Saturday May 4, 2024

Maple Ridge Amateur Radio Club

Host of the biggest and best swap meet in the province.

Great prizes, free parking, tons of items for sale.  Over 300 attendees!

This page is the official source for all swap meet information and will be continually updated with information as the event draws closer.  If you didn’t see it here, it’s an unconfirmed rumour. 

If you have a question, please contact us at swapmeet@mrarc.net

2024 CONFIRMED SPONSORS

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 

• 0730:
  • Doors open to all (lower hall)
  • Breakfast service begins (pancakes/sausages/coffee)
  • Exhibitors arrive and check-in with host to receive credentials
  • Exhibitors begin table setup in upper hall (assistance available w/ carrying)
• 0800:
  • Ticket sales commence in lower dining hall
• 0930:
  • VIP access to sales area commences (30 minute head-start)
  • Kitchen service ends
  • 50/50 ticket sales begin
  • Raffle ticket sales begin
• 1000:  Admission for all “general admission” ticket holders
• 1030:  Prize draw:  First draw for door prizes
• 1110:  Prize draw:  Second draw for door prizes
• 1120:  Presentation:  “Introduction to 3D printing”; downstairs common room.
• 1145:  Prize draw:  Final draw for door prizes
• 1200:  Prize draw:  Raffle and 50/50 Draw

PRIZES 

The Kenwood D75A, probably the best and most amazing handheld ever created, has been donated by our biggest sponsor, GPSCentral.  This tri-band radio will likely be the silent auction prize and is packed with features, including simultaneous reception of 2 D-Star signals, terminal mode for D-Star reflectors, voice guidance, APRS, GPS, USB-C, Bluetooth PTT support, compass, weather info, standalone digipeater function, real-time messaging, and much more. Find out more about this radio here

The main door prize will be an Icom IC-V86 radio.  The raffle prize will be an Icom IC-V3500.  We expect to hold a 50/50 draw and have many smaller prizes including a $100 DXEngineering gift card.  (Raffle & 50/50 tickets extra).  

ADMISSION COSTS 

General Admission – $10 (includes door prize ticket)

VIP Admission (access 30min early) – $20 (includes door prize ticket)

Vendor Table Rental – $25 (includes one table and admission for the vendor) 

Additional Prize Tickets:  $TBA – sold at event

Please note that admission costs have increased from past years for several reasons:  Our operating costs have steadily increased each year due to rising costs of food, hall rental, and prizes.  The kitchen food sales generally lose money, but we do this because it’s popular among attendees and allows a nice social event for friends to meet over breakfast prior to the event.  In addition to the general admission rate, we have also priced the table rental higher and created a VIP access ticket to remedy a past problem where sellers would pay for a table rental without much (or any) material to sell.  They would do this just to get early access to the sales area.  This resulted in some empty tables or very scant items for sale on some tables in the past.  We’re hoping that with this pricing scheme, those that pay to rent a table will be legitimate sellers and that all tables will be full of items for sale, not empty just to allow someone in early.  Having tables full of items to buy benefits everybody.  The VIP access ticket allows those that want early access to achieve it and those that don’t care for a 30-minute head start on their shopping to pay half the cost for regular admission.

TABLE RENTAL/PAYMENT

Only 40 tables are available and these WILL sell out, don’t delay if you want to reserve a table.

Contact info for table sales:

• Email:  swapmeet@mrarc.net   for questions or to book a table. 
• See “vendor info” below for more info related to table rentals and procedures on the ‘day of’.
• Payment is to be made prior to the event via e-transfer to swapmeet@mrarc.net.
• Table rental includes admission for one person; a door prize ticket is not included. 
• Vendors will be asked to display their amateur radio call sign and email address on their table.

Q&A

Q) What are VIP Tickets?
A) Some buyers are willing to pay more to avoid the long lines and get a head start on buying.  Anyone purchasing a VIP ticket will get access to the sales area 30 minutes prior to the regular "general admission" ticket holders being allowed inside.

Q) Will there be assistance on hand to help me carrying items upstairs?
A) The facility has a disablity-assitance lift that can be used to get upstairs.  The club will also attempt to have some younger members on hand to assist with labour, though this obviously can't be guaranteed.

Q) I'm new to the hobby; what is a swap meet?
A) The event brings together buyers and sellers of radio and electronics equipment.

Q) Are there pictures or video of past swap meets?
A) Yes, photos on our website photo albums and a great video of our swap meet and venue can be found here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=simmJp-KJQM&t=45s

Q) Is there food nearby?
A) While we hope you'll buy your breakfast at our venue and eat with your fellow ham radio enthusiasts, there are several food facilities including a McDonalds and Subway within a very short walk.

Q) Is there lots of parking?
A) Yes, the Heritage Hall has considerable parking spaces all around the hall.  If the lot fills up, the surrounding streets and shopping areas have a large amount of parking, all within about 150 meters of the hall.  Parking in the Heritage Hall lot will be reduced in 2024 due to construction next door of the new Pitt Meadows RCMP Detachment.  If your physical abilities require parking close to the building, arriving early will be a good idea.  The club plans to have monitored short-term (10 minute parking) spots immediately next to the building to allow vendors to unload their wares.

Q) Is there a talk-in frequency?
A) Does anybody actually still do this?  Google Maps is your friend if you need directions, or see the map below.  :)

Q) What are you serving for breakfast?
A) Breakfast has traditionally been pancakes, sausages and coffee.  Potentially TH donuts as well.  All for minimal expense (our cost). Skilled cooks have been arranged and a provincially certified FoodSafe-trained volunteer on hand.  We will evaluate whether the food will remain the same fare as in the past (bacon is a potential option).

Q) I still have a question that isn't answered!
A) Please send us an email at swapmeet@mrarc.net and we'd be happy to help.

VENDOR INFO (2023 info provided below for reference; details subject to change)

• Vendor access to upper hall starts at 0730h.
• MRARC volunteers may be available to assist moving in and out of the hall upon request.
• Vendors must register with the event coordinator on arrival for their table assignment.
• Clean-up and clearing of tables is not to occur before 1200hrs.
• Power outlets are limited in the hall, please advise at time of booking if power will be required.
• Power served tables allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The $25 table rental fee includes one eight foot table and chair.  Assistants accompanying the vendor must pay for an admission.
• Table bookings are to be made via email at the email address above. Don’t wait, they will sell out early.
• All table rentals must be paid in advance by e-transfer to the above email address.
• Confirmation of rental and receipt of payment will be made by return email.

Pancake & Sausage Breakfast

An important note about breakfast:  We charge only a nominal fee that just covers food costs, this aspect of the swap meet is NOT a part of our fund-raising.  In fact, we usually lose money on the breakfast.  Putting this part of the event on is a considerable amount of work for our volunteers, one of which must be “Food-Safe” trained, and also requires rental of the downstairs kitchen and dining area.  Lots of work and lots of cost go into this aspect of the swap meet, for no profit.  So, why do we keep doing it when it’s a ‘money-loser’?  It’s the social aspect of the swap meet that many of you love, getting together with fellow hams over breakfast before the event starts.  For that reason, despite it losing money, we continue to provide a pre-event breakfast.  So, please do come early, sit down and have a coffee with fellow hobbists.  We do this for YOU.  🙂

Swap Meet Location

The swap meet location is the same location as all previous years:
     Pitt Meadows Heritage Hall, 12460 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows.
This is just a block off Lougheed Highway, south of the McDonalds on Harris Road.
PARKING IS FREE. The lot will likely fill to capacity and there are several other parking options all within a couple hundred meters.   If you're travelling from afar and need overnight accommodations, the closet hotel is the Best Western Pitt Meadows Inn & Suites (604-460-9859), located only 200 meters north of the event location.