[PVRCNC] Dayton Musings

[Wes Quinn]

Will,

Very nice write up.  So how many CDs did you buy?  :-D  And what was her name?

I hope some day I can make it to Dayton.

73 de k4Wes

----- Original Message ----
From: "Roberts, Will" <will.roberts at pgnmail.com>
To: w3dq at arrl.net
Cc: pvrcnc at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 4:51:50 PM
Subject: [PVRCNC] Dayton Musings

Re: Dayton Musings for the PVRC newsletter...



Hopefully Dayton is not a sign of the health of our ham radio hobby. >From what I saw, attendance is continuing to drop. The average age of those in attendance is increasing with seemingly fewer young people coming along. It was noticeable how many people were using electric scooters, canes and oxygen bottles. The flea market was emptier than I have ever seen in my 20+ years of attending. I would estimate that ¼ of the seller spaces were empty.



On a brighter note for those of us more interested in the Radiosport aspects, the attendance at the Contest dinner was at capacity yet again, with many DX countries represented.  Forum rooms were packed for the Contest and DX forums. As a sign of things to come, the Software Defined Radio forum that preceded the Contest forum was also standing room only. The much debated Skimmer software was demonstrated at the contest forum and was a contestant at the KCDXC Pileup competition. The good news is that a human (W9WI) defeated the skimmer. The Elecraft booth was busy, with orders for K3s coming in at a record pace according to the folks there. The new super SteppIR display antenna loomed above everything outside on a crankup tower. The Crowne Plaza suites and parties were very busy but it seemed that festivities ended earlier than usual. DL2AA and his 160 proof Austrian rum were absent this year, however moonshine was available at one suite which may explain
 some of the stories you may have heard already. I missed the SMC Hooters Bash on Thursday but I heard many PVRCers attended. Some even behaved themselves! 



The mutant factor was definitely in play with lots of um "interesting characters" in attendance at the flea market.  I was disappointed not to see the traditional Dayton "hard hat with lighted tower guy" however. Some of the more unusual things that I saw: A dog carrying a 2m HT, a 50 cal. Sniper rifle, lots of police lights and sirens, a female musician selling CDs featuring her nude picture on the cover, hard hats with 2m or 440Mhz halo antennas on top, a bluegrass music jam, an internet Podcast, at least 10,000 old Motorola handheld radios, a guy with a WWII era 50 lb. "portable" radio on his back, piles of unknown miscellaneous stuff with a "MAKE AN OFFER" sign that have been unsold at Dayton since the 1950's, and some plumbing pipe and a kitchen sink (just to prove you can find EVERYTHING there). The annual AA4NC search for the vehicle with the most antennas was won by an anonymous (no ham plates) SUV with a total of 14 visible antennas. Perhaps
 W3LPL is gearing up for multi-multi mobile? 



I think that there is  a transition occurring with many hamfests now from flea markets to more social events. The hamfests that will survive are the ones that bring hams of common interests together more for fellowship and education (Visalia, Dayton, SEDCO, etc.). The big flea markets are going away as EBay and internet classifieds make them obsolete. I personally go to Dayton to see old and new friends and to put faces to callsigns. Mission accomplished...



73,

Will AA4NC



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