Talk:Hamfest

Origin

What's the origin of the Hamfest? There must have been a first one somewhere. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Waxpancake (talk • contribs) .

Links & (Un)notable Hamfests

[created section for new topic to split from above topic --WikiTraveller (talk) 20:58, 19 June 2008 (UTC)]

OK, I'm seeing problems show up. The list of links was, initially, links to only noteworthy hamfests. The largest one in the world (Hamvention). The largest one without a flea market (Visalia). An example of one that is purely special interest (Microwave Update)...The largest on the West Coast (SeaPac), the most trade-show like (Hamvention and Friedrichschafeen). Now we're getting little regional 'fests that have no real distinction, and worse than that, they're starting to write ad copy directly into the text of the article. The contributions about the NEAR-FEST are particularly egregious, since they further go on to advertise the supporting organization (an individual amateur operator). This is completely at odds with the purpose of the article, which is to explain what a hamfest is, and secondarily to give A FEW links to ones that are more significant.

Also, I note and agree with the comment that the article is far too US-centric. There's a link now to an Australian "hamfest", the largest one, that is great. Could someone from the UK add some text about your region's rallies (as they are called instead of hamfests)? How about Japan Hamfair, could we get a contribution about that one, please?

I'll check back here in a few weeks, and if the blatant advertising in the text has not been removed, I will do so. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.65.41.18 (talk) 00:06, 17 April 2008 (UTC)

This seems to be advertisement: "Shelby Hamfest is not a location, it's a spirit of fellowship." Any objections to cleaning that section up?--KertDawg (talk) 20:47, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Further to that "the granddaddy of them all" and the advertisement for the sponsoring club's 50th anniversary are off topic for the overall tone of an article on Hamfests. I have removed the advertising parts of it and simply left the claim that it's the second largest in the US, and "certainly" the largest in the southeast.192.65.41.20 (talk) 02:25, 20 November 2008 (UTC)

Someone else did a nice cleanup job of the introductory paragraphs. Thank you. The NEAR-fest comment was added, with appropriate text to indicate why this is a significant fest. I removed the blatant advertising for the Shelby Hamfest's sponsoring club, and also added the pertinent detail of attendance figures, so that it is obvious why this one is worthy of inclusion. I removed links to smaller 'fests, where there seemed to be no significant feature to them that made them worthy of inclusion. I have been unable to find a website for the Friedrichschafen 'fest; would someone be kind enough to add such a link? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.65.41.18 (talk) 20:26, 3 June 2008 (UTC)

What is significant about the Enid hamfest? Is it the largest, the oldest, a unique example of a hamfest with a special feature or what?192.65.41.20 (talk) 02:31, 20 November 2008 (UTC)

Dayton attendance: The ARRL is not in the business, nor ever has, of verifying attendance at any hamfest. The actual attendance at Dayton is always a matter of some conjecture, because they count tickets sold, with no way to really count bodies in the door. Unlike hamfests where the entry ticket MUST be purchased at the door, and raffle tickets are on separate stubs, there really is no way to verify attendance at Dayton. I propose we remove the claim that the ARRL verified the claim. Or is the statement simply saying that the ARRL has verified that Dayton makes the claim? BTW, Dayton's ticket sales for 2008 were just over 18,000...and again, who knows how many actually came in the door, and how many of those were multiple sales to an individual for improving raffle chances.192.65.41.20 (talk) 02:31, 20 November 2008 (UTC)

Should we identify an external list of hamfests (ARRL plus someone else) that can replace think links that would otherwise turn up here? Notable hamfests could be linked in the article.--WikiTraveller (talk) 20:58, 19 June 2008 (UTC)

Ohio?

I doubt this is appropriate for the Ohio Project anymore. Would anyone object to removing the tags relating to Ohio from this article and talk page?--WikiTraveller (talk) 20:58, 19 June 2008 (UTC)

I agree...this is not an Ohio-centric article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.65.41.18 (talk) 20:57, 15 July 2008 (UTC)

Actually I think it remains part of that project since a major centre in the USA is Ohio. (Just a thought really). Fishyghost (talk) 11:58, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Photo?

At the current length, do we need any more photos?--WikiTraveller (talk) 20:58, 19 June 2008 (UTC)

To start this discussion, I think we need a photo from Friedrichschafeen and Japan Hamfair. Unless this article gets significantly longer, more than that might be too much.--WikiTraveller (talk) 20:58, 19 June 2008 (UTC)