First Prize
Yaesu FTM-510DR ASP FM/C4FM
Dual Band Mobile
Congratulations to David Jones, our 2026 winner!
* If the winner of a “major” prize (the Grand Prize, the First Prize, or the Early Bird Prize) does not collect the prize at the Prize & Information Center by 3:15 PM, RARS will use reasonable efforts to contact the winner using the information on the winning ticket stub. If, despite such efforts, RARS has not been able to contact the winner and arrange handover by 5:00 PM on April 18, 2026, Raleigh time, the winner forfeits the prize and the prize becomes the property of the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society.
Sponsored “Hourly” Prizes
The drawings are from all eligible admission tickets purchased for the 2026 hamfest, except that the winners of the First and Grand Prizes are not eligible for Sponsored Prizes in any subsequent drawings. Volunteers must purchase an admission ticket to be eligible for the Sponsored Prizes.
Winning tickets for the Sponsored Prizes are returned to the barrel and are eligible for subsequent drawings, including the drawings for the First and Grand Prizes.
You must be present to win a Sponsored Prize. Winners' ticket numbers and/or call signs are posted on television monitors at the RARSfest Prize & Information Center and at other locations on the show floor.
Sponsored Prize winners have until 3:05 pm to collect their Sponsored Prizes in person at the Prize & Information Center. The winning ticket will be required to collect a Sponsored Prize. ID may also be required. Don't send a friend to pick up your prizes, they won't be able to get them.
Unclaimed prizes become the property of the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society.
Prize Sponsors
We are grateful to the following companies for donating “hourly” door prizes for 2026. Please thank the donors for supporting RARSfest!
- Alpha Antenna – $50 gift certificates
- ARRL – $50 and $25 gift certificates
- Armoloq – TPA-7300 Pack Frame
- Buckmaster International – HamCall Database certificate
- Dayton Hamvention – Admission Tickets
- DX Engineering – $100 gift certificates
- Ham Badgers – $12 Gift Certificates
- Craig "Buck" K4IA – Assorted “Easy Way” ham books
- Mastrant – $10 and $20 gift certificates
- RT Systems – $50 gift certificate for software + cable
- ARRL Roanoke Division and NC ARRL Section – ARRL Operating Manuals

- Heil Ham Radio – Heil Radio Logo Tees and Heil Ham Radio Handbooks

- Panther Creek Solutions – Spooltennas

- Morse Nexus/PreppComm – Multi-Band QRP Portable Computer Plus Transceiver

- The Wireman – $100 gift certificate

Volunteer Prize
Yaesu FT-70DR
Dual Band FM/C4FM HT
- Volunteers are eligible for a special Volunteer Prize drawing if they sign up for at least one shift in the Volunteer Sign-Up System (and show up for their shift(s))
- The drawing for the Volunteer Prize will take place at the volunteer recognition event at a time and place to be announced
- The purpose of this prize is to encourage people to volunteer at RARSfest, so RARS Board Members and members of the RARSfest Staff are not eligible.
A Few Important Points
- The information on this page is subject to change at any time. Check back often for updates. It was last updated on April 13, 2026.
- Complimentary admission tickets are not eligible for any prize drawings (except that volunteers will be eligible for the Volunteer Prize as described).
- Winners will be responsible for all costs, including taxes, associated with accepting a prize.
- Winners must present the winnning ticket to claim a prize. Proper ID may also be required.
- Prizes are subject to commercial availability. RARS reserves the right to substitute cash or prizes of roughly comparable value (in RARS's sole judgment) for any prizes that are not commercially available at the time of the event.
- The decision of the RARSfest Chair shall be final in all matters regarding prizes.