We all know that the internet sales have taken a large bite out of the hamfest venues.  Whether it is Ebay or ham radio stores itself.  I just went to a somewhat local hamfest this past Sunday.  What I saw, and what seems to be a common site at hamfests,(comments made earlier reflect this), people seem to think they are sitting on gold.  Now I understand that yes, there are some items that bring in regular cash flow, but this does not pertain to everything.  For example, on  a table Sunday there was a FT1900, in a box with a tag on it for $215!!  Why?  I have no clue!  Around the corner was a FT817 for over 800 dollars.  I guess that would explain why folks pack the things back up in their vehicle and take it home.  There is also a ham that has been toting a set of Bencher paddles around for a few years with a tag of 110 dollars.  With a sign attached:  "Do Not Touch"!  Things of this nature causes some of the knee jerk reactions that we all have.  However this will not stop me from going to hamfests!  I enjoy the atmosphere, and watching all of the people there with a common background scurrying around looking for that special part, a certain key, or certain rig.  I will continue to go to Dayton each year and stroll the flea market in hopes to cross paths with folks that I have worked, or have met each year while attending.  It is US, the ham operators that make the decline apparent to others.  When we stay home, and do not support the hamfest, this will be the outcome.  Go, participate, whether big or small, enjoy the visits, and take a look see.  Enjoy it, it is part of the hobby!  There is not a mandatory purchase requirement!  Others may vary.  My 2 cents.

73..Scott..N3JJT

Well, think about this.  The flea market opens at 8 am, and the building opens at 9 am.  I do the first hour in the flea market, and if I am planning to buy anything new I do it first thing at 9, when the building opens.  Most of the time(not all the time) there are less people around on Friday, and a little easier to get around inside.  Buy new on Friday, especially if you are looking for specifics.  Not all vendors bring allot of stock with them.  Go with a plan in mind.  Then after that, I spend the rest of the day in the flea market.  Saturday I will do both.  Sunday I do not go.  This is a good plan as long as it does not rain.  Then everyone will try to get inside.  The Xyl has a cousin just outside of town, so that is where we stay.  I buy the bus pass and park at the mall, and take the bus back and forth from the gate to my car.

Hope you have fun!  73 de Scott

Kris:  It seems to me that you are hung up on how fast you are not going.  Getting on the air each day and doing a couple of QSOs will change that on its own.  A comment made earlier makes sense as far as the practice side of things go.  Not one of us here picked up the key for the first time and was doing 20 wpm.  We started slow and built our speed thru time.  Take the time to enjoy each qso.  If you are in a hurry, then you probably do not have time to have a qso to begin with.  Enjoy the mode, and and enjoy meeting all of the new folks out there.  There is always someone around to work.  use common abbreviations.  Most ops are listening for words that are in common conversations.  Someday you will only be writing down the log info, and copying the rest in your head.   That is when the enjoyment begins.  I read your example, and I think I might have sent you a couple of question marks, and agn?  Have fun, and welcome to CW!

73..N3JJT..Scott

Bill:  On the IC718, turn the break in off, and keep the keyer on.  The break in can be turned off by pressing the select key for 1 second, and use the up down buttons to get to the "Break In" settings.  Turn the vfo knob until you see off.  This will enable the sidetone only while you practice with the built in keyer.  If you are unable to hear the sidetone, there is also a setting for sidetone volume as well.  The manual is very clear on those settings. There are 2 different menus on the 718.  One that requires the select button to be pressed with the power, and one that is accessible with power on, like I mentioned above.  The keyer in the 718 is a fairly decent keyer.  Adjust the keyer speed as desired. The nice thing about using an external keyer with this rig, is that you can adjust the keyer speed on the fly, without going in to the menu. User preference. Good luck and have fun!

73..de N3JJT  Scott

Hello Brian, and welcome back to radio!  I have the Z817 tuner, and it works quite well.  I very seldom use the tuner.  The nice thing about the X817, it plugs right into the rig.  I use the Par EF10-20-40 antenna.  This is a great combonation with the FT817.  I usually run this portable while camping, but I am sure you could string it in your attic, or drop it out of a 2nd story window.  I have made many contacts with this set up.  The antenna requires no counterpoise, and is very solidly built.  It is no longer produced by Par, but it is currently produced by LNR.  You follow the instructions to trim and tune, and voila!  I am a cw op, so this is my experiences, and my opinion.  Others may vary!

73/72..Scott  N3JJT

Goodyear Hamfest does not exist.  It has not been around for years.  Mansfield is nice.

Hello Dave...I would suggest an HT to start.  That will keep him on the edge. Invite him to operate more at your shack.  Show him other modes.  If you cannot share the other modes, get another ham friend involved.  He is 13, and I would suspect he would like PSK31, and the other digital modes to include CW.  Maybe you or another local ham would have a loaner rig he could use to get his feet wet.  This will show you just how interested he is in the hobby.  If so, let him use the rig.  Maybe he can shovel snow, cut grass, and save a little cash to help purchase his first rig.  Maybe a local ham has an oldie to sell him.   Take him to ham club meeting. Introduce him to other hams.  All of these things are important to keep these young guys interested.  Bunky has some good suggestions.  The Ht along with the books to help him upgrade, and learn with to include a kit or soldering tools.  All too many times new hams are brought in, and then dropped.  No one picked them up to keep them interested, and share their experience with them.  Now is the chance to at least keep one!

Good Luck!  73..de N3JJT..Scott

Mark:  There is a menu setting on the IC718.  You have to enable the transmit, otherwise it is receive only.  I cannot remember which one, but it is in the hard set menu,(Power on with the select button pressed), this should get you going.  I would be surprised if it is not this.  Good Luck!

Scott..N3JJT

Hello, and glad to have you back!  Well, I have 7 straight keys and 4 sets of paddles.  I use straight keys 99% of the time.  I am very active in the Straight Key Century Club,(SKCC).  I use a Ham key and a Bencher RJ-1 most of the time.  Every time I go to a hamfest I look for keys.  I see one that is affordable, I buy it, take it home and try it.  It might end up being your favorite, or your least favorite.  I collect them also..I have used all of them, but i favor those 2 the most.  The Ham Key is pretty smooth, and very easy to adjust.  Finding your favorite will be hit or miss.  You might buy 5 before you decide!

As far as the BT...I use it on a regular basis...I never use periods,if I do, I am sending a web address. I may use a  comma here and there, but the BT is common for me.

Good Luck!  73  de N3JJT...Scott

Well, it is nice to hear you wanting to take it all in again!  Welcome, and I hope your relearning experience will be fun.  First of all, you are relearning, so forget where you thought you were.  Get the, "I have to go faster than 25 wpm" thoughts out of your head.(This will inhibit your learning, besides it will happen on its own).  It has been posted that the average speed out there is between 15 to 18, maybe 20wpm, and this is very true.  The last post said it right, practice sending good, and you will attract QSOs.  Once you are comfortable, put down the pencil.  Use the pencil to jot down the call,name rpt, etc that you want in the log.  Then put down the pencil.  Copy in your head, and the enjoyment will increase 10 fold.  You might have to slow down at first, but it will pay off later.  Your speed will come with time.  Once you get where you are having lots of fun, and you want to set that high speed goal, then you will be ready for the challenge.  I am a member of SKCC.  There is always someone wanting to chat.  Fists has lots of members too!  When you copy in ur head, u hear words, and you will hear them before they are spelled out.  Once that happens, you will be just "talking".  This is how I elmered my good friend, KD8BBK.  He operates in the 28wpm area.  Much faster than I ever go, and he copies in his head.  I do CW 99% of the time, and really enjoy the mode!

Good Luck!  de Scott..N3JJT

Well, KG4DGF said it right...there are so many facets to the radio hobby!  Finding one may take a little time.  I think you should upgrade, this will give you the chance to try some other modes.  CW to PSK31, phone, and many others.  You do not need a new rig.  The comment on the 530/520, and such us the perfect suggestion.  Do some reading, join a local club and find out whats going on.  Ask someone in the club what they do, and hopefully someone will elmer you in the right direction, invite you over and do a little operating.  Maybe the local club has a club station to use, and you can get some air time to find out what you may like, or use until you can put a rig at home.  That is the main purpose of having club stations, was so hams could have a place to operate, because not everyone can buy a rig right away!
Good Luck!

To KI4QPU:  I am sorry you have such a bitter taste of the hobby. An elmer in your area should have been helping you out with some type of guidance in the hobby.  Maybe if you looked at the concept of upgrading yourself, and trying some of the modes available you might see there are good things out there!  You should also go to a local club and ask questions too, and see what is really going on in the hobby.  Get involved with your club, go to Field Day, help out on some public service events.  Help an OM work on some antennas. Learn about it, your way of thinking is able to be changed!  Good Luck to you too, and I hope you open up a little and look for some change, and put that KW570 to use.  That is a very nice rig to just use as a receiver. Have some fun!

73..Scott

Marty...One more thing..There is a Yahoo users group for the FT-ONE.

Scott

Hi, Marty.....Also there is a switch on the back of the rig which enables the battery back-up.  Make sure it is switched on.  Another thing, once you turn the rig on, and you see all "zeros", just roll the VFO knob, and you should see actual frequencies. From that point, you should be able to go to any band or frequency you want.  I have an FT-ONE, and I operate the rig on a regular basis. Enjoy the rig, I know I do!

Good Luck!  Hope this helped!  73  Scott