[DX-CHAT] Hamvention: Death By Paper Cuts?
First, it was good to see so many of you (even if I didn't always get a chance to say "hi!") at Hamvention this last weekend. It's one of the few events I really look forward to all year. (It was especially nice to finally meet Urb and all three Steve's... Pete W2IRT and many others up at the NJDXA Hospitality Suite... Jim AD1C who was too busy, good for him, at his booth to look up... and on and on...) Having said that, I'm concerned about Hamvention, and those of you who were there should know what I'm talking about. To be brief: Attendance was noticeably down. I can not ever remember seeing the building(s) or the flea market so empty -- on a Friday afternoon or Saturday, not even in all those times of bad weather. Not only did I see many empty booths inside -- but there were many areas formerly occupied by booths that werejust plain not there, and by that I mean no curtains or tables or anything set up. The flea market was easily half empty. I don't ever recall seeingso many empty rows. Many vendors that I've come to count on as regulars, just to say "hi!" were conspicuous by their absence (especially many of the smaller ham vendors and many computer software/parts vendors). And the forums I went to or stuck my head in on, with the exception of the DX forum at first, were no were near filled (and I'm curious as to how the contesting antenna forums that were moved to the Crowne Plaza did) I think I saw less DX calls than ever. A lot of big guns I'd expected to run into were never seen, but more so, some of the delegations seemed to be down. I can't remember the last time I saw so few JA or OH or DL calls around; never ran into any PA's or Eastern EU calls, only a handful of F's and LX's and EA's and ON's. And so on, and so on, but you get the idea. ARRL had printed was giving out 5000 "Passports." All you had to do was walk around the building for about 15 minutes, look for 15 numbers, write them down and turn the form in for a chance at some nice prizes. You'd figure that sometimeSaturday morning they'd all be gone. But the League had piles of them still sitting around at 10 AM on Sunday. Granted, they could have tried a little harder to give them out (I only remember seeing people in League shirts doing so on Friday, I saw none on Saturday) but still... Why? I have my own ideas, but I'm curious as to others. K3AIR I talked about it at length on the drive home, but I know we don't know everything. It just strikes me that Hamvention is (and probably has been for a few years now) slowly disintegrating, bit by bit. I don't think it's really one or two major factors, but a lot of little things that add up -- in other words, not a major blow, but death by a thousand paper cuts. Thoughts? 73, ron wn3vaw
[DX-CHAT] Hamvention: Death By Paper Cuts?
I think I saw less DX calls than ever. A lot of big guns I'd expected to run into were never seen, but more so, some of the delegations seemed to be down. I can't remember the last time I saw so few JA or OH or DL calls around; never ran into any PA's or Eastern EU calls, only a handful of F's and LX's and EA's and ON's. And so on, and so on, but you get the idea. After 11 september2001 it has been a major inconvenience to travel to and within USA. Evene with the low dollar value, also the political climate does not encourage people to go over. Perhaps when you get a new president ,who respects international law and has less double standards, you may see more overseas visitors. These day I expect more will go to Hamradio in Friedrichshafen, which also has the benefit of some very nice surroundings and modern convention facilities. Just my 2 cents after hearing people over here talking. 73 Rag LA5HE
Re: [DX-CHAT] Hamvention: Death By Paper Cuts?
Rag, get a life. How our president conducts the foreign affairs of our nation is no one's business but ours, and these comments are totally inappropriate for this forum. Mike, W5UC At 06:57 PM 5/23/2005 +0200, you wrote: Perhaps when you get a new president ,who respects international law and has less double standards, you may see more overseas visitors.
Re: [DX-CHAT] Hamvention: Death By Paper Cuts?
This is a copy of Rag's famous anti-American, anti-Jewish post, just three days after the 9/11 attack: A sober approach would be to analyse what USA has donewrong in order to create enough hatred so some peopleare willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. With anignorant president you need some wise and knowledgablepeople in the government, who can review your foreignpolicy and come up with some much needed changes.Thelack of understanding the world outside USA and tosome extent Western-Europe has led USA to make someserious mistakes. Not knowing who committed thehorrible terror attack, for the sake of argument letme just make an example: It does not take a rocketscientist to understand that the lack of support tothe Palestinians struggle for freedom andselfdetermination is not winning friends in the Arabworld while at the same time the oppressers arereceiving several billion in "aid" every year .You may not believe it, but in many places around inthe world, some of us have had to stress that we arenot Americans in order to be treated politely !With respect and sorrow73 Rag LA5HE
[DX-CHAT] FW: linking small power supplies query
From: Charles Harpole [EMAIL PROTECTED] Somewhere now lost to me was info on the following problem... can anyone help with an answer? I have... somehow obtained over the years THREE Astron 7 amp 13VDC power supplies, all in excelent shape. No flea market sales on them, so CAN I SOMEHOW LINK THE OUTPUTS OF THESE THREE SUPPLIES TO DELIVER 13VDC AT HIGHER AMPERAGE than the 7 amps now offered by each alone Mucho thanks, 73 Charles Harpole [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] Hamvention: Death By Paper Cuts?
At 06:33 PM 5/23/2005 +, you wrote: Flea markets why wait for a flea market when sales go fast on the internet. Forums read about this content the next day after it happens or is released... on the internet. New products sell it on ur web site, fast. This appears to be 'dead on. There are those rare items that I look for at a Hamfest, But like many I am sure, when a need comes to mind, it's off to e-bay. I will go to Hamcom in Dallas because it is only a 4 hour drive. I hope to sell a couple of items that were taken to Dayton by a good friend but did not sell, and I will be looking for a killer bargain on a FT-920(yes, I have already been watching e-bay), BUT the thing I am primarily looking for is the opportunity to visit with old as well as new friends. I believe the small, close Hamfests will survive, but the large ones may be doomed for the reasons Charles has outlined. Too much cost (gasoline)for too little benefit. 73 Mike, W5UC Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
