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Jim Haynie, W5JBP, ARRL president and Larry Pollock, NB5X of W5YI present Megan McClellan, K5MEM with the first "same day callsign" at Ham-Com 2004.
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Ham-Com is much more than a Hamfest! The DX community’s well-planned agenda of speakers and forums drew record crowds. Over 4,000 people typically attend the two-day event. Ham-Com is one of Amateur Radio’s “must attend” events. Many interest groups make our line up of programs and feature events big attractions for diverse groups of Amateur Radio enthusiasts.
The event typically includes programs by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), AMSAT, 10-10 International, Tri-Service MARS, QRP ARCI, the National Weather Service, North Texas Microwave Society, D-Star Users Group, Boy Scouts of America as well as other local, regional and national Amateur Radio interest groups.
Most Ham-Com attendees come from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico and Arizona. However, the event draws Amateur Radio operators from many other states and foreign countries.
Ham-Com has helped make Amateur Radio history: The 2004 event marked the first time in Amateur Radio history when call signs were issued electronically from the FCC database the same day. The credit for this feat goes to Larry Pollock, NB5X, and the W5YI-VE team. In addition, James Alderman, KF5WT, and Richard Phillips, KB5YBQ, debuted a Boy Scout "One-day Merit badge program" at the 2004 event and helped over 100 scouts receive merit badge credit during the first Saturday session. That program has continued to grow and is now being used by Scout troops throughout the U.S. Innovative programs like this help Amateur Radio to grow by adding young new licensees to our ranks.
Ham-Com is the only major hamfest since 2000 that has been able to successfully change venues. The 2008 event showed that attendance and participation by manufacturers and vendors can be increased by providing interesting programs and ensuring that all aspects of Amateur Radio are represented at the event.
