Hamfests are supposedly about radios, antennas, parts and all the other stuff we probably don't need but somehow manage to bring home anyway. But the best part has always been the people.
This year was no exception. We got to catch up with a lot of old friends, put faces with a few callsigns and names we've known online, and meet plenty of new folks along the way. That's one of the things I enjoy most about amateur radio. You can talk with someone across the country on the air or interact with them online for years, but there's still something different about getting to shake hands and visit across a table at a hamfest.
And, of course, we did manage to sell a few antennas!
We brought along a selection of our W5CWT antenna gear, transformers, adapters and other odds and ends. It's always fun getting to talk with people about what they're trying to do, whether they're putting together their first portable station, experimenting with a new antenna, or just looking for another excuse to get some wire in a tree.
That's really what I enjoy about building and selling this stuff. The sale is nice, but the conversations are better. Sometimes somebody walks away with one of our antennas. Other times, we just spend 15 minutes talking about what they've tried, what worked, what didn't and what they might try next. Either way, that's a pretty good day.
The Shreveport Hamfest has become one of those events we look forward to each year. The folks in Shreveport always put on a good show, and 2026 gave us another day of radios, stories, laughter and friendship.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by the W5CWT table, whether you bought something, came over to say hello, or just stopped long enough to talk antennas with us.
We had a great time, and we're already looking forward to doing it again.
Until next time: Equip. Explore. Communicate.
