East Central
Indiana Hamfest

Latest News

📅 Next Meeting

Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Google Meet (invitation only)
Last one went flawlessly and we did save a lot on time, wear and tear, and of course, gas.

Note: Our in-person meetings are typically held at:
Winchester Street Dept Building
191 North Middle School Rd, Winchester, IN 47394

During our meeting on November 8, 2025, we elected new club officers. You'll be able to see them here.

📻 2025 ECI Hamfest Recap

Another Hamfest in the books! Despite a gloomy forecast, the weather held — humid, but manageable. Forecast called for thunderstorms which just didn't happen during the event.  Attendance dipped a bit, possibly due to the forecast, and that could affect future door prize packages. Time will tell but we'll still have some great giveaways!

Still, we saw plenty of wins:

• ✅ Technical hiccups from last year were resolved.

• 📢 One tailgate area had trouble hearing announcements — we’ll fix that.

• 🎥 Live streaming with four cameras proved too much for our setup. Switching cams was nearly impossible, so we’ll try a different approach next time.

• 🛍️ Vendor turnout was fantastic — a big plus for everyone.

We didn’t bring in as much money as usual, and that may impact grand prizes in 2026. But we’ll play it by ear — and hope for great weather next year!

🙌 Thank You, Volunteers!

From setup to teardown — and especially those who camped overnight to keep the building secure — your dedication makes this event possible. We appreciate you!

📡 Frequencies We Monitored

Repeaters:

• 145.210– (144.610 MHz input) – PL 97.4 Hz – Pennville, IN (Talk-in)

•  443.475+ (448.475 MHz input) – PL 100.0 Hz – Portland, IN (Talk-in)

Simplex:

• 147.540 MHz

• GMRS Channel 1

Note: While 147.540 MHz and GMRS Channel 1 aren’t typical talk-in channels, they’re handy for Hamfest info and guiding folks to the event.

💸 Is It Really Free?

Yes — and we plan to keep it that way as long as possible!  Donations are welcome but never expected.  Save your cash for extra door prize tickets!

Big thanks to our generous donors and vendors who contribute prizes — your support keeps the fun going without cutting into the prize pool. We’ll make sure attendees know where to find you!

🧾 Donations & Tax Info

While we’re not tax professionals, both the ECI Hamfest and the Jay County Amateur Radio Club are registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. That means your donations are not only appreciated — they may also be tax-deductible.