On Saturday, October 17, a group of us from the Imperial County Amateur Radio Group (W6ICR) made the trip west to Fiesta Island in San Diego for HamTastic SD 2026, the annual gathering hosted by SANDRA (the San Diego Repeater Association).
HamTastic is a free, relaxed, bring-your-own-BBQ-style event open to all hams, clubs, families, and anyone curious about amateur radio. No sales are allowed (city permit rules), but clubs are encouraged to set up tables or tents, show off gear, operate, share info, and just hang out. The day ran from sunrise until people decided to pack up, with talk-in on the linked SANDRA repeaters (including 146.640- PL 107.2 on Mt. Otay) and 146.555 simplex for local traffic.
We were listed as one of the participating clubs, and it was great to represent the Imperial Valley alongside groups like the Amateur Radio Club of El Cajon, ROARS from Ramona, Southwestern REACT, and others. The setting on Fiesta Island was perfect—open space, ocean breeze, and plenty of room for antennas, tents, and grills.
Highlights from the day included:
- A weather balloon launch around noon by Randy Standke (KQ6RS). The transmitter used the callsign K6GO and was expected to reach roughly 93,000 feet (nearly 18 miles up) before bursting. Tracking was available on amateur.sondehub.org.
- Presentations covering practical topics like using antenna analyzers (Brian Slosson, KC2GNV), audio equalization for ham radio (Tom Tanner, K6QIL), transformers and power supplies, and radio installation techniques (Hank Wayne, W6NXS, one of the event’s founders).
- Live bluegrass and acoustic music from The Grandaddy-o’s (Bruce Barnes, Larry and Debbie Joslin) with special guest surf guitarist John Movius.
- Lots of informal radio talk, club networking, equipment demos, and the usual mix of HF/VHF/UHF stations, mesh experiments, and emergency-communications interest that makes these gatherings fun.
It was a solid chance to connect with operators from across San Diego County and beyond, swap stories, and see what other clubs are working on. The drive from the Imperial Valley is worth it for this kind of low-key, high-camaraderie event.
Thanks to SANDRA, Hank Wayne (W6NXS), Norman Jester (KE6VDW), and everyone else who put the day together. We’ll be looking forward to the next one.
If you missed it this year or want to get involved with W6ICR activities closer to home (meetings, Field Day, licensing sessions, etc.), check out our Facebook page or reach out. New and prospective hams are always welcome.
73 from the Imperial County Amateur Radio Group
W6ICR
1 Comment
Larry Teran · October 18, 2026 at 4:37 pm
Great time will be attending next year!