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Question

Did you attend Hamvention this year? Comments please - favorite part, worst experience?

Results (188 answers)

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Survey Comments

Much too far to be worthwhile

About all that would interest me would be walking through the ham swapmeet and buying a few pieces of gear. I hate to fly and bringing them home on a plane would be nearly impossible as would be shipping. So, my option would be to drive. From western Nevada, it's a straight shot on I-80 and a full four days of driving each way. At our current fuel prices, It would cost nearly $800 each way. Then, there are motel costs, meals, etc. So, finding a ham swap meet within a half-day drive is much more practical. It would take an EV twice that long to make the trip even if they had charging stations everywhere, they still can't average 500-600 miles a day.
Posted by K7IN on 2022-06-11

Dayton Hamvention

Living 11 miles from Xenia Fairgrounds seems a person would attend but I didn’t make it this year.

I had my second knee replacement with complications so wasn’t able. Four weeks and one day I am on the mend although not as fast as my first. God willing I’ll be there next year. 73 All.
Posted by NX9U on 2022-06-10

First Time at Xenia

Was a regular attendee at the old Hara Hamvention for years. This was my first time at Xenia and it was excellent. I was one that pulled out of the flea market around 3PM...the prospect of getting stuck in mud/rain with a trailer made it an easy decision. It is a long haul from New Orleans area (13 hours) but makes for a fun trek with three fellow hams. If you have never gone, it is truly an experience.
Posted by K5EF on 2022-06-10

Never disappointing!

First one in 1982, a year before earning my ticket. Most recently, 2010, where I combined Hamvention with QRP ARCI FDIM. Always something interesting, and the flea market alone is worth the admission price. You'll see stuff there that you'll find nowhere else. Good times!
Posted by KA8SYX on 2022-06-09

Been there...

Went there my one and only time with a major vendor and went to all the private dinner parties and DX dinner. I enjoyed myself. That said, I don't think I would have enjoyed it otherwise and given the distance of the drive from my home it's very unlikely I will ever return just to walk the venue and nothing else.
Posted by KK9W on 2022-06-09

Hamvention - 2022

Have not had the chance to attend as yet - hoping for 2023!
Posted by W2FKN on 2022-06-08

Too far away

Too far away for me!
Posted by PA0LPS on 2022-06-06

Very impressive but unable to see all vendors

I found Hamvention 2022 extremely impressive. I made many purchases of both new and used equipment. Due to time limitations I was unable to attend any of the seminars.

On a negative note, I was unhappy to see the majority of the outdoor vendors pack up and leave on Saturday around 2:00 PM. They were concerned about afternoon rain which did not occur until close to 5:00 PM.
Posted by KO4IVH on 2022-06-06

Hamvention Attendance

Still trying to figure out why I'd travel 2500 miles to hang with 31,000 packed in sardines, none of whom I'd know, when I can walk to the beach from my house, board on my back, and commune with nature.
Posted by N6RLG on 2022-06-06

Great to be back!

It felt so good to be back at Hamvention this year! Surprised to see the attendance at 31,000+. I thought more people would be to afraid of COVID to attend. Only two notable vendors were absent: Kenwood and Palstar. I was able to find almost everything on my shopping list, and met up with some old friends as well. So the theme of "reunion" certainly held true for me. Had a great time, and am already planning the trip to Xenia for next year!
Posted by N8AUC on 2022-06-04

HamFair

No. . . a half a world away, how many have attended Japan's HamFair ??
Posted by JI1HSV on 2022-06-03

It's been 48 years since my last Dayton

Went once in 1974 as a 16 year old. I think it's time to go again, especially since the new venue is much better than Hara. In 1974 the toilets worked at Hara! After just reaching 50 years of continuously active Hamming, I enjoy Ham Radio as much as ever, 73 to all
Posted by W7RF on 2022-06-03

Dayton crush

I have Crowdaphobia. Being crushed inside a herd of thousands makes me really uncomfortable.
Posted by ND4MR on 2022-06-02

Maybe someday

It might be fun to do once, but it isn't on my bucket list.
Posted by K7NG on 2022-06-02

Would like too

Would like to attend as I get closer to retirement but with the economic situation in the country it's not looking good.
Posted by N1FDX on 2022-06-01

I attended one time in Dayton

Hara Arena was by far the nastiest public place that I have ever, ever encountered!!! I needed to go to the restroom and there was a line waiting for the toilets. When my turn came, I discovered that the toilets were the kind used in residential homes... You know, the kind with the reservoir tank on the back.

All of them were 'stuck' with the water flowing and the tanks wouldn't fill and the toilets wouldn't flush so the just filled up to the brim with piles of poop. I didn't sit on the seat but hovered over it and deposited mine on top of the pile.

Out in the flea market, a sewer line burst and overflowed a whole section of tents and table legs with crap, urine and toilet paper - with people walking through it and scraping their shoes in the gravel.

One guy went to a Porta-Potty and his Yaesu FT-50 slid off of his belt and went into the crap. He lifted it out by the antenna, rinsed it off inside and offered it for sale "as-is." It sold and resold several times that day.

The price of FT-50s went WAY DOWN that day because nobody could be sure that the one they were buying wasn't the one that was in the crap - and the thought of putting the mic up to your mouth to talk was disgusting. I've never seen such a crappy place before or since!
Posted by W4XKE on 2022-05-31

Dayton/Xenia Hamvention

AWESOME!
Truely a reunion to remember.
I am sure the attendance will be best it has been in a long time. (I have been attending since 1985)
73, Dale, N2DM
Posted by N2DM on 2022-05-31

Father time

I am in a situation which prevents my going. Time and my wife's health make it almost impossible for me to go.
If I were to go the to such a gathering It would be in the Dallas/Plano event. 70 miles away from home.
Posted by KF5YZ on 2022-05-31

I always enjoy Hamvention

For me, at least half of the fun of Hamvention is enjoying a common interest over a weekend with your friends some of whom I only see once a year at Dayton. The social aspect of Hamvention is every bit as important as seeing the newly released products, the flea market and the forums.
Posted by KK9H on 2022-05-30

Hamvention : 1st time as a licensed radio operator

I attended the Dayton Hamvention back in 2007, before I got my license. At the time there was a satellite TV pioneer and ham radio operator (Bob Cooper) who was attending, so I want mainly to talk to Coop and see what satellite stuff there was at the hamvention. There was satellite gear in the flea market so I had fun. I got my license in December 2021, so I attended the Xenia event for the first time as a licenced radio operator and with the enthusiasm of getting to see lots of cool stuff. I bought some gear, but do have a bit of regret on the handhelds I bought. (TVT MD750 / Yaesu FT70DR). I got caught up in the moment of buying gear, looking for gear better than a Baofeng. After I got the 2 handhelds home and struggling to figure out the programming of them, and testing the quality, I wish that I'd done more research and hadn't gone in buying equipment without checking Eham reviews first... A lesson learned. I won't be as impulsive for equipment purchases in the future. The event WAS fun though.
Posted by VA3DWL on 2022-05-30

Did Yuma... big Disappointment

...did get a few things but in general a disappointment. Some observations..

Swap meet attendees buy a table with a few items but mainly with the idea that they'll be able to get in early and hy-grade the good stuff before the meet opens to the general public.

40 year old transceivers ( IC 730/ 735) going for almost as much as a new FT 891... lotsa stuff way overpriced.

Buzzard dinner was a typical catered portion control affair.. preformed entrees measured down to the microgram, swilled down with a can of cheap soda.

Guys buying 25, 50 even 100 tickets on the many prizes... didn't buy a single one.

This was a same-old same-old..done a thousand times with your eyes closed affair .. they were just going through the motions... won't bother next year



Posted by VA7AA on 2022-05-30

Same as it ever was...

I drove out with a friend and met two more out there. We have side by side spots in the fleamarket and have one long table there where I sold some stuff and made a little money. But spending two days with friends, relaxing, laughing, and immersed in our hobby of over 40 years, I went home a millionaire! Next up... Hamcation
Posted by K3GM on 2022-05-30

Outside Vendors

DARA must find a way to retain flea market vendors until Sunday AM. Too many vendors pack up and leave on Saturday, some even on Friday. It doesn't look good to see so much vacant land, especially at the S.E. end of the infield.
Posted by K3JTP on 2022-05-30

Zoo

Have not been to that ZOO in over 25 yrs or more.
Posted by W3LI on 2022-05-30

Flea Market

Went to my first Hamvention in 1980 shortly before getting my Novice ticket. I think some of the same stuff I saw in the flea market back then was still in the flea market this year.
Too many of the vendors, indoors and outdoors seemed more interested in talking to each other than in making a sale. Their loss. I had cash to spend and was in the mood to buy.
Posted by N9PS on 2022-05-30

COVID... nope!

I attended Hamvention in 2016, and used to regularly attend other hamfests but (for me) it's not worth the chance of catching COVID. After seeing video of the 2022 Hamvention showing most people not wearing a mask, it reconfirmed my decision not to go. Everyone wants this COVID mess to be over but unfortunately it's not.
Posted by KF4HR on 2022-05-30

COVID

Yes, I went, had a great time, tested positive for COVID three days later.
Posted by WE8Q on 2022-05-30

Expensive Travel

I have never attended and would love to. With the current economical situation in this country it will probably be far in the future
Posted by N1FDX on 2022-05-29

Conventions you'll find junks or high price gear!

Been to several conventions in 50 years of hamming: And just as my subject states. You will find other junks or high price deals!
Posted by W4EG on 2022-05-29

Never made it but hope to someday...

But since I live close to Orlando it's Hamcation for me.
Posted by AB4KA on 2022-05-29