Ham radio demonstrations and displays are in the works for Maker Faire the world’s largest do-it-yourself (DIY) festival. As in 2009, the festival will once again take place at the San Mateo County Expo Center in California on May 22-23. According to ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, this annual event showcases the country’s best innovations in science and technology, engineering, arts and crafts, food and music. “Like last year, there is a very well-coordinated effort among area groups to help represent the Amateur Radio Service at Maker Faire,” Inderbitzen explained. “Volunteers are planning a variety of visual, interactive and hands-on displays for the thousands of attendees.”

ARRL member Michael Pechner, NE6RD, is leading up the Amateur Radio events at Maker Faire and has assembled groups that will be supporting the effort, including the ARRL, the Foothills Amateur Radio Society (FARS), the K6BEN Silicon Valley Amateur Television Group,the Palo Alto Amateur Radio Association (PAARA), the South Bay Amateur Radio Association (SBARA), Blackberry REACT, the Bay Area Educational Amateur Radio Society (BAEARS), Argent Data Systems and Ham Radio Outlet. “Michael does a great job coordinating volunteers and connecting each of these groups together,” Inderbitzen said. “As part of our interest in providing operational support to a well-coordinated group representing Amateur Radio, the ARRL is contributing display materials, recruitment handouts and event apparel for this event. Last year’s Maker Faire was a starting point for many new licensees, with some earning their first license just two weeks following the event!”

Started in California in 2006, Maker Faire is held annually in San Mateo, California and Austin, Texas. Maker Faire is supported by Make Magazine, craftzine.com and O’Reilly Media. Additional details about ham radio at Maker Faire, including special event operating frequencies, are posted on the Foothills Amateur Radio Society’s Web site. Tickets to the 2010 San Mateo Maker Faire are available here.

Inderbitzen represented the ARRL at the 2009 Maker Faire in California; click here to find out more. For information on the 2008 Maker Faire in Austin, Texas, check out this article by ARRL Contributing Editor H. Ward Silver, N0AX.