Tailgaters descend on Tamarack
The tailgates were down and the tables set up as sellers and bargain hunters alike braved a chilly Saturday dawn in some good old fashioned swap meet 'wheelin and dealin '.
Local hams were joined by radio lovers from California and Las Vegas in their quest to find just the right amateur radio treasures.
Local hams were joined by radio lovers from California and Las Vegas in their quest to find just the right amateur radio treasures.
Hosted by the newly re-organized Sierra Nevada Amateur Radio Society, the Reno Swap was held for the second time at the Tamarack Junction Casino.
Tamarack Junction has proven to be an ideal spot for the event. Held on a well paved parking lot, the swap meet requires little in the way of set-up. The casino amenities, such as restrooms, meeting rooms, and dining areas, eliminates the need for port-a-potties, food vendors, and tents.
Tamarack Junction has proven to be an ideal spot for the event. Held on a well paved parking lot, the swap meet requires little in the way of set-up. The casino amenities, such as restrooms, meeting rooms, and dining areas, eliminates the need for port-a-potties, food vendors, and tents.
Most of those who attended, choose to have a nice hot, tasty breakfast inside the casino, before they began their search for ham radio goodies out on the parking lot.
wish me luck, I'm heading to the casino to sell my radio
It's time to dig out the folding table and a few of those old boat anchors that you have buried in the garage and head on over to the casino.
The casino? Yep, the casino. While Community Colleges, County Fair Grounds, VFW Halls, High School gymnasiums and the like often serve as the venue for hamfests and swap-meets, casinos have traditionally not been a part of the mix.
It's safe to say that Ham Radio Swapmeets are among the most wholesome of activities. Also, much of the world outside of Nevada would argue that casinos are known "dens of iniquity". Together the two seem to be a strange mix.
Here in Nevada we see things in a different light. Casinos are simply a part of our business community. We are much more inclined to view a casino as a place to buy breakfast, view a movie, or attend a seminar, than a place to drop the rent money on a crap table. In fact many, many churches have gotten their starts in the meeting rooms of Nevada casinos and several of them remain there to this day.
Historically, some well known hamfests have been hosted at gambling houses. Casinos were the setting for both the giant SAROC conventions of the '70's and 80's in Las Vegas and the current EMCOMM West in Reno. However it can be argued that these casinos with big hotels attached, actually refer to themselves as "Resorts".
Outside of Nevada, in 2010, the Scottsdale Hamfest in Arizona was held at the Fort McDowell Junction Casino, owned by the Yavapai Nation Indians.
In May of this year, a community radio event in Reno appeared headed to cancellation when the scheduled site (the parking lot of a parts retailer) withdrew the location at the last minute.
With only hours before the start time, event organizers struck a deal with the Tamarack Junction Casino and Restaurant to hold the swap meet on the parking lot of the casino.
The casino location was an instant hit. The super clean, well maintained facility easily accommodated both sellers and buyers. Spotless, well supplied restrooms were available just inside the casino building.
How about that hamfest/swapmeet food? Usually pretty grim....at best a local civic organization will throw something together as a fund-raiser, or else you stand in line at a "roach coach".
This was not the case at the Reno swap. The Dining Car Restaurant located inside the casino served delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner at extremely affordable prices. The Tamarack Junction Steakhouse also offered a upscale dining experience.
The casino? Yep, the casino. While Community Colleges, County Fair Grounds, VFW Halls, High School gymnasiums and the like often serve as the venue for hamfests and swap-meets, casinos have traditionally not been a part of the mix.
It's safe to say that Ham Radio Swapmeets are among the most wholesome of activities. Also, much of the world outside of Nevada would argue that casinos are known "dens of iniquity". Together the two seem to be a strange mix.
Here in Nevada we see things in a different light. Casinos are simply a part of our business community. We are much more inclined to view a casino as a place to buy breakfast, view a movie, or attend a seminar, than a place to drop the rent money on a crap table. In fact many, many churches have gotten their starts in the meeting rooms of Nevada casinos and several of them remain there to this day.
Historically, some well known hamfests have been hosted at gambling houses. Casinos were the setting for both the giant SAROC conventions of the '70's and 80's in Las Vegas and the current EMCOMM West in Reno. However it can be argued that these casinos with big hotels attached, actually refer to themselves as "Resorts".
Outside of Nevada, in 2010, the Scottsdale Hamfest in Arizona was held at the Fort McDowell Junction Casino, owned by the Yavapai Nation Indians.
In May of this year, a community radio event in Reno appeared headed to cancellation when the scheduled site (the parking lot of a parts retailer) withdrew the location at the last minute.
With only hours before the start time, event organizers struck a deal with the Tamarack Junction Casino and Restaurant to hold the swap meet on the parking lot of the casino.
The casino location was an instant hit. The super clean, well maintained facility easily accommodated both sellers and buyers. Spotless, well supplied restrooms were available just inside the casino building.
How about that hamfest/swapmeet food? Usually pretty grim....at best a local civic organization will throw something together as a fund-raiser, or else you stand in line at a "roach coach".
This was not the case at the Reno swap. The Dining Car Restaurant located inside the casino served delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner at extremely affordable prices. The Tamarack Junction Steakhouse also offered a upscale dining experience.
Friends, who were just not interested in all of the ham goodies, could head inside and watch a game at Sully's Sports Bar, or try their luck on one of the 460 slot machines. There also is a Kids Arcade and an outside basketball court to help the younger crowd pass the time.
The casino didn't just provide a parking lot for a bunch of geezers to peddle old radios. They treated everyone as their guest. Professional Safety and Security Officers made regular foot patrols thru the swap meet areas. They stopped frequently to ask about various aspects of ham radio.
If you missed the opportunity in May to sell your unwanted ham items or to snag a bargain you will be getting a second chance.
The Sierra Nevada Amateur Radio Society has announced that they will sponsor another swapmeet at this popular location.
The SNARS Fall Swapmeet will be held October 19, 2013 at the Tamarack Junction Casino, 13101 South Virginia Street, South Reno, Nevada beginning at 7:30 AM
The casino didn't just provide a parking lot for a bunch of geezers to peddle old radios. They treated everyone as their guest. Professional Safety and Security Officers made regular foot patrols thru the swap meet areas. They stopped frequently to ask about various aspects of ham radio.
If you missed the opportunity in May to sell your unwanted ham items or to snag a bargain you will be getting a second chance.
The Sierra Nevada Amateur Radio Society has announced that they will sponsor another swapmeet at this popular location.
The SNARS Fall Swapmeet will be held October 19, 2013 at the Tamarack Junction Casino, 13101 South Virginia Street, South Reno, Nevada beginning at 7:30 AM
Space rentals will be $10.00 each. Seller set-up at 7:00 AM. Buyers admitted at 7:30 AM Full information is available at: www.renohamswap.com/