HamTastic
San Diego

"Ham radio buffs to gather Saturday at Fiesta Island for weather balloon launch"

— San Diego Union-Tribune, by Linda McIntosh · October 15, 2026

The Union-Tribune featured HamTastic 2026 ahead of the event — spotlighting the high-altitude weather balloon launch (call sign K6GO, climbing to 93,000 feet), the club tents and info tables, vintage radio displays, satellite demonstrations, community presentations, and the Mt. Carmel High School Amateur Radio Club mentors who made the launch a STEM learning moment.

"Fiesta Island Balloon Launch Set for Oct. 17, Expected to Reach Nearly 18 Miles Above Earth"

— Hoodline, by Kamal Jenkins · October 15, 2026

Hoodline covered the launch with its own deep dive — what the balloon carried skyward (a reprogrammed radiosonde broadcasting call sign K6GO), who was behind the controls, and how spectators could follow the flight live on SondeHub Amateur. As they put it: "For a community built on reaching distant signals, launching a transmitter 18 miles into the sky is less a stunt than a tradition."

"San Diego Balloon Launch Draws in High School Students"

— ARRL (The ARRL Letter) · October 2026

The ARRL itself covered the launch, spotlighting how the Mt. Carmel High School Amateur Radio Club used the K6GO flight to spark student and community interest in amateur radio and STEM. Their report tracked the balloon to 17½ miles before burst, with the payload parachuting back near Julian, some 60 miles inland — and notes that the San Diego Repeater Association is an ARRL Affiliated Club. Features photos of Randy Standke (KQ6RS) and Gayle Olson (K6GO).

HamTastic San Diego is a SANDRA event created to bring the San Diego amateur radio community together for a fun, relaxed day of radio, friendship, learning, and camaraderie.

Hosted by SANDRA — the San Diego Repeater Association, HamTastic is open to all amateur radio operators, radio clubs, organizations, families, and anyone interested in amateur radio. You do not have to be a SANDRA member to attend or participate.

The Grandaddy-o's Bruce Barnes, Larry and Debbie Joslin

with special guest Local Legend of Surf Guitar John Movius

BLUEGRASS & ACOUSTIC COVERS

📢 Note: Times are subject to change. Check back regularly or register your email to be notified of any schedule updates and additional announcements.

HamTasticSD was founded by Hank Wayne (W6NXS) and later brought into the SANDRA umbrella of management.

SANDRA is happy to be the managing partner of this event and we look forward to growing it bigger and better each year to the benefit of all ham radio operators.

Together Hank and SANDRA are committed to promoting HAM radio in a fun and educational way in Sunny San Diego. ☀️

Amateur radio is a hobby for everyone, and HamTastic welcomes all ages.

We especially encourage youth organizations, schools, Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups, and other youth organizations to attend and discover what amateur radio is all about.

This can be a great opportunity for young people to meet experienced amateur radio operators, see the equipment in action, learn how radio communications work, and perhaps even make their first amateur radio contacts with some of the friendly hams who will be setting up their stations.

🎮 PLAY THE HAMTASTIC GAME

100 ham-radio questions. 30 seconds each. Are YOU HamTastic?

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Ties are won by the earliest finisher — the finish time is the tiebreak. · Previous HamTastic Game Season Leaderboards →

🚀 WANT ON THE SUPPORTERS LEADERBOARD?

Register for the Are You HamTastic? game — free, just your callsign and email — and your account page will give you your own unique HamTastic Share Link. Post it on your social media, text it to your ham friends, add it to your website — every unique click through your link moves you up this board. Perks are coming for our top sharers!

REGISTER TO GET YOUR LINK →

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Share your unique link and climb the board — get your link.

No Sales

HamTastic is intended to be a community gathering, not a commercial event. Due to City of San Diego regulations and event permitting requirements, sales are not permitted at HamTastic.

Clubs and participants are welcome to distribute flyers, literature, club information, and swag, demonstrate equipment, answer questions, and promote their organizations. We simply ask that nothing be sold at the event.

Free and Open to Everyone

There is no admission fee to attend HamTastic. Whether you're an experienced amateur radio operator, a new ham, a club member, a family looking for something interesting to do, a Scout, or simply someone curious about radio, you are welcome at HamTastic.