CARPE is one small part of a great maker and tech scene in central Ohio. Here are some other communities worth checking out, plus projects our members are building.
Other Local Communities#
- CORE — Central Ohio Radio Enthusiasts — An informal, all-are-welcome group for ham radio, GMRS, software-defined radio, mesh networking (Meshtastic), and anyone curious about radio. Monthly meetups, no experience required.
- Columbus Vintage Computing Club — “The home of vintage computing in Columbus.” Workshops, demos, presentations, and social gatherings around retro and vintage computing, meeting roughly monthly in the Hilliard area. Free and open to all.
- East Columbus Maker Meetup — Local Makers gathering monthly to connect, create, and share projects, swap ideas, and pick up new skills. CNC, CAD, and 3D printing are frequent topics.
- Midwest Hard Tech — A newsletter by Mike Liang building community for hardware, hard tech, and deep tech builders and entrepreneurs across the Midwest.
Regional Events#
Worth a road trip — conventions and festivals around the Midwest:
- Vintage Computer Festival Midwest — A yearly celebration of computer history in Schaumburg, Illinois (near Chicago) each September, with exhibits, speakers, and a roomful of vintage hardware.
- Tandy Assembly — An annual gathering for fans of Tandy/Radio Shack computing (TRS-80 and friends) — exhibits, talks, auctions, and technical sessions. Held in Cincinnati, Ohio each October.
- CORGSCon — Columbus’s long-running retro gaming convention at the Ohio Expo Center: a vendor hall, special guests, and plenty of classic video games.
Member Projects & Portfolios#
Building something cool? We’d love to feature it here — mention it in Discord or grab an organizer at a meeting.
- Chris Deever — Projects — A portfolio of electronics, maker builds, software, and home projects.