Anyone going to Dayton this year?


I've been going for the past several years, but figuring on around:


175 dollars for gas
325 for room (Wed through Saturday at a good rate)
125 dollars for food (maybe if I do a lot of Micky D's)

I'm looking at 600 plus dollars before I even buy anything. Think I may
have to take a pass...


As those fuel costs skyrocket, it might be pretty hard on Dayton in the
future.


- 73 de Mike N3LI -

On Apr 14, 2:03 pm, Michael Coslo wrote:
Anyone going to Dayton this year?
sinpping stuff that says basicaly going is expensive

As those fuel costs skyrocket, it might be pretty hard on Dayton in the
future.

- 73 de Mike N3LI -

Not me but then Dayton comes at a realy bad time for me since the snow
here is still not melted enough to to do those spring tasks but those
sorts of number Enay doo seem to be awfully hard on all hamfests
Dayton or otherwise

Michael Coslo wrote in news:fu0639$13na$1
@f04n12.cac.psu.edu:

Anyone going to Dayton this year?


I've been going for the past several years, but figuring on around:


175 dollars for gas
325 for room (Wed through Saturday at a good rate)
125 dollars for food (maybe if I do a lot of Micky D's)


I'm going.

I live in Columbus, so I can do a day with no effort.

In ,
John typed, for some strange, unexplained
reason:
: Michael Coslo wrote in news:fu0639$13na$1
: @f04n12.cac.psu.edu:
:
: Anyone going to Dayton this year?
:
: I've been going for the past several years, but figuring on around:
:
: 175 dollars for gas
: 325 for room (Wed through Saturday at a good rate)
: 125 dollars for food (maybe if I do a lot of Micky D's)
:
:
: I'm going.
:
: I live in Columbus, so I can do a day with no effort.

envy

Ok for some, I live in the UK so it'd be a major trip..! I do know people
who've done it though, so maybe one day I'll make it :-)

/envy


73 Ivor G6URP

Don't know yet. We often make up our minds at the last minute.

Dee, N8UZE


"Michael Coslo" wrote in message
...
Anyone going to Dayton this year?


I've been going for the past several years, but figuring on around:


175 dollars for gas
325 for room (Wed through Saturday at a good rate)
125 dollars for food (maybe if I do a lot of Micky D's)

I'm looking at 600 plus dollars before I even buy anything. Think I may
have to take a pass...


As those fuel costs skyrocket, it might be pretty hard on Dayton in the
future.


- 73 de Mike N3LI -

On Apr 14, 2:03 pm, Michael Coslo wrote:
Anyone going to Dayton this year?

Not me.

I've been going for the past several years, but figuring on around:

175 dollars for gas

This seemed high to me, so I checked out the distance. For a vehicle
that gets ~20 mpg and $3.25 gas it's pretty close.

325 for room (Wed through Saturday at a good rate)
125 dollars for food (maybe if I do a lot of Micky D's)

The only way I can see to cut that down is to go with a buddy and pack
a lunch.....

I'm looking at 600 plus dollars before I even buy anything. Think I may
have to take a pass...

As those fuel costs skyrocket, it might be pretty hard on Dayton in the
future.

Maybe. But note that even if the price of gas was cut in half
tomorrow, the trip would still cost over $500. IMHO the amazing thing
is that so many hams from outside the day-trip area go to Dayton.

Actually, gasoline prices aren't really skyrocketing. What's happening
is that we've had years and years of gasoline prices not keeping up
with inflation, and now they are making up for lost time (and then
some).

Here's one interesting analysis:

http://www.energy.ca.gov/gasoline/st..._adjusted.html

73 de Jim, N2EY

(still miss my old VW Rabbit Diesel - 50+ mpg highway, no ignition
noise)

wrote:
On Apr 14, 2:03 pm, Michael Coslo wrote:
Anyone going to Dayton this year?

Not me.

I've been going for the past several years, but figuring on around:

175 dollars for gas

This seemed high to me, so I checked out the distance. For a vehicle
that gets ~20 mpg and $3.25 gas it's pretty close.

I factored in 3.40 for gas, and some riding around during the week. The
Vitara gets around 28 mpg highway. I won't be surprised if it costs more
than that by mid-May.


325 for room (Wed through Saturday at a good rate)
125 dollars for food (maybe if I do a lot of Micky D's)

The only way I can see to cut that down is to go with a buddy and pack
a lunch.....

I'm looking at 600 plus dollars before I even buy anything. Think I may
have to take a pass...

As those fuel costs skyrocket, it might be pretty hard on Dayton in the
future.

Maybe. But note that even if the price of gas was cut in half
tomorrow, the trip would still cost over $500. IMHO the amazing thing
is that so many hams from outside the day-trip area go to Dayton.

Very true. What happens though is that it hits a trigger point, and a
person who might have figured on going someplace might just reconsider
it's worth. sometimes it can even jog a person to look at what they are
spending. I can get a lot of equipment for that (that total amount of)
money, and after 2 years, I can afford that IC-7000 I drool over.

The trade off is that I really do enjoy the interaction with other Hams,
the seminars, flea market and ability to talk to the vendors.


Actually, gasoline prices aren't really skyrocketing. What's happening
is that we've had years and years of gasoline prices not keeping up
with inflation, and now they are making up for lost time (and then
some).

What that doesn't show is the impact of changing driving styles. When I
first started driving in the early 70's, most people didn't put anywhere
as many miles on their cars as they do now. I used to put less than 10K
per year on a vehicle, now it is closer to 30K per annum. Lots of
reasons for this, some good, some bad, but when my XYL was driving a
Grand Cherokee and I was driving a Windstar, our gasoline bill hit
around 600 dollars one month. That was while gas was still in the 2
something dollar range.

So in anticipation of future gas prices and economic conditions, I
bought a Vitara, and she bought an Aerio. (we had to buy new cars
anyway, so the payment cost is not so relevant.

So while inflation adjusted prices tell one story, total dollars put in
the gas tank tell another.

And in all, we're just adjusting ourselves to the new reality, making
ends meet. All over the country folks are adjusting.

(still miss my old VW Rabbit Diesel - 50+ mpg highway, no ignition
noise)


Sweet.

- 73 de Mike N3LI -

On Apr 16, 12:11pm, Michael Coslo wrote:
wrote:
On Apr 14, 2:03 pm, Michael Coslo wrote:

175 dollars for gas

I factored in 3.40 for gas, and some riding
around during the week. The Vitara gets around 28 mpg
highway. I won't be surprised if it costs more
than that by mid-May.

I expect $4/US gallon this summer. $5 wouldn't shock me.

note that even if the price of gas was cut in half
tomorrow, the trip would still cost over $500.
IMHO the amazing thing
is that so many hams from outside the day-trip
area go to Dayton.

Very true. What happens though is that it hits a
trigger point, and a person who might have figured on
going someplace might just reconsider
it's worth.

I can get a lot of equipment for that (that total amount of)
money, and after 2 years, I can afford that IC-7000 I drool over.

Or an Elecraft K3....

It's part of human spending behavior that some
expenditures are viewed so differently than others.
A few dollars here and there adds up but
doesn't seem the same.

The trade off is that I really do enjoy the interaction with other
Hams, the seminars, flea market and ability to talk to the vendors.

I've never been to Dayton. TImonium is the big one around here. But
it's a haul!

Actually,

*US*

gasoline prices aren't really skyrocketing.

What that doesn't show is the impact of changing driving styles.

I used to put less than 10K per year on a vehicle,
now it is closer to 30K per annum.

Why so many miles/year on your vehicles?

So in anticipation of future gas prices and economic conditions, I
bought a Vitara, and she bought an Aerio. (we had to buy new
cars anyway, so the payment cost is not so relevant.

Indeed.

So while inflation adjusted prices tell one story, total dollars put in
the gas tank tell another.

Total inflation-adjusted dollars for transport is the ultimate
factor.

(still miss my old VW Rabbit Diesel - 50+ mpg highway,
no ignition noise)

Sweet.

Even my Prius doesn't get that kind of mileage. And the Diesel was
much simpler. Perhaps the compromise is to do Dayton every other year,
or every third year.

73 de Jim, N2EY

wrote:
On Apr 16, 12:11pm, Michael Coslo wrote:
wrote:
On Apr 14, 2:03 pm, Michael Coslo wrote:

175 dollars for gas

I factored in 3.40 for gas, and some riding
around during the week. The Vitara gets around 28 mpg
highway. I won't be surprised if it costs more
than that by mid-May.

I expect $4/US gallon this summer. $5 wouldn't shock me.

note that even if the price of gas was cut in half
tomorrow, the trip would still cost over $500.
IMHO the amazing thing
is that so many hams from outside the day-trip
area go to Dayton.

Very true. What happens though is that it hits a
trigger point, and a person who might have figured on
going someplace might just reconsider
it's worth.

I can get a lot of equipment for that (that total amount of)
money, and after 2 years, I can afford that IC-7000 I drool over.

Or an Elecraft K3....

It's part of human spending behavior that some
expenditures are viewed so differently than others.
A few dollars here and there adds up but
doesn't seem the same.

The trade off is that I really do enjoy the interaction with other
Hams, the seminars, flea market and ability to talk to the vendors.

I've never been to Dayton. TImonium is the big one around here. But
it's a haul!

Actually,

*US*

gasoline prices aren't really skyrocketing.

What that doesn't show is the impact of changing driving styles.

I used to put less than 10K per year on a vehicle,
now it is closer to 30K per annum.

Why so many miles/year on your vehicles?

My wife does a lot of local travel for her job. Visiting job sites,
doing inspections. Or at least she did. The housing market dried up
around here and she's working one day a week now, so that has decreased.

for myself, I do a bit of travel for work also. It's all on my dime.

So in anticipation of future gas prices and economic conditions, I
bought a Vitara, and she bought an Aerio. (we had to buy new
cars anyway, so the payment cost is not so relevant.

Indeed.

So while inflation adjusted prices tell one story, total dollars put in
the gas tank tell another.

Total inflation-adjusted dollars for transport is the ultimate
factor.

Well, yes and no. The total cost of living has increased significantly.
I'm not talking about the official inflation figures, they aren't
reliable any more. This is just the amount of dollar outlay per month.
Health insurance doubling in a years time, Gas doubling over a few years
time, House escrow account increases of 100 dollars per month.

So while the statistics say we're getting a bargain, ground truth tells
me that I have to reel in costs somewhere. Bargain or not, one has
significantly less money these days after the bills are paid. And
gasoline is one area that I can at least start to control.

(still miss my old VW Rabbit Diesel - 50+ mpg highway,
no ignition noise)
Sweet.

Even my Prius doesn't get that kind of mileage. And the Diesel was
much simpler. Perhaps the compromise is to do Dayton every other year,
or every third year.

Ahh, the Priuii are very cool vehicles. I shoulda known you'd be an
owner of one. On a Ham related topic, have you noticed much electrical
noise from it? I've heard some scuttle that they make some RFI. Don't
know what that is in comparison to a regular gas vehicle, as they can be
noisy also.

- 73 de Mike N3LI -

On Apr 17, 1:53�pm, Michael Coslo wrote:
wrote:
On Apr 16, 12:11pm, Michael Coslo wrote:
wrote:
On Apr 14, 2:03 pm, Michael Coslo wrote:

I've never been to Dayton. TImonium is the big one around
here. But
it's a haul!

Biggest hamfest I evewr encountered was in Rochester NY - 1978.

Why so many miles/year on your vehicles?

Total inflation-adjusted dollars for transport is the ultimate
factor.

Well, yes and no. The total cost of living has increased
significantly.
I'm not talking about the official inflation figures, they aren't
reliable any more. This is just the amount of dollar outlay per
month.

Remember the 1970s?

Health insurance doubling in a years time, Gas doubling over
a few years
time, House escrow account increases of 100 dollars per month.

So while the statistics say we're getting a bargain, ground truth
tells
me that I have to reel in costs somewhere. Bargain or not, one has
significantly less money these days after the bills are paid. And
gasoline is one area that I can at least start to control.

I would say that what's happening is this: The necessities (house,
medical, transport) are getting more expensive while the luxuries
(computing power, flat-screen TV, plane tickets where you have a lot
of leeway as to destination and time) are getting cheaper. Put
them all together and inflation *seems to be* low. But the mix is
different than it was years ago.

On top of that is the fact that the number of "necessities" keeps
rising. To give an Amateur Radio example, there was a time when
putting up a moderate-sized tower in most areas did not require a
variance or a building permit. A ham-homeowner simply put it up, or at
most went down to the township building, filled out a form and paid a
small fee.

Nowadays in many areas there are much more stringent engineering and
insurance requirements for an Amateur Radio tower. The local
ordinances often consider it a "structure" and the process is much
more complex and costly. So while the price of the tower itself isn't
much more than it used to be, adjusted for inflation, the total price
of owning an *installed* tower has greatly increased.

One more issue: LIfespan of certain items, such as ham rigs. Compared
to most electronic items, it seems to me that ham rigs have a very
long useful lifespan compared to other electronics. Decades rather
than years. Just look at the stuff for sale at Dayton or elsewhere.
What do others think?

Ahh, the Priuii are very cool vehicles. I shoulda known
you'd be an owner of one.

TNX. It's a different sort of vehicle! They are common around here;
summer 2006 there was a long wait for one. Like many cars, a lot
depends on what kind of driving you do and how you drive.

On a Ham related topic, have you noticed much electrical
noise from it? I've heard some scuttle that they make some RFI.
Don't
know what that is in comparison to a regular gas vehicle, as they can be
noisy also.

Can't say; never been mobile on the ham bands in it! But I suspect
that the inverters would make a least some noise.

Still miss the diesel, though. 17 years with the same car; only owner
from showroom to crusher.

73 de Jim, N2EY