TUFF (John Goller, k9uwa) wrote ...


We really didn't do too bad... $59 a night at I-70 and Main Street

We were at the Best Western Executive at Needmore Rd and I-75. 3
nights for $172 total price including all taxes. Had to pre-pay
months in advancee to get that price. Looks scruffy from the road but
clean inside and the neighborhood was quite - despite appearances that
it might be otherwise.

Fri night the palce was about empty. Parking lot less than 10 percent
full. Sat night it got discovered - the parking lot was about 70-80
percent full. Walk-ins were getting rooms.

Too bad about the decline in vendors and flea marketers. We'd think
that DARA would catcha a clue and, as another poster suggested, do
some marketing.

And the loss of short term parking for pick up of heavy items is a
nuisance. Friend of mine had his car towed - $75 to get it back. He
went to the hamfest office to see if they could help - they shrugged
and said "too bad".

If it keeps deteroiorating like this, hams will someday be all too
glad to see Hara bulldozed to make way for condos.

It was sad to see so many empty booths inside and out. Even some of
the regulars like Mosley, HAL, QRZ DX/DX Magazine, etc. were not there
this year. Surplus Sales of Nebraska had only a small token booth
instead of their usual big one. The big tent out in the flea market
that had several aisles of vendors was not there this year. The DX and
Contest forums that used to hold a big standing room only crowd were
relegated to a small "meeting" room. Regular forums like the excellent
"mobile radio installation and noise reduction" session were not held
there this year.

Sad.....

Ham radio's dying... fast.

Roland, NK2U

Roland if it is dying fast what are you doing help it stay alive????
Folks that keep tolling the death bell for ham radio are just helping ham
radio to die faster....



--
If I am tired now, why do I have to RETIRE later?

Roland if it is dying fast what are you doing help it stay alive????
Folks that keep tolling the death bell for ham radio are just helping ham
radio to die faster....

Unfortunatly, there is nothing you can do. You can't create interest in
youth with more modern, advanced technology all around.

Roland

wrote:

On Tue, 18 May 2004 17:06:52 GMT, TUFF (John
Goller, k9uwa) wrote:


In article 1drqc.112183$Ik.9147885@attbi_s53,
says...

John k9uwa


Forgot one...
the Dayton Convention Buro .. sets the prices that the Hotels
Charge for Hamvention as well as all other Conventions..

100 bucks plus for a Holiday Inn Express ... is a little on the
high side!


I probably shouldn't tell you this John.

We stayed in Troy, 19 miles north on I 75 for 57.00 a night.

Our 2nd year in that location......15 minute drive.

Yup, I stayed in Middletown for 49.00/night. I didn't have any 3 or 4
night minimum either.

This is only my second year at Dayton, so I can't comment on any "glory
days" but:

The flea had a lot more ham radio oriented stuff this year than last
year. Last year I wasn't sure if I was at a festival for vintage 486
computer sales and 1985 Motorola UHF handi-talkies or a Hamfest. The
flea was more interesting from a Ham outlook this year IMO.

Hara was doing a better job on the rest rooms compared to last year.
probably 50 percent less stink.

But Hara is without doubt getting old and run down. Presuming a person
is keeping their eyes open inside the building, it is obvious to see. I
can understand DARA's loyalty, but if Hara doesn't do some serious
upgrading soon, Dayton Hamfest will start to appear as old and run down
as the facilities it is held in.

The Hara parking lot where the flea is held is pretty sad. A couple
more years, and the macadam will be gone. You really have to watch your
step to keep from tripping on the potholes and non-level repairs.

Those mud wrestling pits....erm... parking lots beside the building are
pretty awful. I park at the Derelict mall and find that to be a pretty
good alternative.

But, I'll be there next year if all goes well.

- Mike KB3EIA -

"Roland Stiner" wrote in message
...
It was sad to see so many empty booths inside and out. Even some of
the regulars like Mosley, HAL, QRZ DX/DX Magazine, etc. were not there
this year. Surplus Sales of Nebraska had only a small token booth
instead of their usual big one. The big tent out in the flea market
that had several aisles of vendors was not there this year. The DX and
Contest forums that used to hold a big standing room only crowd were
relegated to a small "meeting" room. Regular forums like the excellent
"mobile radio installation and noise reduction" session were not held
there this year.

Sad.....

Ham radio's dying... fast.


No, but hamfests are.

viva la ebay

Maybe the cost of travelling had something to do with all this as the latest
USA Ham population figures show a slow rise.
Total US....735,823 +17

URL:
http://www.hamdata.com/fccinfo.html

--
Keyboard In The Noise
----------------------------------------------------------------

Someone generalized
Ham radio's dying... fast.

On Sun, 23 May 2004 22:56:42 -0400, Mike Coslo
wrote:

wrote:

On Tue, 18 May 2004 17:06:52 GMT, TUFF (John
Goller, k9uwa) wrote:


In article 1drqc.112183$Ik.9147885@attbi_s53,
says...

John k9uwa


Forgot one...
the Dayton Convention Buro .. sets the prices that the Hotels
Charge for Hamvention as well as all other Conventions..

100 bucks plus for a Holiday Inn Express ... is a little on the
high side!


I probably shouldn't tell you this John.

We stayed in Troy, 19 miles north on I 75 for 57.00 a night.

Our 2nd year in that location......15 minute drive.

Yup, I stayed in Middletown for 49.00/night. I didn't have any 3 or 4
night minimum either.

This is only my second year at Dayton, so I can't comment on any "glory
days" but:

The flea had a lot more ham radio oriented stuff this year than last
year. Last year I wasn't sure if I was at a festival for vintage 486
computer sales and 1985 Motorola UHF handi-talkies or a Hamfest. The
flea was more interesting from a Ham outlook this year IMO.

Hara was doing a better job on the rest rooms compared to last year.
probably 50 percent less stink.

But Hara is without doubt getting old and run down. Presuming a person
is keeping their eyes open inside the building, it is obvious to see. I
can understand DARA's loyalty, but if Hara doesn't do some serious
upgrading soon, Dayton Hamfest will start to appear as old and run down
as the facilities it is held in.

Whilst I was enjoying an adult beverage in the Hara pub, I had
occasion to speak with the lovely young barmaid.

She said that the owner (of Hara) had died and that the heirs were in
the process of trying to sell the complex.

I don't know what that means for Hamvention's long term prospects,
however as was already mentioned, the commitee stated that the fest
would be held at Hara again next year.

The Hara parking lot where the flea is held is pretty sad. A couple
more years, and the macadam will be gone. You really have to watch your
step to keep from tripping on the potholes and non-level repairs.

Those mud wrestling pits....erm... parking lots beside the building are
pretty awful. I park at the Derelict mall and find that to be a pretty
good alternative.

But, I'll be there next year if all goes well.

- Mike KB3EIA -





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If you believe that.......


wrote in message
...
On Sun, 23 May 2004 22:56:42 -0400, Mike Coslo
wrote:

wrote:

On Tue, 18 May 2004 17:06:52 GMT, TUFF (John
Goller, k9uwa) wrote:


In article 1drqc.112183$Ik.9147885@attbi_s53,
says...

John k9uwa


Forgot one...
the Dayton Convention Buro .. sets the prices that the Hotels
Charge for Hamvention as well as all other Conventions..

100 bucks plus for a Holiday Inn Express ... is a little on the
high side!


I probably shouldn't tell you this John.

We stayed in Troy, 19 miles north on I 75 for 57.00 a night.

Our 2nd year in that location......15 minute drive.

Yup, I stayed in Middletown for 49.00/night. I didn't have any 3 or 4
night minimum either.

This is only my second year at Dayton, so I can't comment on any "glory
days" but:

The flea had a lot more ham radio oriented stuff this year than last
year. Last year I wasn't sure if I was at a festival for vintage 486
computer sales and 1985 Motorola UHF handi-talkies or a Hamfest. The
flea was more interesting from a Ham outlook this year IMO.

Hara was doing a better job on the rest rooms compared to last year.
probably 50 percent less stink.

But Hara is without doubt getting old and run down. Presuming a person
is keeping their eyes open inside the building, it is obvious to see. I
can understand DARA's loyalty, but if Hara doesn't do some serious
upgrading soon, Dayton Hamfest will start to appear as old and run down
as the facilities it is held in.

Whilst I was enjoying an adult beverage in the Hara pub, I had
occasion to speak with the lovely young barmaid.

She said that the owner (of Hara) had died and that the heirs were in
the process of trying to sell the complex.

I don't know what that means for Hamvention's long term prospects,
however as was already mentioned, the commitee stated that the fest
would be held at Hara again next year.

The Hara parking lot where the flea is held is pretty sad. A couple
more years, and the macadam will be gone. You really have to watch your
step to keep from tripping on the potholes and non-level repairs.

Those mud wrestling pits....erm... parking lots beside the building are
pretty awful. I park at the Derelict mall and find that to be a pretty
good alternative.

But, I'll be there next year if all goes well.

- Mike KB3EIA -





-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

"Roland Stiner" wrote in message
...


Ham radio's dying... fast.

Roland, NK2U



so says Chicken Little. aka nk2u ...