What to buy at a Hamfest?

[N5KRC]

Lucky you! I went to the Austin Summerfest yesterday and decided to sit in on on K5SDR's hour long presentation on Flex-Radio's SDR-1000. Now I'm gunna be out about $1,800 this next week...

Scott, N5KRC

[N2RJ]

I buy little odds and ends, mostly connectors.

I have a few radios that I bought, but I'm not into collecting old junk anymore.

Mostly I go to buy stuff from new equipment dealers. Often you can make a deal with them because they make good volume at the hamfests.

That's how I acquired two 28A switching power supplies. The guy selling them brand new gave me a discount because he was doing so good at the hamfest.

I also bought my Icom 7000 at Dayton and paid $100 less than what it would have cost normally. No sales tax because it was shipped home.

[ab8ro]

Test equipment, books, and parts.

[ne3r]

At berryville today I bought an Icom IC-W32A handheld for $175 and a Ten-Tec Jupiter in 99% working condition (power switch doesn't work, & internal speaker doesn't work) for $guess. I've been using it all afternoon!!! It is geat.

73
Joe
N3PAQ

[ab8ro]

Quote[/b] (N3PAQ @ Aug. 05 2006,17:48)]At berryville today I bought an Icom IC-W32A handheld for $175 and a Ten-Tec Jupiter in 99% working condition (power switch doesn't work, & internal speaker doesn't work) for $guess. #I've been using it all afternoon!!! # It is geat.

73
Joe
N3PAQ
Finding good deals on almost working gear is fun. On ebay broken gear goes for a lot more than it's worth in my opinion. I picked up an icom all mode 2M rig last year for $40. Its only problem turned out to be a bad solder joint.

[KC0W]

I will tell you one thing NOT to purchase at most Hamfests, the food..............Talk about eating a bucket full of grease.

[w8cbc]

Funny.

The last hamfest I went to - Milford, Ohio - had all sorts of intriguing gear and parts and so on for sale. I almost went for a TR4 but what stopped me was that I had no place to put it. That's what stopped me on just about everything else I looked at too. So I wound up getting that MFJ aerial analyser and nothing else.

What'll I be looking for at the GCARA 'fest in September?

I can't think of a darned thing.

[WA5VQM]

At Hamcom last June I picked up a MFJ antenna analyzer for 20 bucks. Works fine.

73, Mark

[KA4DPO]

Quote[/b] (KC0W @ Aug. 06 2006,17:11)]I will tell you one thing NOT to purchase at most Hamfests, the food..............Talk about eating a bucket full of grease.
I would agree with you for the most part but the food at the Berryville hamfest has always been very good.

The worst hamfest food I ever tasted was at the Puyallup hamfest in WA ( it was hippie food), and the best was at the Bell County hamfest at the flying saucer dome in Belton TX.

[n8yx]

Beanie Babies.

Buy them by the gross. They're gross, alright - especially when they come from a heavy smoker's residence.

Plumbing supplies, fruits...nut...and other assorted vegetables.

The once-great 'fests of this area have degenerated into Sunday fleamarket status. Sadly, the norm is more 'What ISN'T amateur-radio related' rather than 'what IS' at most of them...

[w5klb]

Quote[/b] (KC0W @ Aug. 06 2006,17:11)]I will tell you one thing NOT to purchase at most Hamfests, the food..............Talk about eating a bucket full of grease.
Too bad Industrial Strength Maalox® can't be purchased in a 55 gallon drum.

Now you know the reason why I call hamburgers, purchased at a hamfest, "sliders". http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[N6KX]

I, too, was at the Berryville, VA, hamfest this past weekend, and I had a few hundred bucks burning a hole in my pocket, too. #I haven't found anything significant worth buying at a hamfest for a few years now, yet I continue to attend them.

The Berryville 'fest was a pretty nice spread, though. #In fact, it was better than the recent one up in Timonium, MD, which is usually the best in the Washington DC region, but weather was at least partially to blame for that one.

I guess, if you're lucky, you eventually reach a point where you have just about all you're going to need, for at least a few years. #I always keep an eye out for an excellent Hammarlund HQ180 or Hallicrafters SR-series rig, just to fill a longing that's existed since the '60s. #Other than that, I have two HF rigs (base and mobile), VHF/UHF mobile and HT, antennas for all, excellent keys (straight, semi, and paddle), HF QRP rig, books, cables, PC and Mac, etc.

I don't need Beanie Babies, surplus equipment cases, LED flashlights, unknown software on CD, questionable second-hand computer hardware, knobs for an Atwater-Kent receiver, 30-year-old electronics textbooks, or miscellaneous old circuit boards. #I certainly don't need any of the cardiac cuisine normally on offer at hamfests, though I usually manage to gag down some of the atrocious coffee.

Yet, I continue to look forward to and attend local hamfests! #I guess it's alot like DXing... and chocolates! #You never know what you're gonna get. #I suppose I just love the smell of old radio equipment baking in the morning sun.

It's also nice to see the other hams... well, kind of nice. #I'll sometimes look at another ham, and I'll think, "Look at that guy. #Middle-aged, white, overweight, bald(ing), eating hamfest food, wearing that stupid callsign pin, HT on the belt (that's pulling down his ill-fitting pants), gawking at used, old electronic junk... how pathetic!"

Then I realize I'm actually looking at my own reflection in an old mirror. #D'oh! #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Howie N6KX #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[w3pmk]

I was a tailgate seller at a recent hamfest.
I had offered for sale:

An older but working 222 mhz FM transceiver w/ added tone board...no takers. No one interested in getting on 1.25 meters seemed to walk past my table.

An older but working 2 meter all mode transceiver...no takers.
No one interested in 2 meter sideband seemed to walk past my table.

2 Kenwood VHF FM commercial transceivers tuned and programmed for area 2 meter repeaters and simplex frequencies...no takers. No one interested in grabbing a rugged 2 meter radio that is simple to operate seemed to walk past my table.

Several dual band and 2 meter antennas with NMO mounts...no takers. No one operating mobile in need of an antenna seemed to walk past my table.

All radios offered were priced between $100-150 dollars.
Antennas were offered between $15 & 25.

Was I asking too much? That is a matter of opinion but I am not going to give stuff away. I could sell it on eBay and get my price.


What did sell?

A lot of junk, like old antenna mounts, old microphones, some old speakers.

Mostly, it seemed to me that the real buyers were CB radio enthusiasts. They decended upon me when setting up to see what was for sale. They grabbed up the 3/8 x 24 antenna mounts, mics and speakers.

I have gone to hamfests in search of equipment I don't have and can't readily get, or to pick up a reasonably priced piece of gear to get me on a new band. This was the philosophy I employed in offering some of my surplus gear for sale.
I guess I am out of the loop.
I think I will dig up more old CB gear and sell it at the next hamfest.

[N2RJ]

I've begun to see some really weird and out of place stuff at hamfests.

The Avon lady - I guess her target market now is fat old men.

Cheap junk from Taiwan/China such as LED flashlights, cheap toys etc. None of those things are useful to me in ham radio.

I saw one guy selling silverware and he was even selling a menorah.

I bought one of the old civil defense radiation detection kits with dossimeter and radiation meter. Just for giggles. I don't expect to actually use it.

One guy had a bunch of old junk including a genuine NYPD badge. Okay, I know some hams want to play cop but actually masquerading as a NYPD officer is a bad bad idea.

The only "hamfest" I bought food at was at Dayton. Cowgirl express made some nice dogs and burgers, but man were they expensive!

[ne3r]

Quote[/b] (KB3IUX @ Aug. 07 2006,10:31)]I was a tailgate seller at a recent hamfest.
I had offered for sale:

An older but working 222 mhz FM transceiver w/ added tone board...no takers. No one interested in getting on 1.25 meters seemed to walk past my table.

An older but working 2 meter all mode transceiver...no takers.
No one interested in 2 meter sideband seemed to walk past my table.

2 Kenwood VHF FM commercial transceivers tuned and programmed for area 2 meter repeaters and simplex frequencies...no takers. No one interested in grabbing a rugged 2 meter radio that is simple to operate seemed to walk past my table.

Several dual band and 2 meter antennas with NMO mounts...no takers. No one operating mobile in need of an antenna seemed to walk past my table.

All radios offered were priced between $100-150 dollars.
Antennas were offered between $15 & 25.

Was I asking too much? That is a matter of opinion but I am not going to give stuff away. I could sell it on eBay and get my price.


What did sell?

A lot of junk, like old antenna mounts, old microphones, some old speakers.

Mostly, it seemed to me that the real buyers were CB radio enthusiasts. They decended upon me when setting up to see what was for sale. They grabbed up the 3/8 x 24 antenna mounts, mics and speakers.

I have gone to hamfests in search of equipment I don't have and can't readily get, or to pick up a reasonably priced piece of gear to get me on a new band. This was the philosophy I employed in offering some of my surplus gear for sale.
I guess I am out of the loop.
I think I will dig up more old CB gear and sell it at the next hamfest.
Really weird, good working rigs that are reasonably priced always seem to go quick at hamfests -- nobody even tried to talk your price down on those rigs? I would probably have offered you $65 (and let you bring me up to $75) for that 1.25M rig.

I got them to knock $100 of the Ten-Tec Jupiter I bought on Sunday. There were other items I wanted to buy but I spent all my money.

73
Joe
N3PAQ

[kb2vxa]

Hi guys,

"I've begun to see some really weird and out of place stuff at hamfests."

I've begun to see some really weird and out of place PEOPLE at hamfests!

"The Avon lady - I guess her target market now is fat old men."

Some atendees are badly in need of personal hygene and grooming.

"Cheap junk from Taiwan/China such as LED flashlights, cheap toys etc. None of those things are useful to me in ham radio."

I can walk a few blocks and find the same stuff on the boardwalk.

"I saw one guy selling silverware and he was even selling a menorah."

I see the makings of a nine element 70cM beam.

"I bought one of the old civil defense radiation detection kits with dossimeter and radiation meter."

Now you can demonstrate to the neighbors your antennas do NOT present a radiation hazard.

"Cowgirl express made some nice dogs and burgers, but man were they expensive!"

I can walk a few blocks... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[n9vo]

At the Indy hamfest in July I saw one bunch of guys who didnt even price their stuff. If you asked about an item they said what's it worth to ya? When you responded with a lowball offer, they never would counter. Kinda goofy I thought. If you're gonna sell at least put a price on it. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[w8cbc]

I am sort of on the hunt for another J-38 to keep with the IC-751 in northeast VE3.

If my ground situation works out well at the new place, I may go for an amplifier, SB-220 or some such. (No, I'm not interested in one modified for 11 metres and costing $3000 http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif)

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (kb2vxa @ Aug. 07 2006,14:59)]"I saw one guy selling silverware and he was even selling a menorah."

I see the makings of a nine element 70cM beam.
Like they say...

Our signals answer to a higher authority for 100% Kosher DX! #

73
Ryan http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[ai4ep]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Would I buy something at a hamfest ? Definately yes...especially something you dont see every day ( even if it IS on ebay at a great rpice ). If you buy through the internet / etc, you have to pay SHIPPING CHARGES, wait, wait another 2 - 3 days for your check / payment to clear, then wait a few more days for the dude to actually make time to send the item TO you from HIS lication...so it is far better go get stuff IN PERSON at a hamfest and get the whole shebang over with. { it IS ok to say " shebang " in here, it aint a sexual / racial / nacsar term } .

Yep, I will be at Huntsville Hamfest on August 19 & 20...hope to see a whole bunch of you folks there. Me ? Problably sitting behind a talbe most of the time trying to sell a couple of items that I had for sale here in the "qrz SELL AREA " a couple of weks ago...the 440 kenwood done found a new home, I may as well keep the old ANTRON 99, but sell the 2 meter handheld 202 from radio shack, and the MFJ antenna tuner model 969 ...all prices ARE negotiable ( not set in stone...and you might actually have a piece of equipment that I need / want, so bring it and see what kind of old fashioned bartering / swapping / trading we can get going on for a couple of minutes.

I know a few of you folks dont like me, but then if I went and read my posts without reading the callsign, I wouldnt like a lot of my own posts either...so I DO see where a couple of you uns are coming from...but I aint quite THAT bad in person...some folks lie and say I am a likeable person.:D
As soon as I find out who told that lie about me I am going to do...nothing.

Yep, I have been gone for nearly a full week, ( wonder if my " daily post count " has dropped or still locked on "7.39 posts per day " like it was this time last week ?? Hey, it dont matter. )

I read some ones " words of wisdom " under their avatar ( I forgot whose it is )...and it read ---- the internet/ talk forum / chat room is the 21 st century version of the cb radio --- ...such true words. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

Back to the topic of this thread...dont just go to a hamfest for the bargains...go to see the fights between folks....and dont try to tell me the only reason you watch NASCAR racing on tv is to see the drivers...you want to see the wrecks / accidents ( replay over and over and over ) !! Yep, take those restrictor plates off those cars and let the fast cars go fast and let the winners BE winners. Sure there will be a wreck or two, but there are also wrecks on the way home FROM the race, so what IS the difference ?
If you sit at home and watch it on tv, you aint gonna have a wreck, unless it is on a trip to / from the refrigerator/bathroom...plus you aint paying that $3 per gallon of gasoline .

see you all later.
see...you DID do something foolish today, read this post.

AI4EP (Robert )

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[VE1IDX]

Usually I just buy parts for some project that I never seem to finish.This year was differant.I picked up a MINT Kenwood TS-820S with the matching VFO-820 and MC-50 microphone.The seller told me the external VFO did not work and that he had "popped something" in it when he plugged the VFO into the rig while it was powered up.I picked it up for CDN$350.This rig had no dust inside and you can tell when something has been cleaned up because there is always some dust left in the corners or under components etc.This had NONE.The tubes were still the original S2001A's and would make 150 watts on 80 and 160m and 125 watts on the high end of 10m.It had the SSB and narrow CW filters installed.The panel was pristine and did not have even the slightest scratch or rub mark from heavy use.The only thing wrong turned out to be a broken connection in the VFO-radio connector cable and the compressor EQ control (small trimmer cap)had to be adjusted.Other than that it was/is perfect.I think I did good. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[kf6rdn]

The one thing I wouldn't buy ANYWHERE is a callsign badge and cap. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[ai4ep]

He MAY just want one of us to buy one FOR him....?

Get me one made too so we can be more alike ? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[k4kyv]

Parts, especially pre-WW2 transmitting components, tubes, transformers, meters, air variables, etc., and occasionally a piece of assembled gear if it's rare enough and/or the price is right.

A few years ago I would come back from large hamfests like Dayton with the car loaded down, the leaf springs inverted and the car chassis almost dragging the ground. I once had one of those old tanks, a 1962 Plymouth with the tailfins, that took up at least two parking slots, and had a trunk that would hold more than one of today's compact pickup trucks. I would drive that thing hundreds of miles to various hamfests. Remember one time back in the early 70's coming back with the trunk crammed full, the back seat, back passenger foot space, front passenger seat and front passenger foot space all packed solid. There was just barely enough room left in that car for me to sit and manipulate the controls.

The last couple of times I went to Dayton, I could have packed everything I bought into one large retail shopping bag.

The kind of stuff I like to bring back is getting more expensive and harder to find at hamfests, and I have become much more selective about what I buy, plus, anything I bring back has to be strategically crammed into what little room is left in my storage facilities.

At Dayton, the food they sell in the pub is usually palatable, especially when you wash it down with a couple of 807's.

[ab8ro]

Here are some pictures. I really like the comments on the building sections which are "frequently occupied by families building together".

http://www2.arrl.org/news/features/2002/09/13/1/?nc=1

Here's another slide show . The crowds seem quite a bit younger than in the U.S.

http://www.kkn.net/gallery/slideshow.php?set_albumName=album21

And another gallery.

http://www.1nbn.net/03-HAM-fest/tok2002/catalog.html

[KG4RUL]

"What to buy at a Hamfest?"

It depends. How much cash ya got?

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[kf4lne]

Buy anything that is on my table, in fact buy all of it. I assure you, you will need this and that over there and this antenna will work for 160 meters thru 33cm*


*Antenna may be lossy when compared to an open antenna jack.

[WA7KKP]

Well, maybe the rusty radio with knobs missing might be a good project radio, if you're willing to put in some sweat and elbow grease. Just don't offer more than a buck or two.

What I buy at hamfests:

parts I can't buy at the local electronics store -- Radio Shack isn't good for parts, just cellphones.

boatanchor radios for projects. Sadly, some hams think if it has a front panel and half the parts missing it is still worth a fortune. I avoid these, of course.

I bought an MFJ-9406 in Iowa for a "steal of a " price -- no haggling -- just asked if he'd take a check. Got it for $60 -- new they're $260. I've had a ball with it, the few openings on 6 I"ve worked.

Always assume things are non-working unless PROVEN at the test table/bench.

The pickings have really dropped off over the last 10 years -- I think E-bay has really dug into it -- there's people there who pay exorbitant prices sight unseen for stuff. That really benefits the seller, rather than packing it up and hitting a few of the hamfests, gas/motel/food costs figured in.

Now if you want some flashy ricebox, they're out there but you've got to be early to catch those worms.

Most hams want something working out of the box and don't even hit the flea markets. Do your homework, and don't be afraid to dig into the boxes under the tables as well. And have friends looking as well -- they might see something you might miss.

Gary WA7KKP