Hamvention 2024 - Banquet and Speaker News

Mike-VA3MW

Just a quick reminder for all our FlexRadio enthusiasts planning to attend the FlexRadio Banquet on May 16 and 17—make sure to secure your tickets before May 1st, 2024, to take advantage of the current pricing. 

After this date, ticket prices will increase. 

This event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow amateur radio aficionados, discuss the latest in technology, and enjoy a great evening of camaraderie. Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of this special gathering. Secure your spot today and join us for what promises to be a memorable experience!

You can purchase your tickets here: 

https://www.flexradio.com/products/categories/hamvention/

We are pleased to announce our 2 Guest Speakers for the Hamvention 2024 Banquets

Thursday - Rod Blocksome, K0DAS

Rod’s interest in radio communications goes back to 1960 when he obtained his amateur radio license (K0DAS) while in High School. He holds BSEE and MSEE degrees from Kansas State University. He served 4 years in the USAF as a Communications-Electronics Officer during the Vietnam era.

In 2010, he retired from Rockwell Collins after a 42 year career in communications equipment design, systems
engineering, and engineering management. After retirement, he co-founded the Arthur A. Collins Legacy Association – a non-profit dedicated to preserving and presenting the
history of the Collins Radio Co. to promote education in the STEM subjects.

The Search for Amelia Earhart’s Airplane

Rod has been contributing research and analysis for nearly 25 years to Nauticos LLC, a deep ocean exploration company, in an effort to locate Amelia Earhart’s Airplane lost
near Howland Island on July 2, 1937. He has participated in three search expeditions to this remote area of the Pacific in 2002, 2006, and 2017 and expects to return for a
fourth in the near future. His presentation will cover Amelia Earhart’s accomplishments and details of her ill-fated flight in 1937 followed by a summary of the team’s technical analysis to determine the most probable areas of the ocean to search. He will also share the at-sea adventures of the deep ocean sonar searches near Howland Island.

Friday - Rob Sherwood, NC0B

Rob Sherwood began his journey in ham radio in 1961 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has been active in the field ever since. After earning a degree in physics in 1969, he worked as an engineer at KOA radio in Denver, managing a range of broadcasting equipment until 1987. 

He founded Sherwood Engineering in 1974, specializing in roofing filters and upgrade kits for ham radios, and gained recognition for his critical assessments of receiver performance, leading to publications and presentations at major ham radio events.

Rob is the Vice Chair of the Clean Signal Initiative. 

ARRL CSI Initiative

Rob will discuss the ARRL's CSI program which includes several off-air screen captures demonstrating excessively wide CW and SSB signals. 

Also included are a couple of examples of how effective predistortion can be to reduce SSB splatter.   

More on CSI:  https://www.arrl.org/arrl-clean-signal-initiative