The AM Forum

I noticed Brad posted an announcement for the Berryville Virginia fest coming up this weekend...

http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=42906.0

Thinking of driving up from GA to attend.  Had a nice eyeball QSO with JN and KAQ last year.

Just wondering how many suspects may be planning to attend this year.  I am not shopping for anything, just want to come and visit and meet more of the gang.   Anyone planning to make the trip?

Hi Rick -

As of today, the forecast for northern Virginia on Sunday called for partly sunny skies, temps in the mid 80s.

There's a decent chance I will make it this year and I would enjoy meeting you and other AMers. I will be shopping for a few odds & ends.

Maybe the AM folks should meet for an eyeball QSO & photo.

73,
Brad

Hi Brad,

Thank you for your reply.  I was hoping to hear ealrier from some of the folks so I could decide whether I should make the 14 hour drive from Atlanta.  It is too late now for me to make reservations and start the trip.   I hope you meet some of the other folks there and have a good time.  Maybe I should shoot for Frostfest this year. 

73, Rick

Rick,

Sorry it didn't pan out.  I didn't see your post until last night.

I attended Frostfest this year, which was pretty good.  The best part was meeting the AM operators.

73,
Brad

Where and when does the AM crowd met at Berryville?  Is there an equivalent to the HOSSTRADERS Swine Barn?

I'll be there and may bring some junk to sell.

I don't know if they have a Swine Barn but if there's interest in getting together for a few minutes for an AM operator photo perhaps meet at 10:00 a.m.  near the information table by the building that houses the restrooms.  I will check back here for suggestions for a better meeting location, time.

If we don't end up meeting for a photo I will keep an eye open for your call signs.

73,
Brad K4RT

The place is packed. This may be the largest Berryville I've seen.

Yes, great 'fest, KJ4RGH, KE7NL, K7MPP, and K4RT at info table for photo now.

Also present: W3JN, K4HX, W3SCC and myself, probably a few others I missed like Mark/K3SMB who saw Steve & John before I got there. Didn't know anything about a photo until after the fact when Chris mentioned it. We used to make a few rounds of the place first to see who was there before scheduling a photo because you never know who will roll in. I hadn't looked at 'fone for a couple days.

Rick - sorry you couldn't make it this time. As Steve said, the 'fest was huge this year, biggest I've seen in the few years I've attended. Sellers running over into areas previously empty, and the parking field was packed when I arrived just after 9. A *lot* of stuff. WX could not have been better. Temps in the mid 70s with sun and light overcast, slight breeze at times.

Took a few photos but bought nothing. Still have a lot to clear out at home. Enjoyed seeing some of the crew again and catching up a bit. Berryville is always a great little fest. It was just a little bigger this year.

Sorry we missed the 1000 get together. Lots of goodies to look at!

More.

More.

More.

 The AM crowd at Berryville 2017.

Terry K7MPP, Chris KJ4RGH, Jack KE7NL, Brad K4RT

Jack - Nice photo.  I enjoyed the hamfest and it was great meeting Jack for the first time and having an eyeball QSO with Chris who I had an AM QSO with not too long ago.  Looking forward to meeting more AMers next time.

Steve's photos reflect the ample boatanchor offerings this year.  That nice looking Navigator had sold by the time I saw it.

It was definitely a good fest this year. The weather couldn't have been any better, and it was nice to put some more faces to the voices on the radio.

I got there around 5:40 and there were already people looking around with flashlights. I sold about half of the junk I brought, but made up for that by bringing some new junk home. Found some parts to complete my B&W 5100 and picked up a fairly clean untouched R-390A.

5:40 Chris? You're a sick, sick man...... ;)

Here are a few of the photos I snapped after arriving just after 9AM. Believe it or not, there were still sellers coming in and setting up at that time.

More....

This was definitely the year of the KWM-2 and S-Line. Several sellers with multiple items.

And more...

As mentioned, the sellers and crowd were equally large this year. In numbers, that is. We lacked the data to do a waistline comparison.

Looks like fun!  I should have made the trip. 

I think I saw my good friend Fran-W3SCC standing by the table with a National and a Hammurland rcvr on it.

Joe-W3GMS

The weather was just gorgeous this year.   I got there just after sunrise, availed myself of a ham, egg and cheese sandwich with a piping hot cup of coffee, then started my rounds.

Tons of stuff there......

There were two Valiant 1's almost directly across from each other -- one for $375 and the other for $125.    The note on the $125 unit said it powered up etc, but needed recapped.  I didn't see anything on the $375 unit.     That SX-101A was $100 I believe?      Someone could've gone home with a decent AM station for $225!!     Did any of those find a home?

No ARC-5 stuff that I saw....... :(

Berryville is never a disappointment!

There was an ARC 5 mounting bracket there, $5.

Wasn't that under one of the tables? 3 receiver rack mount, IIRC. Will look through my photos again.

Yep. Seemed like a good deal.

At a time in the not so distant past, you could buy 3 rx's to fill the rack and 3 more for spares for the price the racks were selling for. Even the single mounts were pricey.

I'd like to make it to Berryville next year. This year, opted for Vinton, Va and the xyl came along so we could check out some of the antique stores on the way back. Found a dynamotor marked DM-310A at one store for $5.