[PVRCNC] Dayton Musings

[Jim Jordan, K4QPL]

Will,

I'm very much afraid that it IS a sign. Wasn't at Dayton, but notice the 
same thing at RARSfest, FD, and just about every ham gathering. I can 
remember the Georgia hamfests in the old days when us young guys like K4BAI, 
K4TEA, K4BVD (now W6OAT), W4YWX (now N4PN) were running around having a 
great time. Go to the hamfests now and the same people are there---except 
we're 40 years older and I don't see our replacements.  Or, as Pogo says, 
"We have met the enemy and he is us!"

Although the problem is definitely there, I think it's less noticeable in 
contesting because generally speaking, contesters are the elite of ham 
radio, are better educated and take care of themselves better. Because 
contesting has more skill involved, it's not so boring and still attracts 
the better young operators to the extent there are young ops out there. They 
also have more in common across the generation gap than the Newbies who have 
nothing in common with the run of the mill HF OF's who talk on the air like 
Rush Limbaugh clones.

73,

Jim, K4QPL

----- 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 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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