[K3PZN-List] Hamfest and BARC Intel

[Curt Milton via K3PZN-List]

We certainly were blessed with nice weather.  Perhaps our attendance can be estimated from revenue (??) -- it seemed pretty good.  


I don't know how well our routine of sending tailgaters forward without collecting any $$ when they arrived worked (for WO3L to seek them out).  We had a surprising number of tailgaters set up well after 8 am.  

As there wasn't a second activity at the Ag Center -- we were able to 'solicit' contribution from the road.  One dude seemed to not appreciate it, but he parked and brought us the $$.  We had a few people stop to pay us on the way out.  I did not get as much exercise running down pedestrians as last year, still had over 8000 steps on my pedometer.  


Ogling the goods being sold?   John and I saw a nice FRG-7, perhaps reasonably priced (and it was sold before the other 2 rigs on the table).  However, its not like it comes with a time-machine ionosphere to tune in all those broadcasters we used to listen to (when maybe we could not afford a Frog-7).  Oh yes someone was selling an HP 8409 Network Analyzer!  But I don't have use to spend $500 for it!  And I can't remember if the signal generator was included ..... I think I saw the same 3 antique regen receivers I had seen before (they looked like they may have been in working condition -- I would have gotten my fix just to hear one in action!).  Someone had a shortwave portable listening to clear audio of a run station.  A mint HG-10 VFO (I didn't even ask how much, my non-mint one I bought for $15 years ago works just fine!).  


BARC.  They are moving their hamfest to Upeerco - right near the boarder with Carroll County south of Hampstead.  On Fathers Day - as Mike had once suggested we consider (not that I am generally free on this day either).  With 3 hamfests in Howard County, now this one moving NW of its previous location -- are any of these poised to discriminate themselves for attracting regional dealers?  Or a significant ARRL presence for that matter?  (ok let's not reminisce of the days when the big and small manufacturers once visited Timonium).  We need to survey the landscape again!  


CUL Curt