[MRCA] Additional thought on Dayton Hamvention

Fri Feb 15 22:13:55 EST 2019

It's true that they primarily cater to all the current tech - advertising
revenue I suppose.
They do occasionally run a QST article on a military radio that someone
sends them from what I have seen.
They run a column on "classic radio"  that I find interesting.  Maybe we
should send them some more!
Tim
N6CC

On Fri, Feb 15, 2019 at 6:12 PM Mkdorney <mkdorney at aol.com> wrote:

> It’s not really any type of “versus” thing. The ARRL simply chooses to
> cater to the new, wiz/bang folks and ignore just about any body else.  The
> only time I’ve ever seen them get interested in the Military Radio
> Operators is when it’s time to renew ARRL membership.
>
> Mark
> WW2RDO
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Feb 15, 2019, at 8:51 PM, Tim <timsamm at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I don't know about ARRL "versus" military radio guys - but the West Coast
> MRCG did week-long joint Ops with the MVPA at their 2016 National
> Convention in Pleasanton CA.  A good time was had by all...  Some pix here:
>
> http://www.n6cc.com/military-vehicles-and-radios-mvccmrcg
>
> We also usually do joint Ops with the Military Vehicle Collectors of
> California at their Spring and Fall rallies out here.  Good synergy, like
> minded people.
>
> Tim
> N6CC
>
> On Fri, Feb 15, 2019 at 2:16 PM Mkdorney via MRCA <mrca at mailman.qth.net>
> wrote:
>
>> There are 4 letters I would recommend all Hams with an interest in
>> military Radio technology  memorize:  MVPA.  It stands for the Military
>> Vehicle Preservation Association. Their International convention this year
>> is in August in York, PA. Those in the Northeast know that the MRCA joins
>> the local chapter of the MVPA in Gilbert PA every year for their show. That
>> could be replicated across the country if Hams who have Military radio gear
>> got together with local MVPA organizations. There are even some recruiting
>> possibilities at these shows as many of these vehicle owners have old,
>> working and non working radios and really don’t know where to turn to in
>> order to get licensed and get there stuff fixed. And you don’t need to
>> worry so much about your “old stuff” being pushed into a corner, because
>> their stuff is also the old stuff.
>>
>> As far as the ARRL is concerned, Military radio collectors and operators
>> have been the bastard stepchildren for some time now, and that really
>> doesn’t look to be changing any time soon. The ARRL has become way too
>> involved with companies like Yaesu and the like, especially monetarily, to
>> hope for any change on their part. In that respect, the ARRL has become
>> nothing more than a trade group for these manufacturers. The only possible
>> way that will ever change as far as events like Dayton are concerned is if
>> Military radio collectors demand that change. And the big money
>> manufacturers will fight tooth and nail before they allow that to happen.
>>
>> Mark
>> WW2RDO
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Feb 15, 2019, at 10:26 AM, Ray Fantini <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu>
>> wrote:
>>
>> If you look at the amount of promotion that’s been going on  in QST and
>> how packed the dealer and sales pavilions are I have to wonder if maybe the
>> flea market aspect of the Hamvention is being pushed off to the side and
>> being left to wither and die? Or is it that the entire concept of used
>> equipment, homebuilt and playing around with old radios is itself died out?
>>
>> Pure speculation on my part but is there a effort to make the Hamvention
>> into a convention where they just talk and show the newest and latest
>> technology and the hell with all that old junk and the people who want to
>> mess with it? Looking at the ARRL it appears that’s their main interest is
>> in pushing you to go out and buy the newest whatever and that if you’re not
>> on the cutting edge or using the newest digital mode you not a complete
>> Ham.
>>
>> I work in a technical field and have to deal with installing the latest
>> software, operating systems and hardware every day and the last thing I
>> want to do when I am not at work is have to download stuff and resolve set
>> up issues, so I prefer to work with the technology of the past where you
>> can get in, make changes and work with things at a slower pace. After all
>> it is a hobby and not a business. So that’s the question is Hamvention
>> evolving into something more along the lines of a boat show, where
>> everything is about the newest and most expensive or will it still reflect
>> whatever the general state of the hobby is?
>>
>> And what is the general state of the hobby? Maybe this is the future and
>> people like me that are getting older and prefer to waste time on
>> technology from our past just need to get out of the way for the Hams of
>> the future? Although most of the people I know, see at the fest and have
>> talked with are just as old if not older then I am so where are all these
>> Hams of the future? Maybe by getting rid of us old buzzard Hams that will
>> entice theses young Hams out to the events? Yet another reason to kill off
>> the flea market.
>>
>>
>>
>> Have to remember your Bell “When one door closes, another opens; but we
>> often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not
>> see the one which has opened for us” Somehow always thought that was a
>> bible quote but apparently not. Maybe if Hamvention is failing in my
>> expatiations or costing too much it is time to make this the last trip, but
>> other regional sales like Frostfest are doing great and maybe look to a
>> future of more online and local stuff.
>>
>>
>>
>> Collecting and using military technology in some ways is a smaller subset
>> then the larger Vintage Ham radio community is, but it’s what I want to do
>> and once you get into the military collectors community you soon discover
>> the weapon, vehicle and many other collectors that have a thriving
>> community that somehow survives without having a national organization
>> that’s beating the drum for everyone to go out and buy or constantly move
>> forward. Perhaps the nearest analog would be the reenactors and what they
>> are doing although I don’t consider myself a reenactor, but they are from
>> what I see a growing group and would assume they have some sort of
>> organization and publications and would assume that a large part of it
>> involves advertising and trying to get there members to go out and buy
>> things.
>>
>>
>>
>> It all circles back to Dayton and what the future is there. Perhaps it’s
>> my expectations that have changed and not the Hamvention at all? Or maybe
>> it’s a combination of the two? Or maybe it’s just that it’s a Friday and
>> Friday morning are somewhat slow here at work and it’s an opportunity to
>> take time out and write about these things and try to get an idea what
>> others think.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Ray F/KA3EKH
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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