Thanks to everyone who attended, and special thanks to everyone who helped make this year another great success!!!
2018 TechFest Announcement
Whether you have been licensed for 50+ years, newly licensed, or thinking about getting licensed, you are cordially invited to attend our upcoming TechFest.
When:Saturday, January 20th, 2018 |
Where:Gwinnett Medical Resource Center |
Cost:FREE |
2018 Raffle Prize
*** You do NOT have to be present to win the Raffle Prize. ***
For 2018, we will be raffling off a Yaesu FT-991A. The Raffle Prize drawing will be held at 2:00pm at the GARS table, immediately after all the Door Prizes have been given away. Raffle Prize tickets are separate from Door Prize tickets. Raffle Prize tickets must be purchased. The Raffle Prize will only be drawn from the Raffle Prize tickets. Door Prizes will only be drawn from the FREE Door Prize tickets, so be sure to get your FREE Door Prize ticket when you enter the TechFest venue.
Raffle tickets are $5 each, or 5 tickets for $20.
ADVANCE TICKET SALES ARE NOW CLOSED. PLEASE PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS AT TECHFEST.
Tickets will also be available for sale at TechFest.
GARS representatives will also try to visit area clubs with raffle tickets for sale.
FT-991A ALL-BAND, MULTIMODE PORTABLE TRANSCEIVER
The FT-991A is the next generation in all mode, all band MF/HF/VHF/UHF transceiver with C4FM (System Fusion) Digital capability. The FT-991A includes multi-mode operation on CW, AM, FM, SSB, and Digital Modes (Packet, PSK31, RTTY and C4FM), with 100 Watts of HF/50mhz Capability (50 Watts VHF/UHF).
The New FT-991A now includes a high-resolution full color 3.5″ TFT Touch panel for superior operability and visibility, incorporating a High Speed Spectrum and High Resolution real-time scope with ASC (Automatic Spectrum-scope control) built right in.
The FT-991A is designed for the most competitive operating situations, with a suite of new features to enhance the experience. Whether you primarily operate at home, mobile or in the field, the FT-991 will provide outstanding fundamental performance plus give you easy access to the full range of exciting modes available on the ham bands today.
Chili Cook-Off Contest
Bring a crock pot full of chili to enter the contest. Bring your award-winning chili in the morning and give it to the food staff. A panel of three judges picks the winner at 11:00am. The winning cook’s picture will be in the February GARzette and the winner gets bragging rights for a year!
2018 Door Prizes
*** You MUST be present to win a Door Prize. Unclaimed Door Prizes will be redrawn at 1:30pm until a winner is found. ***
Door Prize Drawings start at 10:00am and continue every hour at the top of the hour until our final Door Prize Drawing at 2:00pm when we will give away our Grand Door Prize listed below.
All attendees of TechFest should receive one FREE Door Prize Ticket upon entering TechFest (not to be confused with the Raffle Prize tickets that are available for purchase). FREE Door Prize Tickets will be drawn to win all the Door Prizes listed below.
*** Grand Door Prize – To be announced soon ***
ARRL – (www.arrl.org)
2 – $50 ARRL Gift Certificates
2 – $25 ARRL Gift Certificates
JMR Sales – (www.jmrsales.net)
Dual Band (Handheld) Whip Antenna
MFJ – (www.mfjenterprises.com)
1-Telegraph Key. MFJ-550
1-World Map Clock
1-24/12 hour LCD clock
2-24 hour LCD clock
1-Ceramic insulator (6pk)
2-Clear Tone Speaker
1-Telescopic 3/8 wave 2 meter Antenna
1-Guarding Angel Lightning Surge Protector
Midget Flex Duck Small Antenna
MFJ-1702C Antenna Switch
MJJ-393B Headphones with dual volume control
ARRL, book, Small Antennas for Small Spaces
The ARRL Antenna Book, 23rd Edition
Paradan Radio – (paradanradio.com)
6″ power cord w/Power pole (red and black)
RF Adapter Guy – (www.adapterguy.com)
$10 RF Adapter Guy Gift Certificate
Tower Electronics – (www.pl-259.com)
6pc. Precision Screwdriver Set
6pc. Precision Screwdriver Set, long handle
Scan Cup Window-Mount Antenna
Earbuds
Dual Band mini magnet antenna
The Wireman – (www.thewireman.com)
RG8 CQ1000 coax cable
2018 Forums
10:00am |
John Kludt, K4SQC
AMSAT — No Sunspots – How About Giving Satellites a Try?This presentation will focus on the current fleet of satellites in orbit carrying amateur radio. We will discuss what is needed to work them. This can be as simple as an HT and an Arrow antenna, or as complex as a 2.4 GHz system for the ISS HamTV downlink. Additionally we will discuss some of the activities presently going on with satellite users including telemetry monitoring, grid expeditions and the VUCC Satellite award program. |
|---|---|
11:00am |
David Benoist, AG4ZR
State of ARES Statewide, Getting Youth and New Hams Involved
|
1:00pm |
Steve Ellington, NL4Q
EFHW AntennasOne simple antenna for ALL HF bands……The EFHW Topics: |
2018 Exhibitor List
- SE VHF Society – weak signal VHF/UHF
- QCWA
- MARS
- SE DX Club – DX’ing 101
- North Fulton ARL – kit building
- Alford Memorial RC
- Gwinnett ARES
- ARRL
- Gwinnett Geekspace
- D-STAR
- New Hams – David Harden
- CW Ops – Vaden McDonald
- AMSAT
- Summits on the Air – SOTA
- McConnell Middle School
- fldigi
- GARS-VE-Team – Exams
- Heavy Metal – Antique TTY
- Antique Wireless Association – WWII Spy Radios – Brian Harrison, KN4R of the Charlotte Antique Radio Club
- Jim Reed, N4BFR – Awesome Raspberry Pi Collection
2018 Free Stuff
DX Engineering – (www.dxengineering.com)
* Stickers
HamTestOnline – online courses for the ham radio exams – (www.hamtestonline.com)
* HamTestOnline informational flyers
* Ham Radio Saves Lives bumper stickers