[SFDXA] Orlando Hamcation 2012

[Bill]

My observations at Orlando this year.

I hadn't been to The Orlando Hamcation in a year or two so I discarded 
my thoughts of lack of sleep, and got up at 5 AM to make the trip to 
Orlando this year.

After the 3 hour trip in the rain I was concerned for the rest of the 
day. I shouldn't have because it turned out to be Sunny but cold and 
windy. Me for4getting it was 200 miles north wore my South Florida 
Hamfest clothes, shorts and T-shirt, not a good idea. Luckily I also 
brought my SFDXA Orange jacket .I wear it once every 5 years or so. and 
I was good for the day. It helped some old friends spot me, as it always 
did at hamfests.

I was pleasantly surprised to see many of the smaller vendors I thought 
only went to Dayton like ROC Software. Rick writes the software formerly 
know as PK Rat and others for the PK-232 and other Timewave stuff. He 
now owns Ham Radio Deluxe HRD, and it will cost $49.50 soon for version 
6 which fixes all the issues you didn't know about. Anyway Rick helped 
me fix an issue I was having with my key number for ROC.

Also there was SinBad glue who is a perennial vendor at Dayton. I again 
bought my supply of the best glue in the world (it really is). Thus 
saving me from having to figure out how to get the 6 oz of liquids home 
from Dayton.

Remoteshack.com was there promoting his setup to control your shack and 
antenna remotely from another state if you like.

TennaDyne was there selling their antennas, Cubex Quads and the 
TennaDyne Knott(hope I spelled that right). I had a nice chat with them.

I was glad to see QuickSilver there. I wanted to feel and touch their 
crimper. I got to meet John the owner and I purchased a Crimper at a 
Hamcation special price,  and extra dies. Also saved me some weight 
coming back from Dayton. This was after perusing the outside areas 
looking for one and not finding anything I liked. I did find some small 
drill bits and tools I needed for Barbara's caning and chair weaving 
business. I help out now that I am retired (sort of).

I did find lots of SFDXA Members and former members. John 
K4WJ(ex-K8PXG), Joe W4IR(ex-WB4OSN), Doug W4OX(ex-WB4MAI). All EX DX 
HOGs and former Officers. I saw Don W3AZD, and Hope WB3ANE working hard 
at their table. They were busy and didn't disturb them. Bill NZ5N, Ray 
N4RU, Irwin N4IEW, Elliot KB2TZ, Don N4TZH. I missed Dave W4DN, Pete 
N8PR and Mike W43UM and Sherry W4SLR.

Lots or hams in the flea market area outside although it seemed a little 
less than previous years. Ill bet the rain from the past few days kept 
them away. That's not too say it didn't take a long time to get around, 
hours. I swear I saw a lot of the items I spent 25 years selling at the 
Miami Hamfest. Plenty of rigs and old gear and at least 25 D-104's Bill 
NZ5N saw. Did you get one Bill?

I saw some great gadgets I didn't buy, like a gimmick that helps tie 
wire around something called ClampTite. A new switch that ties 6 rigs to 
2 amplifiers. No name for it but it is from KR5L. That's good for guys 
like me with 6 sets of boatanchors and two boatanchor amplifiers. There 
are others but this was only $99 bucks.

A new thingamajig that attaches to the seat of your car or truck to 
mount a radio. Saving a dashboard or console hole. It was from 
hamradioinnovations.com called the BackBone. KG4YNI invented that and 
was there with his wife telling everyone about it.

RT Innovations was outside showing his Hazer styled rail that hoists 
your antenna up and down the tower like a Hazer. I had seen this online 
and glad to see the superior construction up close. One guy W8RAT, with 
his wife with another great ham invented product.

I had a terrible hot dog from Becky's catering. But it was much cheaper 
than the scrawny looking pulled pork sandwich.
  Lots of NET buddies like SouthCars and The Florida AM Group. Big FCG 
contingent. With only a few hours there I would like to have gone to 
their lunch but not enough time for everything.

ARRL was there, Jeff Beals WA4AW was at the QCWA desk. Jeff will be 
speaking at an upcoming meeting.

All the major manufacturers were there and well known companies like CQ, 
Icom, Kenwood, MFJ etc.

In the end I got some LMR with the connectors on. I figured Ill make up 
the extra pieces with the new crimper hi. I bought the LMR-400 after 
seeing all the various prices there. It was a little cheaper outside 
from a home brewer but I figured I'd have someone to yell at if I got it 
from ABR  Industries. Pretty cheap and I was happy with the coax I got 
from them at Dayton.

It was still windy and cold when I left but the sun had made it all 
bearable. The visitors from the north wondered at the warm weather.

Left about 3:00, sorry I missed some friends. I'm sure others were there 
I missed but didn't hear about. I think I saw it all, but I'll be back 
next year to see what I missed plus whatever new gadgets and gimmicks 
are out there..

73,
Bill Marx W2CQ