[AMRadio] hamfest?

[manualman at juno.com]

Many locally named "hamfests" (aka XYZ Hamfest) are nothing more then
glorified flea markets where local radio enthusiasts and amateurs can
sell, swap, or give-away stuff they no longer need. However, many times
spouses and children also attend these events, and vendors look to them
as a possible buyer prospect, hence the variety of stuff on many tables.
Further, many radio enthusiasts (amateurs, CB'ers, antique radio
collectors, audio nuts, etc.) also may have other hobby or collectable
interests that might appeal to what you have on your vendor table(s).
Over the last several years at Dayton, I always bring some trains or
railroad memorabilia Generally, within the first three hours of the first
selling day, it's all gone to new homes. CB transceivers are a great
source of parts and some are easily modifiable to cover some amateur
bands. Computer stuff is far more relevant today in the amateur radio
world then it was 10 to 20 years ago, so having vendors sell this type of
stuff is great. Amateur radio and flea market activities don't just
revolve around boatanchors and boatanchor parts.

And, some vendors do participate in the amateur bonding and belly bumping
that many who attend flea markets seem to crave and who are there for no
other purpose.

Pete, wa2cwa


On Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:24:44 -0500 "Bernie Doran"
<qedconsultants at embarqmail.com> writes:
> I went to my first hamfest/computer show in many years today thinking 
> I 
> might find some interesting AM gear.  ignoring the computer stuff, 
> probably 
> only 20%. I saw a nice Halicrafters rx, about ten or so nice 
> Heathkits, a 
> 390A, perhaps 20 modern ssb transceivers.  all could have been on a 
> thirty 
> foot table. What else? CB transceivers stacked six deep, Jewerly, 
> auto truck 
> repair manuals, tire tools, dozens of record players, thousands of 
> CDs, VHS 
> tapes etc. stuffed animals, candles and jellies, slide projectors, 
> bobble 
> heads, hundreds of ink jet cartriges, light strings and Christmas 
> decorations, and best of all, syringes beside minature digital 
> scales!
> 
> There probably were 400 people there so this must be what they want. 
>  It 
> looked like Wal Mart, 400 pounders waddling back and forth and 
> stinking of 
> cigarette smoke.    This pretty much indicated to me why we have a 
> different 
> type of operator on the ham bands.  However, trying to be objective, 
> Those 
> of us who at least try to be polite, may well in a short period of 
> time, if 
> not now, be in the minority and it could be argued that we are in 
> the wrong 
> and out of step.
> 
> This looked simply like a flea market.    And, yes, before anyone 
> says, if 
> you did not like it, do not go again.  I certainly will not.
> 
> Is this typical?    Bernie  W8RPW