[AMRadio] Hamvention 2004

[David Knepper]

Another disappointing Hamvention due to the weather conditions.  Rain practically all day today.  My wife and I left the grounds just before Noon.  Rain was constant almost all the way to Pennsylvania.   The 8th Collins Forum, organized by the CRA was held on Friday morning.  We enjoyed meeting everyone.  Door prizes were provided by Electric Radio.   We are most appreciative of Ray Osterwald, editor of ER, for his generosity.    The program this year (our 8th Collins Forum) focused on the restoration of the Collins 20V-3.   From my observation and those of several others, there seemed to be a conspicuous absence of Collins equipment.  No 75A-4's were seen for sale, which is unusual.  Saw some S-Line equipment and very few KWM-2A's.  Much less Collins than in previous years - very unusual indeed.  Prices, of course, were by some standards, on the high side.  I suspect that the trend continues, that is, to sell Collins on Ebay.   Contrary to some rumors, AOR is still producing the DDS-2A on a limited basis.  Representatives from AOR spoke at the Forum.  For those who own this unit, it was indicated that there have been no updates to the later units.  The DDS-2A at the Collins Radio Center is about six years old and it works flawlessly.   Thanks go out to W8ZO for presenting me with an original sales flyer on the Collins 30K-1.   Any other observations on Dayton?   Dave, W3ST Secretary to the Collins Radio Association Publisher of the Collins Journal www.collinsra.com