From Listener to Presenter: KC1PEN's HamX 2026 Journey with the RETEVIS RA79 HAM Radio

At Ailunce, we believe a great radio does not need a flashy spec sheet. It needs to help people join the community. KC1PEN's story at HamX 2026 shows exactly what we mean.

The Biggest Hamfest in the Northeast

Every August, radio operators from across New England gather at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlborough, Massachusetts. They come for the Northeast HamXposition, or HamX. This event ranks as the largest hamfest in the northeastern US. It also runs one of the strongest forum programs in the country.

HamX 2026 ran from August 13 to August 16. The event program listed three foxhunting sessions back-to-back. Together they formed a full learning path: theory, then a budget plan, then hands-on practice. 

A Special First

This trip marked a first for KC1PEN. He came not just as a visitor, but as a presenter.

"This happened to be a special trip, not only because my dad (a fellow ham) and over a half dozen friends from my club were there, but because it was my first time going as a presenter."

His father, also a ham, joined him. So did more than half a dozen club friends. The trip brought together family, friends, and a new role. That mix turned a regular hamfest into something much bigger.

Why the Retevis RA79?

During his talk, KC1PEN shared one point. It really struck a chord with the crowd:

"The group very much appreciated learning that the Retevis RA79 can be, for the same price, a more effective foxhunt radio than the ubiquitous UV-5R (thanks to the s-meter capability)."

What the S-Meter Does for Foxhunting

Foxhunting means finding a hidden transmitter. You track it by reading signal strength and direction. The S-meter on the Retevis RA79 shows relative signal strength in a more useful way than simple bar graphs. This helps beginners in three ways:

• They can watch numbers drop or rise. This teaches them how signals fade.
• They can pair the radio with a directional antenna. The meter helps them find the signal peak.

"These product insights come from real user feedback. For full technical specs, readers can check the official Ailunce product page."

KC1PEN also showed how the Retevis RA79 flips from hunter to fox. His own words explain it best:

"Can with little effort or money be turned into a fox transmitter via software or hardware techniques (as basic as connecting it to an inexpensive MP3 player acoustical or via a cable and using VOX to trigger transmission)." 

This DIY spirit sits at the heart of ham radio.

Closing the Loop

Theory means little without practice. During W1MJ's hands-on session, KC1PEN placed two of the four hidden foxes on the property. Attendees found all of them. That success turned a budget idea into a proven field test.

KC1PEN also noted the teamwork between presenters:

"Each of us presenters helping the other to fill in the blanks, expand in areas where we might know more, etc."

NC7R covered the basics. KC1PEN shared the budget build. W1MJ ran the live hunt. Each talk fed into the next. That flow shows the best side of ham culture: people sharing what they know.

A Springboard for Club Growth

KC1PEN called his talk Foxhunting On a Budget, A Springboard To Club Activity and Growth. He did not just talk about gear. He talked about how to grow a club.

The RETEVIS RA79 fits that goal well:

KC1PEN summed it up well:

"During our talks we demonstrated some of the best aspects of Ham radio, the knowledge sharing and comeraderie."

Lower barriers bring more people in. More people bring more energy. The club grows. The hunt becomes the springboard.

From the Classroom to the Trail

At HamX, KC1PEN also sat in on a talk about a teacher who brought ham radio into the classroom. That teacher built a school club. Students got licensed. The school wove ham radio into its STEM programs. KC1PEN found this deeply inspiring.

That teacher's work lines up with his own passion. KC1PEN already plans to speak again in October 2026. He will present at a major hamfest in Connecticut. That event ranks as one of the largest in the state. It also sits closest to ARRL headquarters by distance.

This time he will cover two topics:

• Foxhunting on a budget (again)
• Getting youth involved through scouting programs

He wants to pass the hobby down. First he shared it with his club. Next he wants to share it with kids.

How Retevis Ailunce Views This Story

KC1PEN's journey reminds us why we build radios. The hobby lives in the connections between people, not just in the signals.

We focus on three things when we design products:

First, we put pro tools in everyone's hands.

The S-meter used to live only on expensive rigs. Now a beginner can pick up an RA79 and get the same feedback. That levels the playing field.

Second, we leave room for creativity.

VOX looks like a simple checkbox on a spec sheet. In KC1PEN's hands, it became a bridge between a radio and an MP3 player. We design features that users can remix in their own ways.

Third, we build gear that works alone and together.

A good radio should feel at home on a desk and at a club meeting. The RA79 works for solo listening. It also works as the center of a group foxhunt. That dual role matters.

A Summer to Remember

KC1PEN stepped onto the HamX stage for the first time. He shared a budget foxhunting plan built around the RA79. He placed two foxes in the field. Attendees found them. He left inspired by a teacher who brought ham radio to kids.

Now he looks ahead to October. He will speak again. He will talk about foxhunting. He will talk about scouting. He will keep building that chain: hobby to club to youth.

Ailunce feels proud that our radio played a small part in that chain.

Do you have a story about using Ailunce gear? We would love to hear it. Reach out and share your experience with the community.