HOBBY RADIO: New gear debuts at Dayton Hamvention

Variety of new items for scanning, GMRS, ham radio

The annual Dayton Hamvention is an event many ham radio operators and radio hobbyists look forward to attending every May. In addition to being a social event for tens of thousands of radioaficionados, it also is the place to learn of new equipment, whether it is something released in the past year, or literally is being unveiled at Hamvention for the very first time.

The scanner remote head unit by Scanner Master will include a speaker in the place of the “RH200” type on the front of the device. The head unit will work with most recent vintage Uniden scanners. | Photo courtesy of Butel

Hamvention is held in Xenia, Ohio, these days, having moved several years ago from a dilapidated venue near Dayton. In 2023, more than 33,000 people came from across the United States and the world to attend the event. The 2024 event this past weekend probably will have similar or increased attendance. What we do know, however, is that there were a number of new products showcased as well as hints of new gear on the way in the coming months. Let’s take a look at some items of interest for not only scanner owners, but also GMRS operators and hams.