{"id":139,"date":"2026-05-29T03:52:50","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T03:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/?p=139"},"modified":"2026-05-29T03:58:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T03:58:12","slug":"hamvention-2026-walkthrough-with-jason-km4ack-your-ultimate-guided-tour-of-the-worlds-largest-hamfest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/hamvention-2026-walkthrough-with-jason-km4ack-your-ultimate-guided-tour-of-the-worlds-largest-hamfest\/","title":{"rendered":"Hamvention 2026 Walkthrough with Jason KM4ACK: Your Ultimate Guided Tour of the World&#8217;s Largest Hamfest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"ext-animate--on wp-block-paragraph\">Hamvention 2026 has come and gone, but the excitement lingers. With nearly <strong>38,000 attendees<\/strong> flooding the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio, this year&#8217;s event once again proved why it&#8217;s the premier gathering for amateur radio operators worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ext-animate--on wp-block-paragraph\">If you couldn&#8217;t make it\u2014or if you want to relive the magic\u2014I&#8217;ve got you covered. Jason (KM4ACK) and I teamed up for a full early-morning walkthrough on Saturday. We hit the floor right before the crowds arrived, giving you a calm, comprehensive look at everything the show had to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ext-animate--on wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Watch the full video here:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/lKiVV2O5l14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hamvention Walk Thru with Jason, KM4ACK<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large ext-animate--on\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/lKiVV2O5l14\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Hamvention26_Walkthru_with_Jason-copy-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-140\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Hamvention26_Walkthru_with_Jason-copy-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Hamvention26_Walkthru_with_Jason-copy-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Hamvention26_Walkthru_with_Jason-copy-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Hamvention26_Walkthru_with_Jason-copy-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Hamvention26_Walkthru_with_Jason-copy.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading ext-animate--on\">What We Covered in the Walkthrough<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ext-animate--on wp-block-paragraph\">We started bright and early, wandering the massive indoor and outdoor spaces with minimal foot traffic. This gave us time to really explore without dodging the usual sea of hams. Highlights included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list ext-animate--on\">\n<li class=\"ext-animate--on\"><strong>Major manufacturers and vendors<\/strong>: Big names in radios, antennas, and accessories.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"ext-animate--on\"><strong>QRP and portable gear<\/strong> \u2014 Perfect for those of us who love lightweight, field-friendly setups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"ext-animate--on\"><strong>Antenna solutions<\/strong> \u2014 From hex beams to innovative mobile mounts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"ext-animate--on\"><strong>Digital and mesh networking<\/strong> displays, including AREDN.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"ext-animate--on\"><strong>The famous food scene<\/strong> \u2014 We made sure to shout out those legendary pork chop sandwiches (a Hamvention must-try!).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ext-animate--on wp-block-paragraph\">The conversation flowed naturally as we pointed out interesting finds, chatted about practical ham radio gear, and shared tips for first-timers and veterans alike. Jason&#8217;s insights paired perfectly with the tour, making it feel like you&#8217;re walking the aisles with friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading ext-animate--on\">Special Discounts &amp; Coupon Codes from the Video<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ext-animate--on wp-block-paragraph\">During the walkthrough, we highlighted several excellent vendors and partners. Here are the links and deals we mentioned:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list ext-animate--on\">\n<li class=\"ext-animate--on\"><strong>The QRP Store<\/strong> \u2014 Great selection for portable and low-power operators \u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/theqrpstore.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">theqrpstore.com<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"ext-animate--on\"><strong>REZ Antennas at DX Engineering<\/strong> \u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/dxengineering.pxf.io\/zzb2J0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dxengineering.pxf.io\/zzb2J0<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"ext-animate--on\"><strong>Ham Boutique Desk Pad<\/strong> \u2014 Stylish and functional for your shack \u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/hamboutique.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hamboutique.com<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"ext-animate--on\"><strong>Signal Stuff Antennas<\/strong> \u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/signalstuff.com\/?ref=3200\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">signalstuff.com\/?ref=3200<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"ext-animate--on\"><strong>Lido Mount<\/strong> \u2014 Excellent mobile and portable mounting solutions \u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lidoradio.com?sca_ref=8142341.UNuajLya179\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lidoradio.com<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"ext-animate--on\"><strong>Gigaparts<\/strong> \u2014 Use code <strong>KC5HWB<\/strong> for double points &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gigaparts.com\/\">Click Here<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"ext-animate--on\"><strong>VHQ Hex Beams<\/strong> \u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vhqhex.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vhqhex.com<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"ext-animate--on\"><strong>DigiRig<\/strong> \u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/digirig.net\/p\/1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">digirig.net\/p\/1<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"ext-animate--on\"><strong>Specfive<\/strong> \u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/specfive.com?sca_ref=7246271.KyGRZJaXNbi7N5P\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">specfive.com<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"ext-animate--on\"><strong>Rokland<\/strong> \u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/store.rokland.com\/?ref=ajzrmhfe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">store.rokland.com\/?ref=ajzrmhfe<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ext-animate--on wp-block-paragraph\">These are all companies I personally trust and use. Supporting them helps keep the content coming, so thank you if you check them out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading ext-animate--on\">Why Hamvention Still Matters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ext-animate--on wp-block-paragraph\">Even in 2026, walking the floor at Hamvention reminds you why we love this hobby. It&#8217;s not just about buying gear\u2014it&#8217;s about the people, the ideas, the late-night (or early-morning) conversations, and the shared passion for amateur radio. Whether you&#8217;re into contesting, emergency comms, QRP, digital modes, or just collecting QSL cards, there&#8217;s something for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ext-animate--on wp-block-paragraph\">Missed it this year? Start planning for 2027 now. And in the meantime, watch our walkthrough to get inspired for your next build, activation, or shack upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ext-animate--on wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>73, and we&#8217;ll see you in the next one!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ext-animate--on wp-block-paragraph\">\u2014 Ham Radio 2.0 (KC5HWB) &amp; Jason (KM4ACK)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ext-animate--on wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Have you attended Hamvention 2026? Drop your favorite moment or best purchase in the comments. What should we cover next?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ext-animate--on wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hamvention 2026 has come and gone, but the excitement lingers. With nearly 38,000 attendees flooding the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio, this year&#8217;s event once again proved why it&#8217;s the premier gathering for amateur radio operators worldwide. If you couldn&#8217;t make it\u2014or if you want to relive the magic\u2014I&#8217;ve got you covered. Jason (KM4ACK) [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":143,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hamvention-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=139"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":141,"href":"https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139\/revisions\/141"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.livefromthehamshack.tv\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}