ARRLWeb: Dayton Hamvention 2004--Still the Best Place to Take the Pulse of Ham Radio!

Hams from around the world converged on Dayton May 14-16 to make this the place to be for hams the world over.

This was my first visit to the Dayton Hamvention and I was impressed with so many exhibits and sales booths, it took the better part of the weekend to take them all in. Almost another weekend would have been required to see the whole outdoor flea market. A total of 45 forums could also occupy a whole weekend--a lot for one Connecticut country boy to fit in! In addition, like New York's Grand Central Station on New Year's Eve, you can count on seeing almost everyone you know if you just look in all the right places!

I've tried to capture the flavor of the event, really multiple events, with a collection of photos. See the article in July QST for more descriptive information.

And That's Not All!

Outside of the convention itself there were a number of special interest gatherings. The ARRL Donor Banquet is described below by Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, its host. In addition there were dinners especially for DXers, QRPers, QCWA members, VHFers, SSTVers, AMSAT members, Contesters and the one I attended on Friday night, the 2004 Emergency Communication banquet. Note that most require advanced ticket sales, so if you want to participate next year check in with the organizer well ahead of Hamvention time.

ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, greets a member at the ARRL booth.

ARRL DXCC Manager, Bill Moore, NC1L, (no hat) checks QSLs at the Hamvention.

Nine year old member Emily Bishop, KI4CHK, from Cleveland, Tennessee checks in at the ARRL booth with her dad, Mike, KI4AME.

Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ, of Elecraft, answers a question from K2 owner Noel Atkinson, W9FR.

Martin Jue, K5FLU, describes his new offerings.

West Mountain Radio's Del Schier, K1UHF, proudly exhibits their new computerized battery analyzer.

A rainy Saturday makes for a full exhibit hall.

Flea market: Chuck Scott, N8DNX, and Phil Noss, WB8NXP

Chuck Scott, N8DNX, and Phil Noss, WB8NXP, both from Michigan, sell their wares in the shade of a Hummer.

ARRL Senior Technical Editor Dean Straw, N6BV, discusses the interaction between terrain and vertical antenna pattern at the Antenna Technology Forum.

Steve Bible, N7HPR, discusses the application of an image rejection mixer in a direct-conversion receiver at the TAPR Forum.

A full conference room greets Bill Cross, W3TN, at the FCC Forum. Most forums were well attended.

ARRL Public Relations Committee Members Bill Morine, N2COP, and Rich Moseson, W2VU, share their expertise during ARRL's annual Public Relations Forum at Hamvention.

President Haynie tackles a question at the ARRL Forum.

Andy Oppel, N6AJO, and Dan Miller, K3UFG

Andy Oppel, N6AJO, receives the EmComm Mentor of the Year Award from ARRL Emergency Communications Courses Grant Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG

Lee Walter, WD0HEO, and Dan
Miller, K3UFG

Lee Walter, WD0HEO, Vice President of the Tri-State ARC, shows Dan Miller, K3UFG, the oversize version of their Presidential Points of Light Award.

What's New for '04--Lots!

Yaesu's new high-end HF and 6 meter transceiver, the FT DX 9000, filling the spot at the top of Yaesu's line.

Martin Jue, president of MFJ, was excited to show me a few new items to add to his extensive product line. The first item was an aluminum sided rugged carry case for portable gear. Also from MFJ was a new approach to small high efficiency loop antennas, one for portable operation, the MFJ-935, and one for home station, the MFJ-936.

Bob and Sarah Heil of Heil Sound announced a new Proset Quiet Phone headset with the headphone portion based on their new active noise canceling earphones. Alpha Power introduced the 4510 laboratory grade computing power/SWR meter. West Mountain Radio, the RIGblaster folk, announced a few new dc power related offerings. Palstar showed a new model in their line of truly balanced legal limit tuners, the AT1KBAL has a slightly reduced tuning range than their larger model, but is easier to operate and has a lower cost.

Cushcraft announced a new 22 foot high vertical antenna for 80 and 40 meters, the MA8040V, suitable for portable or backyard operation.

SGC showed the first units of their new self contained (built-in battery supply) SG-211 60 W auto tuner for balanced or unbalanced antennas.

DX engineering showed a new capacitance loaded 2/3 size rotatable dipole, adjustable from 10 to 30 MHz.

New to the US amateur market is Australian maker of high quality HF amplifiers, Emtron. On display was the new DX-1d compact kW amp joining its larger sibling the DX-2 legal limit amp. We expect to see more of these amps in the coming months.

Even the ARRL booth had some new items. The designers and developers of the TravelPlus for Repeaters CD-ROM repeater mapping software were on hand to show off their new upgrade to large crowds of appreciative onlookers.

ARRL Donors Celebrate at the Air Force Museum

More than 80 ARRL donors gathered for the third annual Donor Reception held at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Hosted by the ARRL Development Office, donors arrived by car and by bus to enjoy refreshments and camaraderie in the World War II exhibit of the Museum.

The 2004 Donor Reception was the largest to date and a successful evening that gave ARRL Development and ARRL Directors in attendance an opportunity to thank donors for their generosity and loyalty.