[SFDXA] Dayton

[Richard M. Gillingham]

Had a great time at Dayton again this year.   Thursday Night:  Went to 
the Outback with most of the RTTY group.  Stayed a new (to us) Hotel a 
Howard Johnson at exit 60.  Much closer to Hara than my last two years. 
 Friday AM, at the flea...err outside vendor area.  Lots of folks there 
in spite of chilly weather.  Temp in the 40's.  Saw much, bought nada.. 
 Saw Fred Schmidt there still selling...  Then inside my first stop was 
at the Heil sound booth where I picked up the new Pro Plus headset (as 
seen at the DX din din here at Miami in Feb.)  Really like it..  Then 
here and there.  Stopped by the FluidMotion SteppIR booth and looked at 
the new tunable yage they're introducing.  Being favorably impressed, I 
bought one...  Put a BIG dent in the checkbook.. See web page at :

http://www.fluidmotion.ws/

Expect shipping in another 3 - 5 weeks.   We'll see.  Gotte be better 
than my Mosley..

Stopped and browsed and grazed and whatever most of the day.  Picked up 
a buffer for my weather station, so I can now keep records instead of 
guessing what the trends are.  

That Night, I went to the DX dinner.  Sat with Bob, N2OO and his xyl, 
KF2BQ; N1IBM and his xyl, YB0US; WE4DX and K6EP..  A good group, and 
Good speakers..  The group from the Ducie Island dxpedition put on a 
great show.  (and short)

Saturday,  Chilly again.  Did the flea again.  didn't buy again..   Got 
a new cap with my now official new call:W1RG (thanks John) and some 
stuff from Bill Plum for QSLing.  Met Mike and Sherry, Don and Hope, but 
missed John K4WJ.  Did the Spaghetti Warehouse with Don and Hope that 
evening.  Ate too much.  

A first...  No Wait at the Spaghetti Warehouse... Also rooms available 
for the asking at many hotels including the Crown Plaza.  Some folks 
seem to think that this phenomena is a result of the dwindling crowd at 
Dayton, but I also observed that there are lots of new hotels and dining 
spots in town.  A little of both.  Certainly I didn't find it uncrowded. 
 Couldn't run a foot race through the exhibit areas.  Not too crowded in 
the flea....   But I can't compare to other than the last two years.  My 
first trip was 2000.  My discussions with some of the vendors indicated 
they were making sales..  But also you could buy a 'Pro II for around 
$2400...  Competition was hot.

I departed Sunday AM, not going to Hara for the wind down..  Had 
Breakfast with Waldemar DL?? and Dave ZS??  All in all I
had a great time, and spent $$.  That's what it's all about, right?

Hope everyone else who went did as well..

73 to all,
Gil, W1RG