Inside Hamvention 2026: What to Expect | Q5 Briefing

Inside Hamvention 2026: What to Expect | Q5 Briefing

From Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio by Kevin Thomas

April 21, 2026 · 5 min · Episode 231

About this episode

Michael Kalter W8CI discusses the significance and preparation for the Dayton Hamvention 2026.

Michael Kalter W8CI is the voice and steady hand behind the Dayton Hamvention, serving on its executive committee and as official spokesperson while also helping lead the Dayton Amateur Radio Association. What he describes is not just a convention, it is a phenomenon. With attendance pushing past 30,000 and every booth and flea market space effectively sold out, Hamvention has become something closer to a global pilgrimage for radio operators. Kalter emphasizes preparation. Study the forums, download the app, plan your days, because the scale can overwhelm even seasoned attendees. The forums, he notes, remain the heart of the event, carefully selected from a flood of volunteer proposals that built Hamvention’s reputation. But beneath the logistics is something more human. For Kalter, the magic is in reunion, the yearly convergence of voices and callsigns from around the world. It is where friendships pick up instantly and new ideas take shape. He lights up talking about the explosion of Parks on the Air, SOTA, SDR, and new technologies that are pushing operators out of the shack and into the field, testing skill and creativity in real conditions. There is also a sense of…

People in this episode

Host: Kevin Thomas

Guest: Michael Kalter W8CI

Topics covered

  • Hamvention
  • amateur radio
  • technology
  • community
  • preparation
  • youth forums

Keywords

  • Hamvention
  • amateur radio
  • Dayton
  • Parks on the Air
  • SOTA
  • SDR
  • youth forums

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Dayton Hamvention, Dayton Amateur Radio Association

Places: Dayton

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