[ADXA] Dayton - 2016

[Joel Harrison]

So, how was Dayton 2016?? Pretty much the same as Dayton, pick a year.

Don't take that as a negative report! There just isn't a great deal of
"new" things at Dayton from year to year and the Hara Arena facility is
not, by a long shot, the most modern facility. Dayton is still the largest
amateur radio gathering in the world and if you have never been, you need
to go at least once. I go every year although for the past 10 years I have
said that year was my last but then I head that way again the next.

For me, Dayton no longer offers an opportunity to pick up things you can't
find anywhere else as you can easily grabs those items on eBay, Amazon or
other places on the internet and much is the same with new amateur radio
products and a manufacturer's ability to get new information out in almost
real time rather than wait for May each year.

The most important thing Dayton offers today is the opportunity to meet,
in person, anyone and everyone in amateur radio and to listen to them talk
about amateur radio related activities, antennas, operating techniques and
anything under the amateur radio sun you can imagine.

While not a specific part of the Dayton Hamvention, Contest University
occurs each year on Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Dayton.
While labeled as "Contest" the bulk of the technical topics deal with
matters DX'ers need to know as well. Equipment, antennas, operating
techniques, etc and yet another opportunity to meet, in person, some of
the top radio amateurs. This was the 10th year for Contest University and
it has been a sell out each year. 275 paid attendees were registered this
year.

So, if you have never been to Dayton, or haven't been in quite a while,
plan a trip in 2017 and plan be there on Thursday to attend Contest
University. You won't be disappointed!

This year was my last year to attend, but I'll see you there next year!  :-))

73 Joel W5ZN



www.w5zn.org