Here's what you get by attending the conference:
(If you plan to be an early arrival, scroll to the bottom of the page for some alternative activities.

Technical Presentations Presentations really aren't necessarily technical--they cover the breadth of the VHF/UHF ham radio hobby. Highlights in past years have been demonstrations of Software Defined Radio and Laser Communication beyond line-of-sight. Presentations vary from 15 to 45 minutes and step you through the highlights of the topic at hand. Your speaker is available for follow-up questions throughout the remainder of the conference. Further, many times your presenters have full papers in the Proceedings. Talks firming up for this year: (check back for updates!) Technology; from ENTRY to EXTREME Roving -- KØMHC Upper Midwest Roving Experiences -- KØPG+K9ILT 10/24 GHz Beacon Project & Brief VHF+ SDR Update -- KMØT Recent Experiences with WSJT -- KØAWU A look into the auroral zone after ten years of study -- KGØVL AMSAT: Software defined transponders -- K3IO+N4HY High Efficiency Feedhorns for Low f/D Dishes & Notes for 13cm EME -- WD5AGO 3Y0X Dxpedition & EME -- WØRUN Twin Cities Microwave Beacons -- NØKP Design of a 30" dual band dish & elevation sys. -- VE4MA SETI League 1296 MHz EME Beacon -- N6TX EN52 Beacon, design and history -- K3SIW UHF & > Microwave ATV Experiences -- K3SIW Microwave Equipment Ideas For P3E -- KØSM 40 Years of CSVHF History -- W9FZ+others Building 24 & 47 LNAs -- W2PED SDR Update - New Software Architecture (Open Source) -- K5SDR Solar Cycle 24 And What It Will Mean For 6m Propagation -- K9LA Antenna Range Friday morning, we have an outdoor antenna range where you can have your own antennas tested against standards and determine gain. If you are driving to the conference, bring your antennas from 50 MHz through 47 GHz for testing. Even if you don't bring an antenna for testing, watching the range in operation teaches you about antenna theory, performance, and construction techniques. The Antenna Range also has much fine conversation and socializing during the morning. Noise Figure Testing / Pre-amp Workshop You can learn much about Pre-amp design and performance by bringing a pre-amp for testing or tweaking. Fellow members, who frquently are engineering professionals, will assist you while you fine-tune your pre-amplifier for testing. It's fun and always increases your knowledge. Bring your pre-amps for 50 MHz through 47 GHz. Rover Row / Dish Bowl All Rovers are encouraged to bring their completely outfitted Rovermobiles. It's a great way for the Rover to give a shack-tour. We will have a designated dog-pound for all Rovermobiles on Friday morning. While the Antenna Range is in operation, many attendees will come see how you conquered installation and configuration issues in your Rovermobile. Similarly, if you have a microwave dish, please bring it for show-and-tell in the dog-pound as well. By showing your handiwork, others will gain ideas and motivation to construct their own dish systems and give all of us more operators on the high bands. Poster Sessions / Table-Top Displays All day Friday and Saturday, a portion of the Dealer Area will have Poster Sessions for viewing. Our concept is that some times a topic may not have enough meat for a full presentation or paper. Further, many basic VHF/UHF themes can be reviewed (taught) via poster sessions or table-top displays. Tri-Fold poster boards are available at Office Max/Office Depot. Students often use them for Science Fair Projects. This is a new program area for CSVHFS. We need your creativity and effort to bring more content to the event. Think about a poster session or table-top display you could create for this year. Perhaps a big operating event. Or perhaps photos of a recent construction project. You are not limited to the poster boards, you may bring actual physical items for display on the table as well. The tables will be chaperoned for security. If you are a good teacher, consider covering some basic VHF/UHF topics. That way, your presentation can be used again in subsequent years. See the guidelines for Authors and Presenters for guidelines for Poster Sessions/Table-top displays. Dealer Area All day Friday and Saturday, an entire room will be available for dealers. Between talks you can peruse their wares. Downeast Microwave, Directive Systems, and Hanger 18 Surplus have all pledged to be in attendance. Additional dealers are welcome. For dealers, we offer up to 4 tables free for your use with free electric. If you attend as a dealer, you're guaranteed to have shoppers interested in test equipment, and VHF/UHF/microwave equipment and parts. For attendees bringing used equipment to move, we'd prefer if you'd bring your material to the Flea Market (see below) rather than miss the technical presentations. If you must have a dealer table, however, you will be limited to 2 tables. Flea Market Friday night from 7pm till 10pm, our Dealer Area (and some of the lecture room) will become a Flea Market of VHF/UHF/Microwave goodies. Expect much better than you'd see at your regular hamfest. Bring things to sell--you know the interest areas of our members! Banquet Saturday night has a delicious banquet full of conversation with your fellow attendees. All family members are welcome! The dinner portion is followed by an interesting presentation (check back for our Guest Speaker). Then we present the Chambers and Wilson awards followed by the States Above 50 MHz Program awards. Then starts the Prize Table!!! The Prize Table at Banquet The Central States VHF Society Banquet Prize Table is famous for it's quantity and quality. Many generous donors make valuable gifts available for all banquet attendees. Everyone goes home with something and several are of incredible value! Please bring donations for the ham and family member prize tables. Please bring prizes and be generous with your fellow attendees. Hospitality Suites We have two Suites that will be in operation Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The Northern Lights Radio Society is sponsoring one of the Suites. Badger Contesters and Chippewa Valley VHF Contesters are sponsoring the 2nd Suite on different evenings. These are great places to enjoy some snacks and LOTS of conversation. The SNOTTS meeting will commmence at midnight on Friday night.
		Pavek Museum of Broadcasting The Pavek Museum of Broadcasting houses one of the world's finest collections of antique radio, television, and broadcast equipment. The Pavek has gained international recognition for its continuing efforts in preserving and documenting the history of an industry that has made monumental changes in the fabric of modern life. We encourage you to visit on either Wednesday or Thursday. Visit the Pavek Museum website.
Surplus Tour The Twin Cities is NOT a treasure trove of electronic outlets. But what we have is what we have. We stand ready to show you the best of what is here. If you come from a rural area where there are NO electronic outlets, you might find our Twin Cities outlets fun to explore. Lenny Klosinski KØSHF and his Prize Committee will guide a caravan on a surplus tour on Thursday morning through the mid-day till mid afternoon. Additionally, we will have maps and directions for those who want to strike out on their own. We offer carpooling to keep fuel costs down and keep things simple. We know we want you to see: MPC Surplus, ABC Electronics, The Consignment Center, and Ax-Man Surplus. Also, Radio City is our retail Ham Radio and Telescope shop in town. We have great metal yards for antenna aluminum and other projects. Garelick Steel and Midwest Steel Supply are two of our favorites.

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