[SMCARA] Dayton

[Clarke, Frederic]

Well, folks, another Dayton Hamvention is in the books!  

Yes, it rained!
Yes, the food vendors were outstanding, with 8 more than last year.
Yes, the traffic problem has been solved.
Yes, I would go again! And you should too!

I got there Thursday afternoon and set up with my Michigan pals (Lansing/Okemos area).  We had 8 tailgate spots in a row. They were not as deep this year and that made it a challenge to get a car and a canopy inside the lines. Our "HQ" was an Airstream trailer belonging to one of the members.  Good place to escape the occasional rain showers, grab a sandwich from the fridge, or just relax.  Sun canopies in front protected all the "treasures" that were for sale!

The big change this year was that the Hamvention committee in cahoots with the Greene County Fairgrounds did a great job fixing the mass mud problem of last year.  All the walkway aisles between the rows of tailgaters were quasi paved with a milled asphalt mixture and rolled.  This effectively fixed the mud issue, with the exception of a few high vehicle traffic areas near the in/out lanes to the tailgate area ( the racetrack infield).  I brought my boots this year, but didn't need them!

Commercial sales were going well and lots of new products were displayed.  Yaesu was giving out hats and they ran out by Friday noon! Icom was hawking their new IC-7610 and 7300 rigs.  Elecraft and Flex had big displays and crowds!  MFJ was doing a land office business, as was DX Engineering, HRO, MTC and many other vendors.  7300s were still selling like hot cakes for $ 989.  It seems like everyone was selling CCRs (cheap Chinese radios) this year starting at $ 21.95!

There were several repeaters ( 2M voice, 2M DMR, 440 Fusion) on site.  A 1620 KHz AM traffic radio was giving up to date info on parking and traffic suggestions.  Most intersections around Xenia had a police presence to keep the traffic flowing. It's always fun to "legally" run stop signs and red lights!

The flea market was busy and I only brought one "boatanchor" back home.  My Collins 32V3 transmitter has gone to Dayton twice!  Lots of "tire kickers", but no one wanted to schlep that 107 lb. baby back to their car!

Got to say " hi" to many friends from previous shows or DXpeditions (Buddiepole, etc).  Eric N3UH stopped by and I also caught up with Nick and John from Chapel Hill.  All the recognizable names from ARRL and CQ were there and good old Gordo West was sporting his bow tie as usual!  The nameless young lady with the "antenna tower" hairdo was back after a couple of years absence!  Unfortunately the rain did a number on the tower and beam constructed from her long hair on Friday afternoon!

"Good Show!" to Dayton Amateur Radio Assn,  Greene County Fairgrounds, and Xenia.  There were "Welcome Hamvention" signs everywhere.  They like us.

73 Tom/W4OKW


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Office: 301-863-4418  |  Mobile: 301-904-2053 
tom.clarke at wyle.com [Pri] | frederic.t.clarke.ctr at navy.mil