Lots of "Hamming" It Up

Instead, 3000 "hams" from North Carolina and surrounding state have converged on the capital for RARSfest '99.

Sponsored by the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society, the event is a giant amateur radio and computer flea market, where hams can buy and sell everything from the newest high tech equipment to vintage antiques.

Demonstrations of the latest technology, forums and meetings are high points of the gathering.

For relative novices, there could be some sweaty palms -- prospective hams are taking license tests in Morse code and radio theory.

Several hundred vendors are also on hand.

The RARSfest will end at 4 p.m. It's in the Jim Graham Building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds on Hillsborough Street.