[AMRadio] hamfest?

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 10:34 AM, Bill McCourt - WF1L
<wemccourt at yahoo.com> wrote:

> While I bemoan the loss of quality "junque" at hamfests with all of you, they are still a great place to socialize and meet some of the folks that you talk to on the air but never see face to face.

Which, as we all get older, becomes more of what we enjoy about the
event. Right on the money, Bill.

There's a Friday night AM Dinner at NEAR-Fest along with breakfast
gatherings and the like, along with the typical jawing at the event.
If nothing else, a selling table provide a great place to rest, meet
up with friends, and perhaps even sell something if you're
so-inclined.

> I've gone to several hamfests where I've spent more on the admision than stuff to bring home and still had an enjoyable time.  Hamfests are not just about hardware.

Aside from a smaller number of folks who continue to discover the old
rigs of yesteryear, I'd guess that most of us have already found the
big stuff we're after and generally look for the odd part needed to
repair or complete a project. After all, we've been at it for decades.
Still, I seldom have a problem finding something I'm looking for at
any hamfest. A lot go there just too look and expect to see the same
stuff they saw ten, twenty, or thirty years ago(with the same prices,
too). It's still there, perhaps not in the same quantities, but if no
one buys it, where's the incentive for someone to haul a bunch of
heavy gear to sell? Sort of a Catch-22 situation.

It's definitely what you make it. If you have a local event that you
think could use improvement, by all means - jump in and help make it
better, or start an event that you'd like to attend. Or just go and
enjoy seeing folks. The alternative is to become one of those bitter
old guys who P&Ms about the good old days, how bad things are today,
and so on. He wouldn't buy a DX-100 if you had one on your table for a
reasonable price, but would go home and get online or on the air to
complain if he didn't see one at the 'fest. Thankfully they are few.

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4