Life has been rather hectic lately, but it looks like the chances are good that I will be returning to the Dayton Hamvention again this year. This will be my third trip to Dayton, and every year I have met at least two diyAudio forum members there just by chance. People tend to recognize me. I imagine that there were other members that I didn't see. If anyone is going, and there is interest in a bull session or a guided tour of the swap meet junk (oops I mean goodies) we could arange to meet, or at least swap cell phone #'s.
The Dayton hamfest is the largest in the world. Last year attendance for the 3 day event was 22,000 people. The swap meet area holds over 2500 swap spaces. The theme is ham radio, but there are very few restrictions on what can't be sold there, so it is an excellent place to find tubes, transformers, components, complete tube amps, not so complete amps, test equipment, and who knows what else. Sometimes people purchase space just to show off their latest creation, like last years Prius that was covered in solar cells, 11 miles a day without any gas at all.
The swap area is entirely outdoors and is subject to Dayton's finicky weather. It can be cold (35F), warm (75F), sunny or raining, or as with last year all 4 over the 3 days. NOTE! Rain makes the prices drop, a LOT! Last year the weather was cool but nice on Friday. A seller wanted $50 each for some MRI RF amplifiers. Saturday the rain started, and then the rain came down hard. I bought all 6 amplifiers for $100! I got a 0 to 2KV 100 mA Kepco power supply for $20 and an RF spectrum analyzer for free (known to be broken). Both times that I went to Dayton I left with a small SUV full! This year, I have a bigger vehicle.
There are 3 buildings (a hockey arena and support buildings) that house convention style booths that are mostly ham radio related equipment. It's cool to look at all of the ways that you could spend some serious money in ham radio if you are into it. I do have an extra class ham license and a working radio, but not much interest. Being a radio designer, at work for 35+ years, is enough.
I plan to be there when it opens Friday morning, staying until closing, and returning Saturday, staying until I have to set out on the 1100 mile drive home. It really does take more than one day just to cover the swap meet area. The first time I went, I spent two days in the swap area and never did see the ham radio stuff. Last year I was a bit more orgainzed and I covered the swap area in one long day. Saturday I hit the swaps in the morning, and went inside after I got soaked in the rain for the third time (mid afternoon).
Dayton Hamvention 2010 - Amateur Radio Clubs Worldwide: The Lifeline
The Dayton hamfest is the largest in the world. Last year attendance for the 3 day event was 22,000 people. The swap meet area holds over 2500 swap spaces. The theme is ham radio, but there are very few restrictions on what can't be sold there, so it is an excellent place to find tubes, transformers, components, complete tube amps, not so complete amps, test equipment, and who knows what else. Sometimes people purchase space just to show off their latest creation, like last years Prius that was covered in solar cells, 11 miles a day without any gas at all.
The swap area is entirely outdoors and is subject to Dayton's finicky weather. It can be cold (35F), warm (75F), sunny or raining, or as with last year all 4 over the 3 days. NOTE! Rain makes the prices drop, a LOT! Last year the weather was cool but nice on Friday. A seller wanted $50 each for some MRI RF amplifiers. Saturday the rain started, and then the rain came down hard. I bought all 6 amplifiers for $100! I got a 0 to 2KV 100 mA Kepco power supply for $20 and an RF spectrum analyzer for free (known to be broken). Both times that I went to Dayton I left with a small SUV full! This year, I have a bigger vehicle.
There are 3 buildings (a hockey arena and support buildings) that house convention style booths that are mostly ham radio related equipment. It's cool to look at all of the ways that you could spend some serious money in ham radio if you are into it. I do have an extra class ham license and a working radio, but not much interest. Being a radio designer, at work for 35+ years, is enough.
I plan to be there when it opens Friday morning, staying until closing, and returning Saturday, staying until I have to set out on the 1100 mile drive home. It really does take more than one day just to cover the swap meet area. The first time I went, I spent two days in the swap area and never did see the ham radio stuff. Last year I was a bit more orgainzed and I covered the swap area in one long day. Saturday I hit the swaps in the morning, and went inside after I got soaked in the rain for the third time (mid afternoon).
Dayton Hamvention 2010 - Amateur Radio Clubs Worldwide: The Lifeline