Thursday 15 May 2014
8.00pm - 10.00pm

Vendors and QRP clubs from around the World will be selling kits, components, antennas and all kinds of goodies. In 2013 we had tables reserved for companies from North America, South America, Europe and Asia !

This is a great place to buy. The vendors have time to chat and you can take your purchases back to the hotel room. For customers, doors open at 8.00pm

Vendors include -

• Ten-Tec
• Begali
• AlexLoop
• Alpha Antenna
• LNR Precision End Fedz
• QRP Works
• GQRP Club
• Kanga US
• 4 State QRP Group
• QRPme
• Hamsource
• STM32-SDR
• QRP Kits
• Super Antenna
• Nils R. B. Young, W8IJN
• John sundstrom, N8YQD
• Jim Wolter, W9BWC
• Gary Schultz, N8WTT

Book a Table

Friday 16 May 2014
8.00pm - 10.00pm

A night of fun, games and socialising. We tried this in 2013 and it was a great success.

QRP Clubs and groups will have a table to promote themselves. Tables can be decorated with flags and banners. Flyers and badges can be distributed - and new members recruited.

Each Club can make their table 'their own' but we suggest that some snacks/nibbles/sweets from their area are provided and some kind of game or competition is hosted (think along the lines of toroid winding and left footed CW).

Please - find out who is the lead person for this from your own club. If no one is doing it, then take the lead yourself and contact your fellow club/group members !

We currently have the following groups attending -

• North Alabama QRP
• Kickapoo QRP
• GQRP
• Space Coast QRP
• North Georgia QRP
• 4 States QRP
• Austin QRP
• QRP ARCI
• CRES-ARC QRP (Columbus)
• North American SOTA Club
• MN-amateur Technical Society
• Polar Bear QRP Group

Thursday 15 May 2014
4.30pm - 8.00pm

Once again Buildathon will be hosted by Rex Harper W1REX and it will kick off with the traditional Pizza Party !

Buildathon is held on Thursday and starts immediately after the seminars (4.30pm) - it ends at 8.00pm but will probably continue until everyone has completed their project.

The Buildathon is a group build of a small project that can be completed in one evening. Beginners are particularly encouraged and there will be plenty of people around to help.

This year the project is a pocket-sized beacon transmitter (and receiver tester) using PicAxe technology.

More information (including online registration) is available on the QRPme Buildathon webpage.

Friday 16 May 2014
8.00pm - 10.00pm

We encourage everyone with a homebrew project to display at FDIM. You can choose whether you want it to be judged or just displayed.

The categories are -

• All hombrew (transceiver, transmitter, receiver)
• Modified kit (transceiver, transmitter, receiver)
• Station accessory (homebrew or modified kit)
• Test equipment (homebrew or modified kit)
• Antenna
• SPECIAL CATEGORY - Crystal Sets
  This can be a set you built just for this competition, one you built when you were a kid - it just has to be something you built personally!  So bring out those old crystal sets (or new ones) and enter them in this SPECIAL CATEGORY.

There are awards in each category and also a special 'Best Of Show' prize.

More Details :

Saturday 17 May 2014
7.30pm - 10.00pm

The FDIM Grand Banquet is the last major event of the weekend. There's a great meal, a few announcements, the QRP Hall of Fame induction, results of the homebew competitions and then a lot of prize giving !

We have a raffle for an Elecraft KX3 with a Ham Central Terminal.
A fantastic prize package for one lucky winner !

Everyone attending is automatically entered in the draw for door prizes which include -

• two Begali paddles
• an AlexLoop antenna
• several Tuna Tin kits
• an Alpha EzMilitary Antenna
• two STM32 SDR kits
• various books
• choice of Windcamp dipole or 31ft mast
• a Ham Central Terminal (for KX3)

Prizes are donated thoughout the FDIM event - we usually have more than 50 !

Buses will run from the hotel door to the Hamvention entrance on Friday and Saturday.

This service makes it really easy to get to and from the Hamvention. If you drive you are likely to pay just as much in parking fees and be faced with a long walk to the Hara Arena.

On the outbound route buses will be available from 7.30am until 9.30am. Pickup is at the main entrance of the Holiday Inn.

Return journeys will run from 3.30pm until 5.30pm - your driver will agree a pickup location. Be sure to listen and be at the pickup point no later than 5.30pm

Ticket prices will be confirmed later ($15 in 2013). Each ticket will cover outbound/return journeys on both Friday and Saturday.

You can buy your ticket at the hotel during Wednesday evening registration and throughout the Thursday events.

For several years we have set aside rooms for spouses to enjoy some non-radio related activities.

More about :

Visiting FDIM for the first time ?
Here's a guide so you know what to expect . . .

More about :

Your registration will have been confirmed by email.

A list of attendees is here

Some people booked Seminar and Banquet tickets separately (instead of the combined Seminar/Banquet ticket). It makes no difference to you registration.

The list will be updated weekly so that you can check who else is going

'Four Days In May' is the annual convention of the QRP Amateur Radio Club International. It is held in Dayton OH and runs in parallel with the famous Dayton Hamvention.