Rochester Hamfest can be a confusing experience even for the most experienced hamfest-goer. Even old-timers who have been attending for years can get disoriented because things are often a bit different from year to year.
TALK-IN
Hams have a great advantage over all other hobbyists and conference-goers in general - they have radios! The Hamfest provides talk-in service on 146.88 mHz (down 600). The talk-in service is provided by members of the Rochester Radio Repeater Assn.
A few notes to make talk-in more effective and useful:
- Follow net protocol, even in the wee hours of the morning
- Please DO NOT arrange to meet your colleagues on the talk-in frequency even if your intention is to move off immediately. There are many other fine, wide-area machines to use without taking precious net time.
- During busy times, listen for a few minutes before asking your question - it might very well be answered without you having to call at all.
- If you hear what seems to be malicious interference, please don't attempt to answer or talk with the interfering party.
PARKING
Rochester Hamfest provides FREE on site parking for regular attendees as well as those who are handicapped. Due to a reconfiguration of the fairgrounds, ALL attendees including flea market vendors must now use the Calkins Road gate. Handicapped should use the same gate. Show your ADA permit to the parking staff for admittance to special handicap parking spaces in the regular lot or in an area located directly across from the east entrance to the Dome Center building.
PRIZES
Your Hamfest ticket has a prize stub with your number. Fill out the personal information and deposit the stub just inside the Dome Center main entrance. The earlier you get your ticket in, the more chances you will have to win a prize. You do NOT have to be present to win a "Major" prize. Winners are notified by mail or email.
CAMPING
For campers, overnight parking in a special area is permitted on a space available basis. Fairgrounds personnel will collect a $35 daily fee for any use of hookups and power. Flea market operations and sales in the camper-RV parking area NOT allowed.
Tents smaller than 120 sq. ft. are permitted in the outdoor flea market area only. If your tent occupies more that 120 sq. ft. (10' x 12') liability insurance must be in place naming the Hamfest and the Fairgrounds as additionally insured. Call the hamfest business office at 585-424-7184 for details.
PURCHASES
For your protection, always make purchases using a credit card. Ask for a receipt with the vendors name, address and phone number listed on the receipt. If the vendor does not accept a credit card payment or furnish a receipt, find another vendor. Every inside vendor must register with us for his selling space. Names, addresses, phone numbers, web sites and email addresses are listed on this web site. Outside flea market vendors do not register with us. For legal reason, outside flea market people have purchased a parking space only. We do not grant permission for them to sell.
HAMFEST VOLUNTEERS
Anyone you see wearing a Hamfest Committee badge has some official capacity. If they cannot answer your question, they can most likely locate someone who can.