Conference Activities & Events
Thursday Evening Event
After a long day of travel, join us for a social/mixer dinner. Possibly in the hotel or possibly as a paddleboat dinner cruise on the Mississippi. Stand by for update!
Antenna Range
Bring your antennas for testing and characterization ! Once again the VHF/UHF/Microwave antenna ranges will be operating on Friday morning (weather permitting). Compare your antennas to the CSVHFS standards and explore your antenna's pattern. Even if you don't bring an antenna for testing, come on out to the range and learn about how they are run and learn about antennas.
Noise Figure Measurement Lab
Bring your Low Noise pre-amps for testing and characterization! We'll have equipment and volunteers to test your pre-amps and transverters (for system NF). Get building!
VHF/UHF/Microwave Vendor Room
VHF/UHF/Microwave vendors will be present to sell pieces, parts, and more.
Poster/Tabletop Presentations
Have content to share with the attendees but not able to work it into a paper or a presentation? Consider a "Poster Session" or a table-top display. Tri-Fold poster boards are available at Office Depot and Staples. We'll have table space for you to display them.
Rover Row
Bring your Rover vehicle and offer "shack visits"! We'll have a specific place for you to park on Friday morning. Conference attendees can work their way down the row to check out the many rovers, visit with their owners, etc.
Dish Bowl
Bring your portable Microwave Dish system for show-and-tell! Owners will have the opportunity to provide show-and-tell to Conference attendees. Learn how they've solved problems and integrated their systems. Operate your first 10 GHz and 24 GHz contacts with gear available for trying.
Technical Presentations (Friday Afternoon and Saturday)
Technical Presentations from all over the VHF/UHF weak-signal spectrum: equipment, circuit design, antennas, propagation, and operational procedures. As speakers and their topics are locked in, they will appear in our Schedule of Events.
Friday Night VHF/UHF/Microwave Swapfest
Bring your excess equipment for trading on Friday Night. You have items of unique interest to VHF/UHF/Microwave operators and they have interest in what you have. Work out a trade!
Hospitality Room
The Hospitality Suite will allow for conversations and networking to continue into the late hours without worrying about disturbing the neighbors. A favorite for many attendees! In operation Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
VHF101 (Saturday Morning)
An alternate track of presentations: oriented to new-comers to the VHF world. Provides a first look at weak-signal VHF operations. Buiild your own 432 MHz yagi antenna as an introduction to antennas for VHF weak-signal operating.
Microwave 101 (Saturday Afternoon)
An alternate track of presentations: If you’re looking for new operating challenges beyond the VHF and UHF bands, why not consider the super-high frequency (SHF) bands, also known as the microwaves? A 1.5 hour presentation about getting started and having fun operating on the microwave bands. Topics that will be discussed include: the equipment needed to operate at microwave frequencies, the skills necessary to effectively operate a microwave station, microwave propagation, and operating activities available on the microwave bands. Following the presentation, the class will explore all of the concepts discussed using a 10 GHz dish rig.
Saturday Night Banquet
Bring your entire family and come and join us for an evening of socializing and dining that features award presentations, a banquet speaker, and our prize table giveaways
ARRL
Our conference is an ARRL sanctioned event. Section, Division, and National ARRL representatives will be present.
QSL Card Checking
Get your Awards cards for DXCC, VUCC, WAS, and WAC verified with out the need to send them to Headquarters