[GreenKeys] GreenKeys Daytonites we have a year to prepare!

[Ralph Irish]

I think back to the 'good old days' of Dayton in the 60s through 90s and have fond memories
of the RTTY Journal Hospitality Room at the (now defunct) Imperial House Hotel at the
intersection of I-75 and Needmore Roads.  It ran for one evening, originally, then was
expanded to two evenings toward the end as the DARA expanded the overall timeframe of
the event.

Initially, Dusty Dunn, W8CQ picked up the tab for most of the expense of the room rental
and a few bottles of 'kool aid', and others were kind enough to bring their own favorite
flavors, etc.  At one point, an old gentleman named Henry, whose call I thought I had
remembered, started sending a bottle of his own favorite flavor of 'Kentucky Kool Aid'
to the event for the pleasure of those in attendance.  His health had reached a point
where he could no longer travel.

Henry's contribution to the 'state of the art', back in vacuum tube days was to design
a TU which used two channel filters tuned to the same frequency!  He discovered that it
was much easier to create two identical filters, with the same "Q" and bandpass, etc.,
than to mess around for hours or days, trying to create two filters on different
frequencies with similar or identical "Q", etc.  How did it work?  Easy.  He added an
additional Product Detector, similar or identical to the one in the receiver in use,
and detuned the Product Detector by +/- 850, 425 or 170 Hz.  One filter was somehow
connected to the output of the receiver's Product Detector and the other to the one
in the TU.  The end result was great copy!

Anyway, I'd like to see the RTTY Hospitality Suite restored to it's rightful place in
ham history.  Any thoughts on this matter?  

Back then, the Imperial House Hotel was a great 'central point' for people staying
in other area hotels.  The Little York Road exit (no longer in existence) was one
exit north, and the Ford Waggoner Road exit was one exit south, and Needmore Road,
itself, was one easy way to get to the Wright Patterson AFB Air Museum by following
signs.

When Dusty Dunn sold the Journal, Hank Scharf, W6SKC, the owner of DOVETRON said he
would continue the event at his expense.  He never brought products to advertise,
as he might have, and rarely discussed business at these gatherings.  I doubt if
he ever took a check home to later fulfill an order.  He did, on a few occasions,
bring an item which was shown to just a few people, in his room, as opposed to
putting it on display in the Hospitality Room.  

Anyway, I feel I've got a few more Daytons in me, and would like to see this old
tradition restored to some degree.  It needs someone willing to make the
arrangements, solicit/collect funds and 'do the deed' letting people know about
it.  I'm more of an 'idea person' as opposed to an 'action person'.  My main
area of interest for the past 20 years, or so, has been working with Carole Perry,
WB2MGP, the Moderator of the Dayton Youth Forum.  You 'RTTY Daytonites' owe it to
yourself to attend this at least once.  It has grown to the point where DARA has
given the coveted Forum Room 1 to this event.  Room 2 often was filled past the
point deemed comfortable by the Fire Marshall, etc., and DARA came up with a
good alternative.  Our local (Michigan) radio club has funded a number of Door
Prizes for the kids in attendance.  I have been Carole's 'extra pair of hands'
for a number of things needing attention, at the lase minute, etc.

I, personally, will start the ball rolling with $100.00 as 'seed money' or start-
up money, etc.  THIS IS NOT A CONTEST, AND OUTSIDE OF GREENKEYS, I DON'T SEE A
NEED TO PUBLISH WHO GAVE WHAT, ETC.  That the event is funded by 'interested
parties', should be enough for outside advertising.

It might also be neat to have an RTTY station in the corner of the room.  A 
simple 28KSR, TU and transceiver would do it, with a simple antenna outside the
window of the room.  But, let's get the Hospitality Room off the ground before
the RTTY station.

I invite comments on list and off list.

(Hope I am not opening Pandora's Box!)

73,

Ralph - W8ROI




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