HAMTASTIC
SAN DIEGO
HAM RADIO GATHERING
2025 - EVENT DETAILS
BALLOON LAUNCH CONFIRMED
RadioSonde and Meshtastic Payloads
Website Last Updated 10/17/2025 1:48 PM
IT'S TOMMORROW!
San Diego’s Premier Ham Radio Gathering
📅 Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
⏰ Time: 7:00 AM – Until We’re Done
📍 Location: Fiesta Island, San Diego
What to Expect
Join hams, families, and friends for a full day of radios, fun, music, and community! Just drive around Fiesta Island and look for the popup tents, antennas, and hams gathering—you can’t miss us.
Highlights this year include:
- Balloon launch of repurposed Radio Sonde at 12PM noon. Will include Meshtastic Payload Identified as AYBB (All Your Base Balloon)
- 🎶 Live Bluegrass by Grandaddy-o’s (featuring Debbie, Larry KN6IYC, and Bruce)
- 🎤 Guest Speakers – An awesome line-up of fantastic speakers, see the schedule below for details.
- 🚓 CAL OES Participation & Vehicle Demonstrations with John Hudson (WA6HYQ)
- 📡 Meshtastic & Meshcore with KE6VDW (Alien Mesh Network)
- 🚘 Vintage Car Showcases – bring yours to display!
Bring & Share
- Radios, antennas, and HAM toys
- BBQ grills, food, and drinks
- Vintage cars, cool gear, and anything you’d like to show off
⚠️ Please note: No selling of any is permitted under our permits.
Event Talk-In Repeater
W6ZN 145.280- MHz, PL 74.4 (Palomar)
(If closer to Otay, use PL 100.0 for Otay input.)
THE GAME PLAN
7AM
HAMTASTIC OPENS
10AM ~ 11AM
BRIAN SLOSSON ( KC2GNV )
Vector Network Analyzer Operation
11:00AM ~ 11:45AM
GENE SWIECH (WB9COY)
TALK: Repurposing National Weather Service
Radio Sondes for ham radio
11:45AM ~ 12PM
RANDY STANDKE ( KQ6RS )
Randy will talk about the ground stations used to
receive the repurposed NWS radio Sondes
12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
LIVE BALLOON LAUNCH
Radio Sonde and Meshtastic Payload
Website for tracking (Search for WB9COY ): TRACK RADIOSONDE HERE
Meshtastic Payload Tracking: TRACK MESHTASTIC HERE
RadioSonde by:
Randy Standke (K6QRS), Gene Swiech (WB9COY) & David White (WD6DRI)
Meshtastic by:
Stephen Haywood (KJ6BXN) & Norman Jester (KE6VDW)
Website for tracking : TRACK RADIOSONDE HERE
Meshtastic Payload Tracking: TRACK MESHTASTIC HERE
12:30 PM
STEVE WATERMAN ( K4CJX )
WINLINK
1:30 PM
BOB BREHIM ( AK6R )
End-Fed Antennas
2:30 PM
HANK WAYNE ( W6NXS )
Tail Gunner
Watch & Share
📢 Please share this event with your fellow hams and invite them to join the fun!
Social Media Influencers and reporters are welcome to film and report on the event. We support all that help promote the Radio Arts.
Supported By
SANDRA – San Diego Repeater Association
Learn more and support your local repeaters: sandra.radio
📡 SANDRA Repeater Directory
Mt. Otay
- 146.640- (CTCSS 107.2) WB6WLV
- 224.060- (CTCSS 107.2) WB6WLV
- 449.200- (CTCSS 107.2) WB6WLV
- 1282.30- (CTCSS 107.2) WB6WLV
Mt. Laguna
- 147.150+ (CTCSS 107.2) WB6WLV
- 224.200- (CTCSS 107.2) WB6WLV
- 449.500- (CTCSS 107.2) WB6WLV
Kearny Mesa
- 447.320- (CTCSS 107.2) WB6WLV
Lyons Peak
- 146.265+ (CTCSS 107.2) W6SS
Sharp Hospital
- 147.885- (CTCSS 107.2) WA6AIL
Hi-Pass
- 145.280- (CTCSS 107.2) WB6WLV
Special Thanks to:
Josh (Ham Radio Crash Course / Hoshnasi )
https://www.youtube.com/@HamRadioCrashCourse
SANDRA ( http://sandra.radio )
Dan Hober KI6KU / CORA ( https://coraradio.com/ )
91x Erik • W6ZN ( https://www.w6zn.com/ )
Kenny Llamaman K6HKM 🦙
& Many More
CONTACTS:
Hamtastic is brought to you by:
Hank Wayne • W6NXS • (619) 520-3542 • hamtasticsd@gmail.com
John Hudson • WA6HYQ • (619) 264-8934
Norman Jester • KE6VDW • https://www.youtube.com/@ke6vdw