Dayton Hamvention

This ham gathering is perhaps one of the biggest in the world and a place, traditionally, where the big manufacturers launch new products, often long before they are actually available. You can just imagine the engineers rushing to meet Dayton deadlines: you must meet these dates!

I am expecting several SDR based offerings. It would be nice to see a real FT817 replacement. The FT818 was a great disappointment. It was clearly aimed at keeping Yaesu factories going and not offering the features many expected.

Dayton dates are May 17-19th 2019.

See https://hamvention.org/

Dayton - advanced warning

This is (I think) the biggest amateur gathering in the world.

For your diaries the dates are May 17-19th 2019. This is often the venue when the major companies announce new products. Sometimes the products are very early models. You can imagine the development departments at ICOM, Yaesu and others working overtime to meet the dates! Fail by a few days and I can see sackings.

I have never been there, and probably never will,  but can imagine it is quite something.

Dayton Hamvention - Ohio, USA

This weekend is the biggest event in the amateur community across the world. All the big amateur vendors are there as well as a huge flea market (I expect you could even buy fleas!).

As I have never been, I depend on press releases and individuals to provide me with news.

So far, I have heard that Yaesu will be joining the SDR club with a new HF/50MHz transceiver. From what I have seen they continue to follow rather than lead. This is not the mark of a successful company. These days they seem to have forgotten how to innovate. Yaesu, are you short of cash?

See http://hamvention.org/

Dayton reminder

17-20 MAY 2018 : DAYTON HAMVENTION®

Greene County Fair & Exposition Center, Xenia, Dayton, Ohio, USA. Doors open at 8am. There will be trade stands and a huge flea market as well as special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. A lecture programme will take place each day. There are multiple catering outlets and family attractions on site. US exams are available and there is a raffle. Details by email to international@hamvention.org. www.hamvention.org.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Dayton Ohio Hamvention

This is the biggest amateur radio event on the planet and is often where new products are showcased. I have never been, but it is worth following to hear what new rigs are coming up. Often these are very early models.

Dayton Hamvention 2017

This was last weekend. It is possible I missed announcements, but nothing new appears to have been announced by the big manufacturers.

I have never been, nor am I likely to, but this is the big one. It moved venues this year. Looking at the photos, most attendees look old.

See http://hamvention.org/ .

New Yaesu and ICOM products

As yet, I have not heard about any new product announcements by the big players coming out of Dayton. I was expecting to hear news by now. I shall have to do another trawl for news.

New ICOM and Yaesu products at Dayton?

Dayton is often the place where ICOM and Yaesu announce new products. I'd like to see a replacement to the FT817 from Yaesu, but have all but given up hope. Certainly a few years ago they would have released at a time of sunspot peak. As it is, we have years of falling conditions, so not the best "window of opportunity".

Dayton Hamvention 2016 and the FT817

Well, if there is to be a replacement for the FT817 we are likely to hear about it this weekend at Dayton. This is the biggest amateur event in the world.

There was a rumour about this last year. If there is no announcement then I think Yaesu will have missed the boat for ever and they will not bother to replace it. I for one will be looking with interest.

What amazes me is that none of the other Japanese manufacturers has tried to beat the Yaesu FT817. ICOM?

FT817 replacement at last?

It may be on its way, late, but on its way at last:

K3NG reported on www.amateurradio.com on his visit to Dayton:

"Yaesu did not announce an FT-817 replacement, which salespeople in the booth sheepishly acknowledged."

I wonder if they plan to launch this by Christmas? I expect it will push C4FM. As Yaesu has missed the last solar peak, I wonder if this one will include 1296MHz and omit the lower HF bands? One covering all bands from 12m-23cms with auto-ATU on HF would be good. I have already said the features I'd expect in earlier blog posts.

Dayton and new QRP transceivers

Not being in the USA, I don't get to visit the big Dayton Hamvention held each May, but I do look out for announcements from the big suppliers about newly released products, especially QRP radios. Elecraft were displaying the new KX3 and Ten-Tec announced a new Argonaut VI due to be released later this year. This is a little larger than the FT817 and has HF only coverage (less 12m) but looks ideal for a high spec, inexpensive QRP radio up to 10W. For more on the Ten-Tec Argonaut VI (was the Ten-Tec 539) see this link.

But, yet again Yaesu has NOT released, as far as I am aware, a successor to the FT817.

One of the best places to look for news of Dayton is http://qrper.com/ which has reports and photos of new products.