The JARL NEWS
Vol. 16, No. 2; September 2003 |
Ham Fair 2003 on a grand scale
![](hamfair2003-2.JPG) |
|
JARL's Amateur Radio Festival (Ham Fair) was held at Tokyo International
Exhibition Center "Tokyo Big Sight" over the weekend of August
23 and 24, 2003. This Japan's premier convention facility, offers 230,000
square meters of floor space in total. Ham Fair was held in the West Hall,
one of the main exhibition halls. This year, there were 272 clubs including
flea marketeers, special interest clubs, distributors, in addition to major
Japanese manufacturers occupying the spaces surrounding "JARL Corner"
where presentations, lectures and various member services were ongoing
both days. The total number of visitors this year was 28,000.
|
|
![](hamfair2003-1.JPG) |
|
Ham Fair aims at introducing amateur radio activities to the general public
as well as promoting the exchange of information and friendship among radio
amateurs. This year, the Fair received support from the Ministry of Public
Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications as well as the Ministry
of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Tokyo Metropolitan
Authorities, the Nihon Hoso Kyokai (NHK), the Yomiuri Shinbun, the Japan
Radio Association, the Japan Amateur Radio Development Association (JARD),
the Japan Amateur Radio Industries Association (JAIA), and many others.
|
|
Below are some highlights of
the Fair |
|
![](hamfair2003-3.JPG)
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony began with a welcome address by Mr. Shozo Hara, JA1AN,
President of JARL, and the curtain went up on the 27th Ham Fair right after
the customary tape cut ceremony.
From Left to Right:
*Mr. Takenobu Kaieda, JH1HNH, Chairman of Ham Fair Executive Committee
*Mr. Tokuzo Inoue, President of Japan Amateur Radio Industries Association
*Mr. Shozo Hara, JA1AN, President of JARL
*Mr. Wayne Mills, N7NG, ARRL Membership Services Manager
*Ms. Meralda Warren, VP6MW who came all the way from Pitcairn Island in
the South Pacific.
|
|
8N1HAM
The special commemorative station 8N1HAM was in active operation. JA1AN
enjoyed the first QSO with foreign guests right after opening ceremony.
More than 250 radio operators communicated with roughly 9,500 amateur radio
stations in and out of Japan.
|
![](hamfair2003-5.JPG) |
Big antennas on crank-up towers.
8N1HAM operated through the fair.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Event Corner
Many lectures and presentations were conducted. Ham Fair is also a place
to learn.
![](hamfair2003-15.JPG) |
|
|
|
![](hamfair2003-10.JPG) |
|
|
N7NG's presentation on
"The ARRL Logbook of the World"
|
|
|
|
"Event Corner" gathered so many
enthusiastic listeners every day.
|
|
|
![](hamfair2003-8.JPG) |
|
![](hamfair2003-9.JPG) |
|
|
Excellent translation and explanation by Mr. Keigo Komuro, JA1KAB, Secretary,
IARU Region 3.
|
|
A series of presentations including "VP6DI DX Pedition Story,"
"The ARRL Logbook of the World" and many other kinds, were given
at the Corner.
|
|
|
![](hamfair2003-18.JPG) |
All work submitted for the "Home-brew Equipment Contest" and
the "Composition Contest" were prominently displayed.
At the commendation ceremony, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs,
Posts and Telecommunications (MPHPT) Award was presented to the winners
by Mr. Masahiko Tominaga, MPHPT.
|
![](hamfair2003-19.JPG) |
The entire group of lucky award winners. |
|
|
D-STAR Project
![](hamfair2003-31.JPG) |
|
JARL introduced "D-STAR System"
as a means of realizing digitalization
and networking of amateur radio.
|
![](hamfair2003-29.JPG) |
|
|
|
DXCC Card Checking
![](hamfair2003-30.JPG) |
|
As in previous years, this booth became a very popular spot for JA DXers.Mr.
Wayne Mills, N7NG, ARRL Membership Services Manager, performed various
services with Japanese DXCC Card Checkers. This year, they checked more
than 10,000 QSL cards!!
|
|
|
A lot More to See, Enjoy and Learn in Ham Fair!!
![](hamfair2003-24.JPG) |
|
![](hamfair2003-32.JPG) |
Technical Symposium
|
|
Japanese manufacturers
|
![](hamfair2003-21.JPG) |
|
![](hamfair2003-22.JPG) |
Introduction of new rigs
|
|
People, people and people!!
|
![](hamfair2003-23.JPG) |
|
![](hamfair2003-26.JPG) |
10cm cubic amateur satellite!
|
|
Showing how to use a soldering iron
|
![](hamfair2003-33.JPG) |
|
![](hamfair2003-25.JPG) |
Kids also enjoyed Ham Fair |
|
Listening to the voice of FO-29 |
![](hamfair2003-27.JPG) |
|
![](hamfair2003-28.JPG) |
A big wall of QSL cards!!
|
|
272 clubs in total this year
|
|
|
Eye Ball QSO Party
![](hamfair2003-20.JPG) |
|
|
|
Guests enjoyed singing by Ms. Meralda Warren, VP6MW.
|
|
|
|
The annual Eye Ball QSO Party was held in the Washington Hotel near Ham
Fair site. A welcome address by Mr. Shozo Hara, JA1AN was made and it was
followed by speeches given by the honorary guest, Mr. Masahiko Tominaga,
MPHPT.
Distinguished guests such as Mr. Tokuzo Inoue, President of Japan Amateur
Radio Industries Association, Mr. Wayne Mills, N7NG, ARRL Membership Services
Manager, Ms. Meralda Warren, VP6MW and many others from abroad were also
invited to the party.
|
|
![](hamfair2003-6.JPG)
HAM Fair 2004 will
be held
at the Tokyo Big Sight
as well next year
from August 21 to 22, 2004!!
Mark the Date
on Your
Calendar Today |
|
|
|