
Computer/Tech Flea Markets? 254
Spamlent Green asks: "The recent 'Cashing In On Antique Computers' thread, and the PBS Flea Market documentary made me all misty-eyed for the MIT Swap Fest. I moved from Cambridge to D.C. last year, and haven't been able to find anything like it down here, and I don't mean those bogus 'Comptuer Show and Sale and Monster Truck Rally' events advertised constantly on cheapo UHF stations. So I was curious -- do any DC-MD-No.VA-area Slashdot-ers know of events like this down here -- or anywhere else in the country for that matter? They must be out there ..."
There's something called First Saturday in Dallas, too, and a google search turned up a number of interesting possibilities. What recommendations can you make for the seeker of swap?
ARRL Hamfest Database (Score:1)
Midwest (Score:1)
Re:Midwest (Score:2, Informative)
They also have "Hamvention" in Dayton which is similar but with a focus toward Ham radio.
Both events are usualy at Hara Arena.
Re:Midwest (Score:2, Informative)
The next Computerfest is scheduled for August 25-26, 2001.
Milalwi
Sorry Offtopic (Score:1)
Re:Sorry Offtopic (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Midwest (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Midwest (Score:1)
next Hamvention in Dayton is May of 2002.
Their website is at:
http://www.hamvention.org/ [hamvention.org]
Computerfest, Dayton OH (Score:4, Informative)
[managed to get a refurbed 21" trinitron for $300 a couple of years back, some APC 2200s for $600 each, etc.]
For more info, see: (As it's coming up at the end of the month)
I highly suggest getting there as early as you can on Saturday, and if you find a deal, go for it, as it might not still be there by the time you go around the entire place (it's a massive computer show).
Re:Chicago has "shows" (Score:1)
I've been to the one at the DuPage Fair Grounds (http://www.giantcomputershow.com/ [giantcomputershow.com]) many times. It's ok, but not always worth the price unless you know exactly what you want & the price you want to pay. Be sure to get the $1 off coupon through their web site ($5 instead of $6).
HAM fest (Score:1)
And.... HAM fest people are just swank. Really cool. I mean their the bee's knees and all that. Really "wow, this tastes like butter" neat.
Wisconsin (Score:1)
dreamword
Proud owner of a 17" monochrome NeXT monitor that I have no idea what to do with, but couldn't pass up
Juneau Alaska (Score:1)
Maskirovka
Computer surplus places in DC Area (Score:2, Informative)
I bought a trunkfull of SparcStation LXs off these guys a while back for $35 each. Not too much intel hardware, but a ton of networking and workstation stuff. Gov't and corp surplus mostly. http://www.recycle.net/computer/ [recycle.net]
There's also a computer junkyard in Geln Burnie, MD on Sundays, but it's been too long since I've been there to remember the details. Another surplus buyer/seller is in a white warehouse in Fredericksburg, VA, in front of the fairgrounds. For new stuff, there's always Market Pro [marketproshows.com]. These guys always haggle!
Try this (Score:3, Informative)
It's not in DC, but in Fort Lauderdale. It's a huge place, selling most anything on roughly 30 acres. Due to its sheer size, you'll probably find most anything you need, even though it does not specialize in computers or electronics.
Come on down and check it out. At least it's in a good vacation town!
How the economy changes (Score:1)
I haven't seen one comment yet that says "but you can buy a new PC so cheap now, why mess with it."
I think it's a sign of the times that we are (as a group) economizing a bit.
doesn't bode will IMHO
Flea markets suck (Score:2, Funny)
Computer "shows" suck too, unless you're into stolen, broken, overpriced junk.
Somebody mentioned hamfests. These are generally guys who are collecting and using AM radios made about 50 years ago, and still refer to equipment made this side of the last century as "solid state." These folks bring all sorts of computer junk, too, but you ain't getting any deals here either. These guys will calmly ask $250 for a Tandy 286 'cause it's still good for RTTY (radio teletype for those born within the last 30 years and/or having a life).
If you're half-serious about picking up junk computers, watch around dumpsters in office parks and colleges. If you're really serious about collecting junk computers, buy a business phone and put an ad in the yellow pages offering to take away unwanted computers for free. But have your own dumpster handy (supplied by a company that collects demolition and/or doesn't look too close or ask too many questions), you'll need it.
Trenton Computer Festoval (Score:1, Informative)
Re:Trenton Computer Festoval (Score:1)
Nope, it's 4-color in 320x200 mode. In lower resolutions (at least on the Tandy), and in text modes, it supports 16 colors.
Silicon Valley (Score:4, Informative)
The other one is on the first Sunday of the month in Livermore at a college off of Airport Blvd (I forget the name).
Of the two, the Foothill College one is the biggest. There's a lot of trailing-edge technology there as well. I've seen all sorts of things there. The last time I saw some HUGE CCDs for astronomy. A couple of times I've even seen electron microscopes there.
Re:Silicon Valley (Score:1)
Both of these are Ham radio swamp meets, though both have a lot of computer stuff (anyone need an UltraSparc 5?)
However, most vendors go to both meets, so you only need visit one.
Re:Silicon Valley (Score:1)
I believe the college you are speaking about is Las Positas College [cc.ca.us].
It's also affectionately known as UCBC (University of California, behind Costco) and/or Lost Potential...
DRMO (Score:1)
Or check their website: http://www.drms.dla.mil/newsales/ [dla.mil]
Used to be a huge selection at Ft. George G. Meade (north side of DC) with everything from old 8088 Grid laptops to 27in' RGB monitors....
Good Luck!
Northern VA. computer show link (Score:1)
near Philly (Score:1)
I've only gone twice, and haven't found anything worth buying.
Renaissance Computer (Score:1)
New York, anyone? (Score:1)
Try American Science and Surplus! (Score:1)
www.mitfleamarket.com (Score:1)
In Australia (Score:1)
And prices are way down on what you would pay retail anyway. It's good fun to look around and hear other peoples opinion on the new intel chip, or how nVidia are taking over the market with this next chip etc... One might even call it a learning experience
And if you are lucky, there might even be somebody BBQ'ing food for ya all to munch on.
A Grand Day Out.
Trav
Check out University Campuses (Score:1)
-LOTS of vendors selling slightly old/used computer books at good discounts ;P
... this student was later approached by various automakers for development in that industry.)
-Hard to find and sometimes slightly older/used software that still retails for ultra-high prices can be found for maybe 1/2 or less of retail price
-Enter draws to get tee-shirts and sometimes neat gadgets!
-If you don't mid buying software with 'questionable' licenses, you can find many packages laballed 'to be sold only with a new computer' for $5-10.
-Adult software sections you just don't find at the mainstream joints
-Demonstrations of technology from grad students that hasn't quite come to maturation yet, but is still very cool (for example, about eight [or so] years ago, I saw this really awesome robotics demonstration running on a state-of-the-art Intel 486 DX2/66
Dayton Hamvention (Score:1)
Hamboree (Score:1)
The aisles had everything imaginable: PCs, hardware, radios, other electronics. I snagged a sound card and SiS AGP card for $5. The AGP card didn't work, but the PCI sound card did! I also got some other miscellaneous cables for about $1 apiece (SCSI, serial, etc).
CU Boulder Surplus (Score:1)
On a related note, the company they hire to actually run the auction is Dickensheet [dickensheet.com], and they have auctions with computer equipment atleast once a month. I just never have the money to spend.
A good source for old parts (Score:1)
Sunnyvale, CA and Ann Arbor, MI (Score:1)
Sunnyvale, CA - WeirdStuff warehouse. It's at the end of Mathilda avenue, around the corner from the NASA Ames research labs. If you need a TRS-80 or an Apple II, then stop here. They are a "dumping ground" for the bay area tech companies. Their prices aren't that great, though.
Ann Arbor, MI - University of Michigan property disposition. They have a ton of old computer junk there. It's the dumping ground for the entire University of Michigan system. It's on the U's North Campus. If you're lucky, you might even score a well-worn in Mammogram machine!
You can come rummage through my closet. (Score:2)
Re:You can come rummage through my closet. (Score:1)
Re:You can come rummage through my closet. (Score:2, Informative)
MarketPro (Score:2)
If you live in Ithaca NY (Score:1)
http://www.sciencenter.org/ [sciencenter.org]
Chicago and Southern Wisconsin Area (Score:1)
Hey if you are at Madison, WI, take a look at UW-Madison's surplus shop. I got a 17" Sun monitor for $17 USD, also they got zillion of Macs, each selling $10 to $20 USD, good for running NetBSD.
Here is SWAP Shop Inventory [wisc.edu] website.
Government Auctions (Score:1)
Theres one in Ottawa every few months (Score:1)
Los Angeles area: TRW swap meet (Score:3, Informative)
It's frequented by a lot of amateur radio operators and hardcore electronics specialists, so don't expect to find helpful salesmen ready to sell you a system fresh off the boat from China. Expect vaccum tubes, used parts, legacy hard drive controllers and random electronic components you've never heard of.
More info at: http://www.csz.com/w6trw/swap.html
Re:Los Angeles area: TRW swap meet (Score:2)
Thing with computer items is that pretty much all of them are radio-related. Computers, radios, they're all electronic, and most hams dabble in computers. I dunno if you'll find that many old *nix workstations, but you're bound to find a few legacy components.
I've bought old hard drives at the swap meet; I've bought memory and I once bought an 80387 math coprocessor, back in the days when hardware floating-point support was still considered optional!
Dallas - 1st Saturday (Score:2)
I went once or twice; some of what I found was wet from previous rainy 1st saturdays. I also bought a cyrix-200 & motherboard for about $130, when new ones would have cost ~$200. YMMV, of course. I just can't get excited about spending more than $200. on bare computer equipment that's served up outside.
Re:Dallas - 1st Saturday (Score:1)
I hit first Saturday faithfully every month with a big group of friends. Show up at midnight if you want to get the good deals. Last week we saw an IBM dual Pentium server for $20. Nice case, but too big for the space I have, or I would've bought it.
One of the guys who I usually go with says First Saturday is bigger than the MIT swap meet. I wouldn't know, though. :)
Interestingly, First Saturday started as a HAM radio swap meet, like other people have mentioned.
If you go, be sure to have a bratwurst!
Re:Dallas - 1st Saturday (Score:1)
Ham Fests! (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Ham Fests! (Score:2)
Re:Ham Fests! (Score:1)
Ever try to talk to someone at Radio Shack about anything remotely electronic? I've been shopping RS since before they sold their Trash-80s, and while most of them knew the diffence between a double A and 9-volt battery you were pushing the envelope on any question more technical than that.
There are clued ratshack employees, but in my experience they're as rare as hen's teeth. I've always assumed if they actually knew something about what they were selling they could get a better paying job than salesdrone.
Re:Ham Fests! (Score:2, Insightful)
Try Hamfests! (Score:4, Interesting)
http://www.arrl.org/hamfests.html
If you can't find it at a hamfest, it may not be worth finding at all! I have seen the following at hamfests:
- piles of C-band satellite gear, $5 or so
- DSS receivers and dishes for next to nothing
- 286 and 386 desktop PC's, FREE! (sans monitor and keyboard)
- old computer/language manuals of all descriptions
Its not just radio stuff!
Re:Try Hamfests! (Score:2)
First Saturday is AMAZING (Score:4, Informative)
I've introduced people in the office to First Saturday. The last time my co-workers went they all came back with factory refurbished 21" Sony Trinitron monitors for $325 the first time and the next month the price was $275. They got business cards and three year warranties from the companies. One of them had problems with it, took it back to the shop and they gave him another. They have 15" flat-panel HP monitors with integrated sound for about $300. I got my 120 watt, powered, shielded speakers for my workstation at the office for $6. That's not a typo. Six dollars. They sound good too.
I've also sold items there. My brother was a SA for a company who did a bunch of upgrades a while back and we hauled all the old desktop hardware out there and sold it out of the back of the company van. Good stuff, could have made some nice little BSD boxes, dirt cheap. Mix and match all the stuff you want. You want extra memory? Five bucks a stick for the simms you need.
That having been said, I am kind of disappointed with First Saturday recently. It's been going on for 30+ years now and originally you could get anything, I mean anything, electronic there. From single resistors to full computer sets. I saw military codebooks and collections of Magic cards there too. Now it's shifting from component-oriented to package oriented. They'll sell you bare-bones systems for $575 for a nice MB and Athlon based system, but without any of the toys like a DVD-ROM(bought mine there about a year ago for $85 for a 6X, damn fine price, and a major brand name too) You can still buy the component level stuff, but it's not the emphasis anymore. I guess it's just the world that has changed. The resistor is no longer a component, the board is a component. Sigh, I'm showing my age apparently.
Steven
Re:First Saturday is AMAZING (Score:2)
of a number of factors.
Consider why it was the obvious site for the swap meet to begin with: It was the parking lot of Heathkit. Heathkit is now a Mercedes Benz repair shop. Downtown Dallas grew east and that area became gentrified, "the Arts District" if you will. Buildings that were slated for demolition in that neighborhood are now $300,000 condos (Adam Hats building, etc.).
It's not a neighborhood that is conducive to any underground-hacker type of activity like it was in the beginning (underground hardware hackers that is, the HAM scene remember?)
Now that everything's digital, even the HAM's
don't have so much homespun hardware; you no longer have to build your own power supplies,
oh the times they are a changin etcetera.
But the big one is that PC's are now highly commoditized. Since that happened, I'm recollecting around 1995, the vendors started being much less of a grass-roots independent variety, and much, much, more commonly people who ran PC shops like IMS or N2, who would bring a booth out to 1st saturday. It went from an open, friendly, monthly barter fair,
to just another commercial marketplace for the same commodity hardware at generally the same prices that the hardware sold for in the vendors' shops.
First Saturday rides on its reputation for being a good place to make good deals. There are still good deals to be made, I suppose. If you get there on Friday night. It started getting silly when people would be setting up
at 6pm friday, and LEAVING around 8am Saturday... for what was supposed to be a day-long SATURDAY swapmeet? plain silly.
Of course, I don't know of a better place to look for original copies of vintage stuff, like Win3.11 disks and so on...
Re:First Saturday is AMAZING (Score:4, Funny)
So you take a trip to Fry's to laugh hysterically at price tags? They probably make you leave the store because you were scaring the other customers.
Re:First Saturday is AMAZING (Score:1)
Frankly I can see no other reason for going to Fry's at all.
I was exaggerating a bit, I've never been actually tossed out, but I have gotten funny looks over the silly grin I wear on my face looking at the same hardware I just bought for over twice the price.
Steven
Re:First Saturday is AMAZING (Score:1)
Once I was in the store, waiting to be assisted, and a manager looked at one of the employees and stated "Can you go help that guy?" To which the employee responded "NO, He is beyond help." The manager then ordered him to help me. The employ came over and asked what i needed, I explained that the 3.3v memory we got would not work on the motherboard as it needed 5v memory. He responded "No you are wrong, The 3.3v memory is what goes on that motherboard." I showed him the mother board book that stated that the MB must have 5v memory. He responded "Well the book is wrong!"
I complained to the store manager and was told "Well that department manager has a hard time finding and keeping employees." I responded "So fire him and all the employees. Then hire some one who can do the F*****g job and be polite!" I then left the store. There is no reason for me to go back!
Re:First Saturday is AMAZING (Score:2)
What made First Saturday great from my perspective was that they USED to have several users's group meetings. I could drive down, go to the meeting (the North Texas Linux Users Group had a great meeting, plus I liked going to the Atari UG meeting for nostalgia's sake) and do some shopping. But then the users' groups were kicked out of the building, and started having their meetings on other days.
Perhaps it is still a good thing to go to if you live in the Dallas area. But I live in the Wichita area, which is five hours drive down, and five hours drive back. It got to the point where it just wasn't worth it to me.
Perhaps things have changed for the better. I look forward to other posts on this - I'd like to hear it's worth it again.
Besides the obvious place (EBAY) (Score:4, Informative)
Not everyone has an MIT swapshop nearby, so why automatically phase out those computer shows that you diss.
IF you actually KNOW your stuff about computers then you will get a better deal at a computer show because the vendors are there to make money and sell hardware. Build up relations with these vendors and they will get you anything you want at the best price and most likely support you better then anyone else.
Re:Besides the obvious place (EBAY) (Score:1)
Re:Besides the obvious place (EBAY) (Score:1)
(Dont get my wrong, Ebay is prolly the best for vintage computers (except certain yard sales as in another post of mine) but for newer stuff shows and trading in person is much safer and cheaper).
Re:Besides the obvious place (EBAY) (Score:1, Funny)
You're not my girlfriend posting on here under an assumed name, are you?
Re:Besides the obvious place (EBAY) (Score:1)
You're not my girlfriend posting on here under an assumed name, are you?
Gosh honey, don't you already have a pair of shoes?
Re:Besides the obvious place (EBAY) (Score:2)
Re:Besides the obvious place (EBAY) (Score:2)
Be careful (Score:5, Informative)
Shelby Hamfest (Score:2)
I know they still have it, maybe I should check it out again.
Re:Shelby Hamfest (Score:2)
Trenton Computer Festival (Score:3, Informative)
better when at TSC (Score:1)
Re:Trenton Computer Festival (Score:1)
complex
There's the Baltimore Hamfest... (Score:2, Informative)
Delaware's not far off... (Score:2)
Two hours north of you, the DuPont company is still dismantling itself. Their "excessed equipment" sales can be pretty great... although me and my buddies already picked through all the PC and mac stuff, you can still get old VAXen on occasion, and gigantic industrial robots.
The only problem is you never know what is going to be there until you get there.
And it's kind of disturbing how fast the more exotic animal-torturing equipment sells... I think the direct nerve stimulation devices lasted about 48 hours.
--Charlie
Hamfest (Score:2)
They are not really swap-fests, but there is a whole lot of tailgating, plus the usual vendors, plus vendors selling electronic equipment, gadgets, and bizaare stuff. Often local computer groups or schools are there. Anybody else go to these things? Maybe we should turn them into something more like a swap-fest.
Computer Shows (Score:4, Informative)
Being from the DC area, if you want inexpensive computer components I would urge you to actually try the Market Pro Computer Show and Sale. You can find information about the shows at this link. [marketpro.com]
Although they are advertised as you said "'Comptuer Show and Sale and Monster Truck Rally' events advertised constantly on cheapo UHF stations," they are mostly filled with local (DC/MD/VA) vendors and some out-of-area (PA/NY/NJ) sellers who sell computers and computer compenents. I would not recommend this show for any novice computer user. I do extensive research of the product(s) I want to buy before I go there; because the phrase caveat emptor is very appropriate.[1]
However, since you mentioned you wanted more of a swap fest, this may not be for you. You might try...
There are also fedral auctions at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) which sell many components. However, most of them are really old government surplus. My step-father once picked up three 9 inch floppy drives there (it was part of a pallet where he wanted the plotter). I don't know the URL of the auctions but you can goto the GSFC [nasa.gov] Website and search for it. Google may work as well.
Finally there are HAMfests in the DC area you can go to. Not being a HAM operator/user I don't know of any. Once again, google may help.
[1] My friend once claims that he bought a motherboard from a computer show that was not FCC compliant (made in China) and interfered with radio devices. I have only bought a bad harddisk once which the (local) vendor was happy to replace. Again, caveat emptor.
HAMFEST (Score:2)
Hamfests... (Score:2)
Look for the Hamfests in Bowie, Timonium and Manassas. The Gaithersburg hamfest (F.A.R.Fest) was the biggest I remember, but since I've left the area, I think it moved to Bowie. I remember plenty of smaller ones, but the smaller ones tended to be more oriented to amateur radio, and less cool technology junk.
Start Your Own? (Score:2)
So the thing would be to find out what are the major tech/science schools in the DC area. Approach them with the MIT model, and then, when the arrangements are made, promote it to all of those tech/science schools. You should be able to break even, and maybe even make a buck or to to help finance your other research projects.
Heck, you might even wind up with tables of surplus spook gear.
University of Waterloo (Score:2)
Try the Flesh Fairs (Score:2)
University Surplus (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:University Surplus (Score:2, Informative)
The University of Maryland runs Terrapin Trader. See http://www.purchase.umd.edu/ttrader/.
They had an old VAX for sale earlier this year. I was tempted to buy it, just to watch all the lights in my neighborhood dim when I turned it on.
- Tim
Living in Southern Maryland... (Score:2, Informative)
Due to the dismal lack of such things locally to my knowledge, I'm also much anticipating the results of this inquiry...
HamFests, computer shows/sales (Score:2)
Market Pro Shows (http://www.marketproshos.com) does computer shows and sales, but they're for modern equipment. They have shows all over Maryland and Virginia. The closest to the DC area would be New Carrolton.
I've been to both. The HAMfest is nalstolgic, and I been able to get a base for an old Compaq laptop there.
Hamfests (Score:3, Informative)
the mid 80's, they have been a great place to buy
new and used parts at the lowest possible prices.
For a list see:
http://www.arrl.org/hamfests.html#listing
Terrapin Trader (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Why? (Score:2, Offtopic)
"Nobody owns the fucking words man." - James Dean
Mr. Dean,
We write in regard to your fradulent use of the words "nobody", "owns", "the", "fucking", "words", and "man". The legal holders of these words for Internet usage are as follows:
Nobody - Registered by Microsoft Corp., used in reference to a person who does not run their OS.
Owns and Ownz - Registered by Microsoft Corp., for use in describing Microsoft global market share of OSes.
The - Registered by Microsoft Corp., as it is an integral term used in their pending OS release.
Fucking - Registered by goatse.cx. 'nuff said.
Words - Registered by Microsoft Corp., as a reference to multiple installations of a component of Office. Sites and all Internet usages of the term 'words' will be traced to their owner/s and audited by the BSA for licensing compliance.
Man - Owned by the United States government, as it is a term frequently used in reference to them (ie. 'the man').
Use of these terms on the internet constitutes circumvention of U.S. copyright law under the DMCA, and enforcement of said laws will be carried out, regardless of state and international borders, local law, and common sense. In behalf His Lord Majesty Gates, I issue a cease and desist order on your use of these terms on His internet. Good day.
M. P. Hornswoggle
Attorney at law
Re:Why? (Score:1)
Re:In Iowa (Score:1)
Re:Anyone near Dallas, TX ... (Score:2)
Besides jacking up the admission price every year(8 bucks last time), they jack up the prices, or NEVER lower them down.
You know that one game a few years ago that was a hit being $40 when it just came out 5 years ago? You can buy that game there, for $40.
I saw some small-sized webcam dealy for $130, yet when they advertise it on tv the price is significantly cheaper.
Among the must amusing of sales: old AOL floppy disks.
Avoid Blue Star Marketing's state fair computer sales. Most of the vendors are vendors you never heard of(I din't see Tran Microcomputer, a local place that has GREAT deals), selling off-brand hardware at badly inflated prices.
Re:spend your money in a better way (Score:2, Insightful)
Would these items serve a more useful purpose if they were in a landfill?
One word: Education.
You can learn quite a bit about how things work by (a) taking apart old stuff and then later (b) using the peices to build new things. You might even be able to parlay that learning into a vocation. Wouldn't be the first time.
Re:List Inventory (Score:1)
This works if all the junk is easlily counted and of decent value. Otherwise the database maintenance is going to be more of a PITA than the money the seller will make dumping it. And realize that the motivation for selling a lot of this stuff is the wife saying "Get it OUT!"
Which brings up a good bargaining tip: If someone has something that you'd like, but you can't haggle them down to your price, wait until the end of the event when the vendors start to pack up and leave. Then stroll by and suggest that your bank notes will be much more easy to carry home than that widget the vendor has. The bigger/heavier the widget the better this tactic works.
Re:D.C. Area - NASA Goddard (Score:2)
While the NASA surplus facility has tons of cool stuff (rocket fuel tank anyone?) only a small fraction of it is actually available. For some reason they have a trailer truck's worth of old keyboards and yet you can't get at them (feh).
Also, while there is cool stuff, it goes FAST. Make sure you're there before it even opens and get in line.
But they do take credit cards! (IIRC)
Re:University of MD (Score:2, Informative)
http://www.purchase.umd.edu/ttrader/
Timonium Hamfest (Score:3, Insightful)
Maryland Hamfests (Score:2, Insightful)
These are my favorite Maryland Hamfests, in order of preference:
Greater Baltimore Hamboree and Computerfest - the event mentioned by the previous poster. A big two-day event in April in Timonium. See http://gbhc.org/.
BRATS Ham/ComputerFest. A big one-day event in July in Timonium. See http://www.bratsatv.org/hamfest.html.
CARA Hamfest. I always enjoy this event, even though it's relatively small. Occurs in September, in West Friendship. See http://www.qsl.net/cara/
FARFest. This one used to be very big, but their move to Bowie a couple of years ago greatly decreased their attendance. Occurs in September. See http://www.amateurradio-far.org/
There are events in other US states too, of course. See http://www.arrl.org/hamfests.html. Some Virginia hamfests should also be convenient for folks living in the DC area.
- Tim
Re:Dayton Hamfest (Score:2)
In the midwest, there is the Dayton Ohio Hamfest. Which is a huge (as in takes all day to walk around literally) place to buy/sell/trade all forms of geek gear. If you know your stuff, you can find some computers and parts that havent been seen for years.
MmMMMmm... Dayton Hamfest. I went down there (from Toronto) with a friend of mine in my old Dodge pickup truck. Half-ton truck, went down with nothing but a spare tire under the bed and our suitcases behind the seat. Came back so badly overloaded that the cops made me put it on the weigh scale. (I was, like, three pounds below my limit. Good thing the fuel tank was almost empty at the time.) Crossing the border with that stuff confused Kanada Kustoms. They tried to charge me duty on a 50 year old TV set, for one thing.
I loved the Dayton Hamfest. But, never again. Ever. It was bad.