[Boatanchors] Dayton

[Rob Atkinson]

>  Tired of space police,

Haven't had a problem with them yet

> firetrap venue that should have been condemned years ago,

I agree it's an embarrassment but the trick is to minimize going
inside.  There's almost nothing in there to see anyway.  It's all new
garbage.  Plastic radios and new cheap junk.  The people inside are
the ones who are all wild about the latest Kenmore with 1000 buttons
or the latest black box that sits on the floor and connects to a
computer so you have a fish finder.

When I first went I couldn't believe that the premier North American
hamfest was in a dump.   People coming from all over the world.  If I
were some guy in Australia and paid thousands of dollars to get to
Dayton, and found this disaster scene building I would have been
pretty irritated I think.

> overcrowded, inadequate restrooms,

You moderate your consumption to minimize them also, but the Joy Johns
outside are better.  The overcrowding isn't going on as much which is
good, but bad in that it is another sign of the decline of ham radio.
Lots of empty flea market spaces.  they should allow parking on the
lot again, shrink the number of spaces for the flea and make it a
Saturday/Sunday fest.

> expensive food,

Never eat at the fest.  Big breakfast at Waffle House on the way in
the morning.  Then walk it off.

> expensive rooms,

That's the big problem and there have been some years I have cancelled
because of other unexpected expenses.  Some guys double up to save
money.  I am considering leaving on Saturday and cutting one night
because by around noon on Saturday I feel like I've done the flea
market and the good stuff is gone.

> auction site prices for junk

I don't think I have ever bought a major item like a rig at Dayton.
I've purchased smaller items like test equipment and I go mostly for
the parts and I don't like the way the "professional hamfesters" have
taken over.  But if you walk around and look carefully you'll find
some good things cheap.    There have been some estate sales there
with great items at garage sale prices, like big filter chokes for a
few bucks.  Lately prices on eBay have gone up so I'll be looking to
see if this has had an affect on Dayton flea market.  I go more to
socialize than anything else though.

73

Rob
K5UJ