuartzFest is an ARRL Specialty Convention held in January  near Quartzsite, Arizona in the United States. No other hamfest in the world brings together in one gathering so much innovation in mobile antenna systems, mobile ham shacks, recreational vehicles, portable and mobile EMCOMM systems, off-the-grid living, alternative energy and radio education.

What? Quartzfest© is an annual HAM Radio RV and tenters Boondocking event which is held in
late January every year with dates coinciding with the Quartzsite Arizona “RV Show”.
When? January 19th thru 25th of 2025 (make sure you add these important dates to your 2025
calendar)

Where? 7 miles south of Quartzsite Arizona – on US 95 at La Paz Valley Road
Who Can Attend? ANYONE! If you don’t have your Amateur Radio Operators License yet, you’ll
be able to take your Amateur Radio Operators License Exams at Quartzfest©
Cost? $5.00 per person for the entire week
Our Annual Amateur Radio “get together” is called “Quartzfest©” and is open to ALL to attend.
Quartzfest© is not a club, no officers and no dues..and only costs $5.00 per person for the entire
week of fun!! During the week of Quartzfest©, RV’s are everywhere across the desert, as far as
you can see..every make and model you can imagine!
There are hundreds of groups that meet in Quartzsite every year in different parts of the desert
who share like interests. Our group, Quartzfest©, started out in 1997 as just a few HAM RV’ers
getting together, camping in their RV’s in the middle of the desert..no power, no running water.
Solar Panels and Generators are in use everywhere (Porta-Potties are available for our tent campers
and day visitors).
Quartzfest© is similar to a Hamfest but lasts an entire week and is packed full of scheduled Seminars
and Activities (no vendors are allowed on BLM land though). Talks range in topics from Genealogy
and Crafts for Non-HAM’s to Solar Power and Battery Information, Technical information for the
seasoned HAM, and introductory information for the new HAM. Also included in the week’s activities
are Amateur Radio License Testing, Antenna Walkabout (touring other HAM’s RV Antenna
installations), Solar Walkabout, 4×4 Off Road Trip in the Desert, Prospecting, Campfires (some with
musical entertainment), Pot Luck dinner, Hootenanny and lot’s more!
We Camp on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land which is FREE, but you can only camp there for
14 days at a time.

The post 2025 Quartzfest Ham Radio Convention appeared first on TCARES.

October 20, 2023 – October 22, 2023 UTC-8

http://pacificon.org

—

Pacificon gives you three great days of activities for one low cost:

* A full slate of outstanding Forum presentations about a wide range of amateur radio topics
* Gordon West
* Bob Heil
* Youth Forum with Carole Perry
* A large Vendor Expo filled with exciting products and exhibits
* An outdoor Swap Meet
* QRP activities
* Youth Activities
* Electronics kit building and soldering instruction
* A One Day License Prep Class to prepare you to pass the amateur radio Technician license examination and get your first amateur radio license
* A One Day License Prep Class to prepare you to upgrade to the General Class level.
* Two days of License Testing
* A Special Events Station where you can operate and contact other hams worldwide, even if you don’t have a General or Extra Class license
* A wonderful Banquet with Keynote Speaker
* Our annual Wouff Hong Initiation ceremony
* A chance to hear about and discuss important national amateur radio issues with top ARRL leaders
* A chance to win radios and other great prizes throughout the convention

And perhaps the best part – a chance to interact and share information with lots of other amateur radio enthusiasts to further (or begin) your own knowledge and to advance the hobby.

The post Pacificon 2023 Ham Radio Convention appeared first on TCARES.

January 16, 2021 – January 23, 2021 PST

From: https://quartzfest.org

Information About Quartz-Pause 2021

 QUARTZFEST is now “QUARTZ-PAUSE” 2021 

YES, Quartzfest is now Quartz-PAUSE 2021, same BLM place, same station, same excitement , Sunday January 17  through Saturday January 23rd, 2021. 

“NOTHING WILL BE ORGANIZED”….just like the first 4 years of Quartzfest 25 years ago! WHO IS IN CHARGE???….NO ONE IS IN CHARGE!! We are all ON OUR OWN!! 

Covid-19 precautions preclude our regular tent gatherings, tent registrations, packed seminars, and the like. Social physical distancing and masks will keep us on-point to avoid any virus during this pandemic. 

Quartz-PAUSE will continue to be radio ACTIVE.   Talk in on 146.550 simplex. Park ANYWHERE you want, and leave more room to spare. Announcements in the morning and evening on 146.550. 

YES, the Main Fire Ring will be the focal point where there will be no close gatherings, per management….oh….there is NO management this year…….. 

YES, Frank is thinking about planning a day of guided and narrated 4-wheel. No visitors in the caravan vehicles, suggested, unless family.

 

YES, one day will be a yard sale, socially distanced, and handle inspections of gear with gloves. ( some ham gear, we do that anyway!)

 

Yes, Gary will have lots of ATV topics to see and hear in your own unit’s cable ready TV. 

Socially distanced HOOTENANNY, …we got the whole desert, in our (sanitized) hands, …Bring your gut-buckets and kazoos.




 

GOLD in them thar hills, you say? Lots of room to separate and do some rock hounding….we got the whole mountains nearby….. Have you been to Quartz Hill, about a half hour away? 

the BIG WHITE TENTS are coming to town, the full week, so mask-up and explore the RV show with no time limit to get back to Mile 99.

 

GEMS AND MINERALS, just across the street in town – bring some home and tell your pals you “found” them in plain site at Quartzite, Arizona. Be sure and stop in 

at the formal store fronts that sell minerals – let’s support Quartzite Arizona businesses. 

GO CLIMB A HILL….A SUMMIT….for SOTA activity one day.

 

I am told there are areas against the distant mountains where you can set up a pistol range for working those “sites” safely.  Masks AND ear protection advised.

A day of Geocaching in the nearby open areas? Bring your GPS gear. 

and….a day of ATVing looking for Quartz boulders? Just don’t be a claim jumper – most are sorta marked. And Yes, we will put out some very old coins like last year, for metal detecting. And yes, we will have T hunting, too. 

P T ! FALL IN, SOLDIERS! Start the day with a track run/walk around the perimeter, and see all the antennas and solar. 

PETS ALWAYS WELCOME, but keep them safe on a leash, and never EVER leave them outside on a line unattended – Coyotes, not a 4-paws best friend. 

OK OK OK….you get the point – this will be a fun laid back weeker on the desert floor, RoadRunner BLM 14 day free stay location, just like before. BUT WE WON’T BE ORGANIZED ONE BIT!!! 

And this year, no cramped gatherings in tents, no porta potties, no major PA systems for shoulder to shoulder seminars, but lots of free time to do whatever ideas you come up with. Dream them up, announce them on 146.550 MHz simplex, and keep your fans separated.

  

The big white tent in town will be open during the week. From what I’ve read, they’ll have “one way” aisles in the tent to help with social distancing. Also, the vendors across the street from the big tent will be open as well. 

If you have plans for a day that can include others socially distanced, make sure you have your VHF rig tuned to 146.55 simplex at 8:00am every morning for our daily net. During that net you’ll be able to let us know what you have planned for those who may want to join you. 

If you want to set up a few Geocaches or set up hidden transmitters for a T-Hunt, or any other activity that would be of interest to others, that would be amazing. 

That’s all for now. Lyn and I are looking forward top seeing y’all in January. If you’re a member of our Quartzfest Facebook group, make sure you go to our Quartzfest event page to let us know of your going top join us on he desert floor. 

73, 

Kris KR1SS & Lyn KJ7DSE

The post QUARTZFEST 2021 appeared first on TCARES.

Pacificon gives you three great days of activities for one low cost:

* A full slate of outstanding Forum presentations about a wide range of amateur radio topics
* Gordon West
* Bob Heil
* Youth Forum with Carole Perry
* A large Vendor Expo filled with exciting products and exhibits
* An outdoor Swap Meet
* QRP activities
* Youth Activities
* Electronics kit building and soldering instruction
* A One Day License Prep Class to prepare you to pass the amateur radio Technician license examination and get your first amateur radio license
* A One Day License Prep Class to prepare you to upgrade to the General Class level.
* Two days of License Testing
* A Special Events Station where you can operate and contact other hams worldwide, even if you don’t have a General or Extra Class license
* A wonderful Banquet with Keynote Speaker
* Our annual Wouff Hong Initiation ceremony
* A chance to hear about and discuss important national amateur radio issues with top ARRL leaders
* A chance to win radios and other great prizes throughout the convention

And perhaps the best part – a chance to interact and share information with lots of other amateur radio enthusiasts to further (or begin) your own knowledge and to advance the hobby.

The post Pacificon 2020, San Ramon California appeared first on TCARES.

and the ARRL Northwestern Division Convention

Seaside Convention Center, 415 First Avenue, Seaside, OR 97138

SEA-PAC 2020 is June 5-7, 2020

The 2020 theme is “Embrace the Solar Minimum Challenge”

Thank you for attending SEA-PAC 2019!

2019 Workshop presentations and videos are now available here

2019 Seminar presentations are now available here

We look forward to seeing you in 2020!

2019 Workshop presentations and videos are now available

To stay in formed about SEA-PAC, subscribe to the low volume eMailing List by sending an email with your name and callsign to info@seapac.org.

Commercial Exhibits – Giant Flea Market – Workshops – Seminars

Banquet – Prizes – VE Testing – DX & YL Luncheon

and lots more…

On the beautiful Pacific Ocean beach

Information: info@seapac.org

Facebook: SEA-PAC

The post SEA-PAC 2020, Seaside Oregon appeared first on TCARES.

January 18, 2020 – January 25, 2020 PST

A Very Unique Ham Radio Gathering

QuartzFest is special in part because it comes to life each year, rising from nothing in a remote area of the Sonoran desert in the southwestern USA. Hundreds of Hams and their families and friends choose to unplug from their daily lives, travel to and setup this desert community, and immerse themselves in this week-long one-of-a-kind ham radio, camping, learning and living event. The educational classes at QuartzFest offer something for everyone including those new to ham radio or even the most seasoned veteran.

They give participants the chance to put hands-on the latest technology, learn ham radio for the first time, study advanced radio theory and to even take a glimpse into the future of radio science. The learning also continues well-beyond the technical lectures all the way from morning coffee… through social events, music, arts and crafts classes during the day… and into the evening while sitting around the campfire or while star-gazing.

Some History of Quartzfest

---

The Early Years

1.    After informally meeting for several years with various ham radio/RV friends,  beginning in 1995 near Mile Marker 99 about six miles south of Quartzsite, Az, Harvey K5LJM, and Margie, AB5ZX, decided to officially host a ham gathering around the last week of January, 1997. They called it Quartzfest and put the word out and had nearly 60 RVs that were parked around the site in the Sonoran Desert.  

2.   It had a great area to gather for a daily 4:00 social hour every day and also to have a nightly campfire. The last of January was selected to coincide with the RV Sports and Vacation Show and the Gem and Mineral Show. They made it a week long event with seminars, a ladies coffee, beef stew dinner and different activities that were of interest to the group. It included volunteers to hold ham radio exams, donut runs into the local bakery, firewood gatherers, and whatever else that added to the group’s enjoyment.

3.   Harvey and Margie hosted Quartzfest through 2001 then turned it over to Bob, WA7HRA, and Anne Hart for 2002 and 2003 and then Harvey and Margie were hosts once again for the 2004 gathering – their last time. Harvey became ill with cancer in late 2004 so we turned to Cap Latimer, WB6ZDF, and Tom Hensley, KD7ALH, for help and they kindly filled in for us in 2005. Harvey passed away in February of 2005 but Quartzfest lived on with Tom, KD7ALH, and Sue, KD7AMA, Hensley hosting it in 2006 and 2007. Cliff, KD4ZBP and Virginia, KE4VRW, Haycock hosted Quartzfest 2008, 2009 and 2010. Now the torch has been passed on to Steve, K04QT, and Linda, KI6JUD, Weed. After the January 2015 gathering the coordination was turned over to new organizers Dave, K1AN and Heather, W8GEM with a newly established QuartzFest Planning Committee that also includes Gordo (WB6NOA), Kris (KR1SS), Marilynne (W6MCJ), Neil (W6FOG), Russ (KB6YAF) and Tracy (WA6ERA).

4.   Harvey always liked to call the gathering just a simple little campout in the desert with good friends sharing a common interest with ham radio and RVs. He thought it very important to have new people attend every year along with the regulars because you need fresh ideas and thinking to keep an event like this going and we tried our best to make everyone feel welcome. Since then Quartzfest has grown to include hundreds of ham radio enthuasists and their families. Margie Tetmeyer has continually expressed, on behalf of Harvery and herself, how grateful and thankful they are to everyone that has attended and participated in QuartzFest and welcomes the many new friends that will attend this “simple little campout” in the future.

The post QuartzFest 2020 appeared first on TCARES.