[Elecraft] Elecraft and Elkin, NC Hamfest!

[Rick Tilton]

Well today was the Elkin, NC Hamfest.  I am a member of one of the two clubs
that put on the one day Hamfest. I was able to secure a good spot for a
table among others.  I took my K2 and laptop along with the banner and
information that Lisa sent me.  To summarize I had a lot of fun today. I was
able to talk to a few K2 and K1 owners as well as K2 and K1 wannabes! I
downloaded the power point presentation and let it play on the laptop.  I
also had the K2remote and K2voice if needed to demo.  However, it appeared
that most wanted to see the inside of the K2.  So I let the cover off all
day.  I do not have a K1 and did not have one handy. I was surprised at the
responses.  The response that surprised me the most was "I've seen it
advertised but never seen one in real life."  The advertisement must being
paying off.  However, there were those who said "Somebody still makes
kits?".  They were even more surprised when they found out it was capable of
10m through 160 meters.  I also had a 2m frequency plugged into a band to
show them how a transverter could be used and the fact that you could change
the freq display to match the transverter. Then to be able to show them the
functions and type of things a kit radio could do was fun.  Unfortunately
some folks were intimidated by the radio and the shear thought of picking up
a soldering iron.  Then I had one fellow wanting me to diagnose and repair
his K2.  I QUICKLY pointed him to Gary at Elecraft!

I think I could have sold 5 or 6 kits today if I had them but I pointed them
to the webpage and the handy dandy order form provided by Elecraft
(Especially the guy who confessed to being an impulse buyer!Hi). Considering
that the Hamfest only had approximately 900 people visit today I was well
pleased with the response. All the folks were impressed with the quality of
the rig. Can't wait to work the Charlotte, NC Hamfest with the other guys.
But then they wanted to know why was I showing off the rig and helping them
sell radios if I wasn't getting anything!?  I just grinned and told them
that I like the radio that much! Some understood and others just shook their
head but I knew the guys here would understand! 73....

Rick Tilton
ARS - N4WYK
n4wyk@arrl.net
n4wyk@amsat.org
Foothills of NC APRS and Satellite Website
http://www.n4wyk.com