Dayton Hamvention

[Detroit47]

I know that Hara Arena is a dump, but Dayton is still fun. I will be there with lots of treasures to sell.

John N8QPC

[W3GMS]

Hi John,

I am getting the Dayton itch again!  I guess its been 20 years since I have been there.  During the time I was attending, it was for business so never really got to see the complete Fest.   

In the old days of Dayton, they had a great AM forum hosted and organized by Dale, KW1I.  Lots of slides of various stations around the country.  Don, K4KYV use to attend as well and always had something to say! 

Back then finding a place to stay was challenging.  You almost had to wait for someone to either become an SK or not renew for the following year.  We finally, after many years got a yearly spot at the Red Roof Inn which was not that far from the Hara Arena.  The first year the only booking we could get was at the South Dayton Motel and it left a little bit to be desired!  If I remember we only had to stay there one year and then moved to better quarters.   

Friday night's dinner usually came from the Red Lobster and Saturday was traditionally a fine piece of Prime Rib at the Barn Sidder.   

Unfortunately, we will not be making it this year, but maybe next year.   Anyway, enjoy and let us know what boat-anchors you find!

Joe, W3GMS         

[W4EWH]

Dayton has been a "Maybe Next Year" for me ever since I can remember.

As fate would have it, the airfare was about $350 from Boston, and I just spent my "entertainment" budget on parts for a Class E rig!

Maybe Next Year.

Bill, W1AC

[Detroit47]

 Joe you never know what you may find at Dayton. I am trying to thin the herd of store bought radios. I have two Viking 2 parts rigs that are serviceable but ugly. I have an extra Valiant that is going along too as well as a ugly national receiver. Too much ballast I need to lighten the road, unless I run into a BC610 that needs a new home.
    I was just thinking about something that used to happen at Dayton on Sunday afternoon after closing. There was one fellow that used to have a Big barbecue set up. The was many beers hoisted as well as a lot of chicken and ribs consumed. It was a good time they would have a fit if you did that anymore. I can't recall the fellows call that used to throw the party though. That was at least twenty years ago.

John

[W2VW]

Best part of Dayton is getting drunk and lying about DX and amplifiers at 4 lander hospitality suites.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

For those that have a need to know, here are the attendance numbers including 2014. Note that "attendance numbers" are the number of attendance tickets sold not how many actually showed up.

These numbers are from what I collected over the years of attendance. There may be other slight variations floating around the internet.
1991: 33,500
1992: 33,000
1993: 33,669
1994: Est. 29,000-33,000
1995: Est. 29,000-33,000
1996: Est. 29,000-33,000
1997: 28,000
1998: 28,120
1999: 28,176
2000: 28,804
2001: 26,151
2002: 24,832
2003: 22,168
2004: 19,869
2005: 20,411
2006: 20,324
2007: 19,138
2008: 17,253
2009: 18,877
2010: 19,750
2011: 22,312
2012: 24,483
2013: 24,542
2014: 24,873

In the Flea Market as of May 13th, 3 days before opening bell:
2218 booths available | 1785 booths paid and reserved | 104 booths reserved but unpaid | 329 booths available

Inside vendors as of May 13th, 3 days before opening bell:
505 booths available | 451 booths paid and reserved | 33 booths reserved but unpaid | 21 booths available


Septic system held fast this year. Weather varied all over the place.

A Google for 2014 Dayton Hamvention pictures brought a collage of recent and past photos:
https://www.google.com/search?q=2014+dayton+hamvention+pictures&client=firefox-a&hs=nAz&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=EEifU7LcFIygsQS024DIDA&ved=0CB4QsAQ&biw=1287&bih=828&dpr=1.25

[KA3EKH]

Pictures and commentary about Dayton this year that’s aimed mostly at military radio junk but includes some AM info. We always do a low power portable 3885 AM net there on Saturdays using old military stuff. I did not have a radio with me this year but was around net control that was an ART-13 and BC-348 all run with car batteries and original dynamotors. Web page:

http://staff.salisbury.edu/~rafantini/Dayton%202014.htm

I have been doing this stuff for a while now including the legendary hamfest of old like the original Gaithersburg and Rochester and have to say that Dayton is still the king of the hamfest. Regardless of the stuff like the exploding septic systems, a third rate facility that gets worse every year and a parking lot and service roads that are equal to what’s found outside Bagdad or Kabul, only with slightly fewer IEDs. But will stand by the statement that Dayton is still and has been the “King of the Hamfests”.

[W3RSW]

Very nice Mil rundown. Did not realize that an ART-13 was a "lower powered" AM rig that could run on batteries all day.   . Looks like you guys had a ball.  Wish I could've been there... Well a little bit. By that time of year I was pretty sick of highly variable winter and spring wx.  It's a wonder it didn't snow.

Enjoyed your web page too.

Think I mentioned this before but a nice story nonetheless.

I had a nice BC 348Q sold to me by 3JN. Saw on the ID tag that it was built in my year of birth, '43, and also that of friend of mine who's father was a WWII B-17 navigator who flew out of Polebrook, England.  Gave it to her as a memento and rigged up a wire ant. for her.  Also  a 500 ohm to 4 ohm AF transformer.   Also placed a 5k pot across the Ant. Terminals (externally) to cut down those saturating 4's and other freq. locked sidewinders.

[Sam KS2AM]

For those of us that weren't at the Dayton Hamvention this year...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvY4TNpSLhQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfTJ-RL8YKU (old military radio net)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LopURlvLrSc

[Opcom]

I've always wanted to go to Dayton, but now not sure if it will ever happen. The drive from TX to OH would take a couple days, it is not unreasonable, whoever, would want to also stop at the LST-325, Fair Radio, etc.

[K4NYW]

Two of those videos are just SO WEIRD! (The military net one is normal)
So some folks really go to Dayton and stay indoors away from all the truly interesting stuff in the flea market? - Oh, the humanity.....
Nick K4NYW

[Opcom]

The audio didn't do the dynamotor justice!

[K6JEK]

Great Briton? Really. I wouldn't expect people to spell Azerbaijan correctly but Great Britain?

I imagine you've all seen videos of the big Friedrichshafen convention.


   Part 1:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwgFUJ-NuoQ
 
   Part 2:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyul5cvbhHM&feature=em-uploademail
 

[Steve - K4HX]

We have people spelling amateur radio incorrectly! Keep your expectations low.