From Chip Keister, N5RTF:
It was lonely in Dayton. Keith and I kept the booth open most of the time, though we did wander off and buy a few things. See the nice new sign!
N3IM at MARCO Booth, Dayton 2011
Several current members and a lot of potential members came by. We need to talk about a new hotel -- It gets worse every year. The Hara Arena is showing its age too -- down to 2 working toilets by Saturday afternoon.
From Keith Adams, N3IM:
Dayton was busy this year. I guess a lot of people decided to take one of their vacations at Dayton this year. The flea market was busy and there was a lot of vintage gear and newer gear. I believe there was more Ham gear for sale this year then in the last 3-4 years when computers tended to be everywhere in the flea market. This year still had computer dealers but not so much thaat it was boring to walk in the flea market.
An interesting antenna was seen in the flea market made out of horse fence.
Unfortunately for Dayton on Saturday the main sewer line from Hara Arena ruptured. I wonder if it was due to the Beer (by the way the Amber Bock was nice and cold, thanks Chip.). They had it all fixed by Sunday.
Chip was the grand winner for new gear, I believe, although Ed Jones may have been close. Of course Roger Higley stopped by to say hello and he may have bought some new gear but didn't mention it.
Notable was the weather which was absolutely top notch. No thunderstorms or cold weather.
Interestingly for QRP fanatics were the HW 7,8 and 9 rigs available.
I did not stay at the Ramada so I can't comment, but Chip had first hand expirience and it sounds like the reason they are no longer a Holiday Inn is location and the large number of newer Hotels that were built about 4 miles up I-75. I wonder how long the current management will exist. Food has suffered for 2 or 3 years and the rooms are getting old. Bar is closed. With the current economy in Dayton (NRC moved out last year) This hotel's location is less than ideal for most traveler's. Also, the Italian Restaurant appears to be closed now. We had some good times there with eveeryone. Maybe Roger can tell us about that.
The Hamvention Radio station was indoors this year near the ARRL area.
AMSAT had a station set-up in the parking lot just outside of Ball arena.
Maybe more interesting was the fact that Homeland Security must have been concerned with the Internatiional Flavor of the event as the FBI attended and did not have a booth. Maybe all they were interested in was seeing the new Wouxon radio, hi,hi,hi,hi.
Although we did not have the normal attendees this year Chip was a great help as I had driven in from getting off work at Uniontown at midnight arriving in Dayton at 5 AM and was in HARA Arena at 7. I was able to go back to my hotel and catch a quick nap.
I lost an old friend 2 days before Dayton as my Jeep Liberty which I have had for 10 years was hit and totaled. It had 234,000 miles on it and ran like a top. One of the Daimler/Chrysler products. Some of you will remember it as you rode in it. I even believe that Polycarp rode in it many years ago before he disappeared form the Ham bands and MARCO.
I forgot to mention that charter member #13 W4TX was at the booth and we had a good discussion.
And Larry Wissing, N4MKT added:
Thanks Keith nice write up, was there and saw Chip briefly sorry I missed you.
