Our 30th Anniversary!
Once again it’s time for fun in the sun in central Texas as we make the Capital City the place to be in the middle of the Texas summer. Come and enjoy old friends, the swapfest, and all the events at Austin Summerfest 2013, and the ARRL Texas State Convention. And as always, we also host the Summer Meeting of the Texas VHF-FM Society.
Dates: August 2 & 3, 2013
Where: Crowne Plaza – 6121 North IH-35, Austin, Texas 78752 (NE Corner of IH-35N & US 290E)
Late Breaking News
New instructions regarding hotel reservations can be found here
A Surprise Prize Donated By FlexRadio Systems!
(This is a major prize; you do not need to be present to win!)
FLEX-1500™ QRP Software Defined Radio
The Entry Level QRP Software Defined Radio That is Suited to be the Ideal IF Deck for VHF-Microwave Operation.
The latest addition to the “FLEX” family of software defined radios is the FLEX-1500. A low-cost, low-wattage SDR that is positioned to allow ham radio operators the ability to experience the incredible capabilities and just plain fun of operating a software defined radio without breaking the budget. The FLEX-1500 is the quintessential entry-level SDR from the same company that brought you the innovative FLEX-5000™ and FLEX-3000™ software defined radios. The FLEX-1500 comes packed with features that make it ideally positioned to be the ultimate low cost, high performance IF deck for VHF-microwave transverter operation. With a price point set below $700 and the continuous improvements and upgrades provided by PowerSDR™, the FLEX-1500 is by far the best value for any entry-level amateur radio available today produced by any manufacturer.
Schedule
All the activity is concentrated on Friday night and Saturday, to allow you flexibility in your weekend travel plans.
But do come early, as things fire up at 6 pm Friday evening and go ’till 9, and start up again Saturday at 8 am, with swapping ’till 3:30 and dealers & sessions ’till 4:30.
The Texas VHF-FM Society meeting will run from 1 to approximately 3 pm, so mark your schedule.
Click map to enlarge.
Dealers
There’ll be our usual fine contingent of dealers, ready to help you with their knowledge of the latest products, and a great selection of them too. Think of those little odds and ends that you’ve been thinking of getting for the shack. Here’s your chance to get them while they’re on your mind.
Prizes
Prizes Galore! You have a chance at a slew of them, including these Major Prizes:
Grand prize is a Yaesu FT-857D HF/6M/2M/70CM compact all-mode transceiver.
Our Featured Prize is a Yaesu FT-7900R
50W/45W 2M/70CM mobile transceiver.
A special Bonus Prize is a Yaesu FT-60R 2M/70CM 5W heavy-duty handheld. 
Furthermore, if you register in advance by mail you have a shot at still one more prize—another Yaesu FT-60R!
With your registration you get one ticket good for Saturday’s door prizes and the Major Prizes, and you can buy more tickets at $1 each. Plus, if you rent a room at the Crowne Plaza, you’ll get five bonus tickets for each room-night, up to a total of ten tickets. (See the RULES page for prize rules.)
Swapfest
For lots of folks, our main event–wall-to-wall goodies of every description, brought to you in carpeted, air-conditioned comfort on Friday evening and Saturday.
Rules:
- Full-sized tables: 6 feet by 30 inches. $10 each, limit of 3 to a customer. First come, first served.
- AC power is available at an additional $5 per customer, through advance registration only.
- We’ll attempt to honor requests from groups of sellers for adjacent tables, if we receive your registrations in the same envelope.
- If you advance register for swap tables, we’ll attempt to notify you in advance if they are unavailable due to being sold out (a rare occurrence). Be sure to give us your email address so we can notify you that way.
- Your table(s) will be held for you until 10 AM Saturday.
- Swapfest hours are 6 to 9 pm Friday and 8 AM to 3:30 PM Saturday. Opening times are for both sellers (for setup) and shoppers.
- Buyers and sellers must be registered at the convention.
We’ll be holding a Tailgate swapfest on the east side of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. You need not be registered at the Convention to sell at the tailgate, but of course you’ll want to attend the indoor swapfest and sessions, so it would be a good idea to register.
Driving Directions
The Crowne Plaza is at 6121 IH-35 North at US 290, Austin, TX, 78752. Phone (512)323-5466. Talk-in is on 146.34/94. Tone: 107.2Hz
Northbound on IH-35: Take Exit 238-A (RM 2222). Continue on the frontage road over US 290. Turn right into the west entrance of the Crowne Plaza parking lot.
Southbound on IH-35: Take Exit 238 B-A, marked East 290 Houston West 2222. As you go up the ramp , it splits. Bear right at the fork, taking the West 2222 ramp. As you get back down to ground level, stay in the left lane and take the U-turn under IH-35 to the northbound frontage road of IH-35. Get to the right side of the northbound frontage road as soon as possible and take the first right turn into the west entrance of the Crowne Plaza parking lot. If you miss the first turn into the lot, take the second one into the northmost end of the hotel parking lot and work your way back to the front of the hotel.
Westbound on US 290: Take the IH-35 North (Waco) exit. Shortly after the exit ramp, bear to the right; turn right into the south entrance of the Crowne Plaza parking lot. This turn comes up quick; if you overshoot, just follow the turn lane to the right onto the northbound frontage road and turn right into the west entrance of the Crowne Plaza parking lot.
Summerfest will be held in the hotel’s convention center in the southeast side.
The tailgate swapfest area will be made available Saturday morning in the parking lot section in the southeast corner of the hotel property.
Talk-In on 146.94
Austin Summerfest will use the Austin Amateur Radio Club’s 146.94Mhz (PL=107.2 Hz) repeater for Talk-in. Please follow the directions of the Talk-in Net Control operator.
