[Milsurplus] Dayton final thoughts

[Ray Fantini]

Thought I would take a second and put together something on my final thoughts about the Dayton Hamvention. Not as a definitive or all encompassing statement but just as my observations about the event. Hamfest occur at regular intervals all around, don't know about overseas but would assume it's the same there. Most Hamfest are little more than an excuse to get together and buy and sell, larger Hamfest are not only buying and selling but also offer the opportunity to get together with others who share you same interest. Dayton appears to be the largest Hamfest or event of this type and also offers what appears to me to be the best opportunity for operation of vintage or modern military equipment. The nets at Gilbert or other on air operational nets are great, and may require more technical skill or demonstrate higher levels of proficiency but by volume of numbers cannot imagine any other location where there will be over thirty HF AM military portables and close to sixty VHF FM military sets operating at one time with many in original condition driven by batteries, inverters and crank generators. It's often rare to see three or four working BC-611 anywhere and close to a dozen can often be seen working the AM net at Dayton. In addition to the equipment there are the operators and the yearly opportunity to associate with people who are almost legends in the Milsurplus community. In recent years I feel those items are continued reason for my attendance, this is not to say that there are no longer bargains or equipment to be bought the PRC-74 for $275.00 each or the Racal receivers for $135.00 each are good examples of that along with the large amount of R-390 that were both bought and sold demonstrate that there is equipment to be bought. As far as the size of the crowed I would say that I thought Friday was the most attended day and Saturday did not have as many as I have seen in the past. Used to be Saturday was the big day and now it looks more like Friday being the big day. I am told that attendance was around twenty two thousand so that's a little more than last year. If I had any complaints it would have to be with the venue, the Hamvention people seem to be ok and easy to work with but the Harra arena is a dump. Looks like no money has been spent on maintenance, paint or plumbing repairs in years and this year's septic line rupture is a good example of that. On one hand would like to see them move to a new and better location but have to wonder what would happen and would that kill it off like the old Gaithersburg Hamfest died?
Ray Fantini KA3EKH