[UK] Dunstable Downs Radio Rally / Car Boot / Flea Market 2017

[dexters_lab]

I will be at the dunstable downs radio rally again this year with a load of crap to sell / give away, is anyone else going from here?

http://www.ddrcbootsale.org/index.htm

It's on Sunday May 21st, but it's most active in the morning. There's parking, refreshments, plenty to see and buy so it can make a fun day out if your interested.

previous threads:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/dunstable-downs-car-boot-sale-discussion-thread/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/(uk)-dunstable-downs-car-boot-2016/

[mikeselectricstuff]

Yes I'm planning to go - time for another ruthless clearout.
Mostly stuff like teardown leftovers that I can't be arsed to put on ebay.
Most things that haven't sold by about 12 will be given away.

[SingedFingers]

Not sure if I'm going to have any cash left after Kempton  If I do I'll be there.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Not sure if I'm going to have any cash left after Kempton  If I do I'll be there.

I didn't know that was still going - not been for a while - is it any good?

Problem with most rallies that are/were at "proper" venues is that the stall fees tend to be too high to attract people clearing out stuff, so it's just traders. That's certainly what killled Pickett's Lock.

Most decent rallies died out years ago -  Dunstable Downs is the only one I bother with these days- being held in a field means it's still cheap enough to attract people clearing stuff out, which is where the bargains are. 

[SingedFingers]

To be honest I haven't been to a rally since the 1990s and that was the one at Pickett's Lock just as it descended into traders. There was another one out in the sticks near Harlow as well. Long gone is the "electronic jumble sale" which I loved. This is a somewhat new resurgence in activity in this space from me really after a gap between 2002 and 2015. I'm only 10 mins away from it in the car so it's no wasted effort really.

However, in context, I'm older, considerably less poor and more objective than before so I'm not really after bargains and boxes of junk now.

[tggzzz]

Not sure if I'm going to have any cash left after Kempton  If I do I'll be there.

I didn't know that was still going - not been for a while - is it any good?

Problem with most rallies that are/were at "proper" venues is that the stall fees tend to be too high to attract people clearing out stuff, so it's just traders. That's certainly what killled Pickett's Lock.

Most decent rallies died out years ago -  Dunstable Downs is the only one I bother with these days- being held in a field means it's still cheap enough to attract people clearing stuff out, which is where the bargains are.

I think Kempton is worth going to occasionally, particularly since Dunstable is further away. Last two times there were sufficient fleas stalls to make it interesting.

An advantage of Kempton is that there is power, so you can see equipment working before buying it. (And it isn't weather dependent, of course!)

[SingedFingers]

Good to hear. I'll do both just to see.

[Mark]

Kempton is a bit closer to me too.  Can anyone point me to a website with details and dates?  What sort of market is it?  (I could only find the antiques market on the racecourse website). 

[mikeselectricstuff]

Kempton is a bit closer to me too.  Can anyone point me to a website with details and dates?  What sort of market is it?  (I could only find the antiques market on the racecourse website).

http://www.radiofairs.co.uk/

[grumpydoc]

I think I'll try to make Dunstable again, it's quite a drive as I live in the Midlands but usually worth it

Newbury has been good (less so last year but I'm hoping that was just a blip) - I think that's a bit out of Mike's patch though.

http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/ has the full list.

[tggzzz]

Good to hear. I'll do both just to see.

I think that is worth it. I've picked up some nice stuff at each, e.g.

• Kempton: Solartron 7075 DVM for £40 (didn't bother with a broken HP1740A for £5, since I hadn't yet succumbed to TEA and allied syndromes)
• Dunstable: new DC-18GHz 0-70dB in 1dB steps attenuator for £30

I wonder if we will recognise each other. The only identifiable picture of me that I have posted on social media is with a new-fangled Harrier in the background (or was it a P1127?)

[grumpydoc]

I wonder if we will recognise each other. The only identifiable picture of me that I have posted on social media is with a new-fangled Harrier in the background (or was it a P1127?)

We should pay for a pitch, populate it with a few chairs and put a sign up saying "EEVblog refuge"

[tggzzz]

I wonder if we will recognise each other. The only identifiable picture of me that I have posted on social media is with a new-fangled Harrier in the background (or was it a P1127?)

We should pay for a pitch, populate it with a few chairs and put a sign up saying "EEVblog refuge"

Or "EEVBlog Ghetto". Tempting.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Or get a Portaloo and call it EEVBOG

I'll get my coat...

[Cerebus]

I might go, but I'm not 100% decided yet. Bit of a schlep to Dunstable and there's nothing in particular I'm looking for that's likely to be there except for the perennial possibility of a lucky score on test equipment.

[artag]

The last few Pickett's Lock events were certainly less interesting than earlier years. But I think what actually killed it off was the redevelopment of the sports hall into some part of the olympic stadium.

BATC rally used to be good - previously near Grantham, then Coventry. Not sure where now.

I still go to St Neots rally (just off the A1) -  it seems to grow and shrink but can still be worthwhile if the weather's good enough to go outside.

RATS rally (Rugby) was a good one too, but haven't been for a while and not sure where it's held these days.

[mikeselectricstuff]

The last few Pickett's Lock events were certainly less interesting than earlier years. But I think what actually killed it off was the redevelopment of the sports hall into some part of the olympic stadium.

I remember them moving - from memory Stevenage and Ware, but it was too far away to keep enough traders & punters.
I have great memories of when it was in its heyday ( and at Alexandra Palace before) - three and a half packed halls  - I'd regularly come back with a car boot full of stuff.

[dexters_lab]

 

good to see there will be a few people there

fingers crossed the weather will be good!

[CJay]

Rather disappointed I can't make it but I do hope everyone has a great day

[KJDS]

I'll try and be there, will make sure I mark the right weekend on the calendar this year.

[pamphonica]

I'll be there as well - I've found some great stuff at Dunstable Downs.  The testgear has included Racal counters, Marconi Sig-gens and lots of smaller bits like connectors.

But I am starting to realise the depth of my testgear addiction and have recently had a table at Kempton to sell stuff for a change and reduce the "heap".  It has worked well and I'll be there in a couple of weeks.  The mains power means I can demo stuff which is best for both parties. I'm the chap with a green message fan on the stall! Say hi if you are there.
 
 

[tggzzz]

But I am starting to realise the depth of my testgear addiction and have recently had a table at Kempton to sell stuff for a change and reduce the "heap".  It has worked well and I'll be there in a couple of weeks.  The mains power means I can demo stuff which is best for both parties. I'm the chap with a green message fan on the stall! Say hi if you are there.

Bad attitude, selling T&M gear that is You risk being expelled from the TEA support society.

Why don't you list what you are selling; you might persuade a few more people to go, and/or even pre-sell some items.

[tggzzz]

I'll be there as well - I've found some great stuff at Dunstable Downs.  The testgear has included Racal counters, Marconi Sig-gens and lots of smaller bits like connectors.

But I am starting to realise the depth of my testgear addiction and have recently had a table at Kempton to sell stuff for a change and reduce the "heap".  It has worked well and I'll be there in a couple of weeks.  The mains power means I can demo stuff which is best for both parties. I'm the chap with a green message fan on the stall! Say hi if you are there.

What did you think of Kempton  yesterday?

[dmills]

Scored an Anritsu 8810B radio comms test set for £60, and it all seems to work (Not too shabby for a 300K - 3GHz SA plus power meter and sig gen).
It has the usual problem with poor contrast on the screen that most of these seem to suffer from, and I have the eternal problem of finding that the set of inter series adapters I own is not quite as comprehensive as I thought it was (I am missing some TNC to sma or BNC).....

First job however, disk image of the PCMCIA ATA flash card.... They seem to be a little flaky by reputation.

Annoying when the adaptors are likely to cost more then the instrument did, but I cannot bring myself to use the unbranded specials on measuring instruments because so many of them are horrible once you get above nearly DC.

Lots of bench power supplies there, and a surprisingly good general selection of test gear.

Also, does anyone have the pinout for a Marconi 6960 sensor cable, I managed to get the meter and a power head that allegedly works, but no cable and the information is surprisingly hard to find. I am pretty sure the connector is a Binder M16, 12 pin job, but what is the wiring?

Regards, Dan.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Only a week to go! Look for Loughton Self Drive van

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VurxgRODrLk&feature=youtu.be