[Milsurplus] Dayton

[Ray Fantini]

Final thoughts on Dayton. The old days are gone, get use to it. Although
it may just be my problem of not being at the right place at the right
time, I feel that in many ways the game "military radios for fun and
profit "has changed.  Once upon a time, and still occasionally at
small local fest we will get someone who don't know what they can get
for something, but in these days of EBay and dealers who go out two days
before a event and snatch up the bargains before the fest opens to the
public the days of the $20 to $50 bargain are thru. At Dayton this year
I saw new levels of expense, is a GRP-90 really worth $800.00? are TV-7
tube testers worth $325.00? And where did this glut of ITT Mackey Marine
stuff come from, and $2,000.00 for a used, beat commercial marine
receiver? But if that's what people are getting for stuff I guess
it's worth it. Makes the R-390 receivers for $500.00 look like a
bargain. Don't get me wrong, their were still bargains out their like
the PRC-77 with frame, antenna, battery and handset for $250.00 and all
the deals that everyone else got, but me all I bought was a TMQ-34
weather station for $80 and some cables for $5 each, did buy a ton of
stuff for other people though. Maybe I am just disappointed because I
did not get a TV-7, but just cant bare to shell out over $300.00 for a
beat tube checker that don't read micromhos. Question: What's with
the couple guys I saw wondering around with big Geiger counters checking
all the mill stuff?
Ray Fantini KA3EKH