[UK] Dunstable Downs Car Boot 2016 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 10, 2016, 10:40:18 am
content: A few of us made it to the Dunstable downs radio rally / car boot sale last year, this time i will be there with a plot too along with a friend of mine who restores vintage radios, we both have random bits and bobs to get rid of. Some of it for free.Wondered if anyone might be going this year?It's quite an eclectic mix of stuff, few traders selling parts, amateur radio kit, old radios, random electrical and electronic odditiesIt's located at Stockwood Park, Dunstable on the 22nd Mayhttp://www.ddrcbootsale.org/Thread from last year:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/dunstable-downs-car-boot-sale-discussion-thread/

author: MrSlack
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2016, 01:31:00 pm
content: I'd go but (a) The wife will kill me for bringing more crap home and (b) I'll probably buy a ton of stuff I don't need.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2016, 06:57:54 pm
content: I'll probably get a plot, have loads of stuff to get rid of

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 11, 2016, 12:54:40 pm
content: I asked the same thing last year in regards to a possible recording of the event and am hoping that someone over that way could possibly do the same or similar thing again this time around, perhaps a bit of a tour and then maybe a haggle cam setup......That link above to the previous event didn't work for me and it might be missing a forward slash on the end.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/dunstable-downs-car-boot-sale-discussion-thread/

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2016, 02:28:25 pm
content: Probably won't make it this year as I'm planning on going to Bay area Maker faire

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 12, 2016, 05:32:47 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on March 11, 2016, 02:28:25 pmooh, nice! well have funQuote from: Muttley Snickers on March 11, 2016, 12:54:40 pmI'll see if i can get around again with my camera and maybe be a bit more interactive!Quote from: KJDS on March 10, 2016, 06:57:54 pm

author: analias
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2016, 04:38:29 pm
content: So, who is going?If anyone is interested in a working Tek 465 for a reasonable price, then PM me.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2016, 06:14:49 pm
content: Despite having a partner who is entirely supportive of my geekiness and has already said she's happy to come with me, I won't be able to go.My weekend with my kids.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2016, 06:28:47 pm
content: I'll be there, just need to book a table.Anyone else selling this year?

author: MrSlack
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2016, 07:02:47 pm
content: May be there yet... What are the chances of not getting mugged eBay style for some air variable caps?

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2016, 07:48:54 pm
content: I'll be there but trying hard not to get tempted by yet more junk.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2016, 08:36:47 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on May 18, 2016, 07:48:54 pmNot trying very hard, evidently! Surely that's the main activity at a hamfest😀

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2016, 09:37:22 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on May 18, 2016, 08:36:47 pmI suppose that no-one ever buys junk really, but there again one man's must have brilliant find is another wife's junk

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 18, 2016, 10:21:00 pm
content: good to see a few people there, hopefully the weather will be good, i have loads to sell & giveawaya very good friend of mine will be with me also selling / clearing out stufflooking forward to it

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 18, 2016, 10:24:16 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on May 18, 2016, 09:37:22 pmmost things have a 'to hard to resist' price!

author: urbis
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 19, 2016, 09:44:11 am
content: Wouldn't mind going but don't think the missus would appreciate the 350 mile round trip!

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2016, 08:33:51 am
content: So, anyone else make it?

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2016, 10:54:31 am
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on May 22, 2016, 08:33:51 amArse! thought it was next weekend. Anything worth seeing?

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2016, 01:05:43 pm
content: Quote from: KJDS on May 22, 2016, 10:54:31 amDepends on your definition of "worth seeing" but, no, not really.It seemed much less well attended than the last time I went (2 years ago) - no fighting through crowds to get at the pitches for instance - and not nearly as much stuff on sale interesting or not.If dexters_lab had a stall it will be interesting to get his perspective.Some photos, not taken too early in the morning so fairly representative of the number of people attending and the amount of activity around the traders' stalls.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 22, 2016, 02:01:58 pm
content: Yea i was there, in fact the white gazebo on the right next to the goal posts in your first pic is us.I think there were more traders and was pretty hectic in the morning, sold and gave away just about everything so very happy. I also managed to spend more on food than other electronics!I did wander around looking for people but didn't spot anyone, was wearing my eevblog tee so i guess nobody spotted me either

author: andy_silicon
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2016, 02:03:56 pm
content: I was there - and I agree with the assessment - not a lot of interest to me.Picked up a footswitch ( I needed one ) , couple of 2mm headers , and some decent LEDS from macomponents.Otherwise - I managed to get away without collecting any real junk.

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2016, 02:09:18 pm
content: Quote from: KJDS on May 22, 2016, 10:54:31 amAs grumpydoc (and others) have said, a bit disappointing. One or two of the traders said that the weather forecast looked dodgy until the last minute, and it may have discouraged a lot of punters - attendance was definitely thinner than the last two years. There was also a heavy preponderance of valves and Bakelite on many of the stalls, which were typically manned by vendors of a similar vintage. With no Mike (mikeselectricstuff), no Ian (TopLoser) and no Kev (KJDS) there weren't many familiar faces. Plenty of friendly sellers happy to chat about electronics, though.On the plus side, a lot of stalls were packing up and doing deep discounts or giveaways by around midday, and there were some bargains to be had. I picked up a big bag of Panasonic 1000uF 50V caps for £1, a nice little Japanese CCTV lens for 50p, and various ICs, heatsinks, instrument cases and other bits for very little.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 22, 2016, 07:05:35 pm
content: we packed up just after 3pm, there was another flurry of people in the afternoon, maybe people looking for last minute discounts!? There was a couple of items i had to give away as i didn't want to bring them home but it was worth the trip.was a really great weekend away, for Phil and i it was a bit of a road tripwas nice to talk to everyone who came to look at our stall and have a chat

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2016, 07:17:01 pm
content: The next half decent one that I'm likely to get to is Newbury on the 19th June. They always seem to pick Father's day which does case some difficulty wit the other half & offspring.After that I might do Rugby in August as it was OK the last time that I went or the Telford rally at the beginning of September.there are still a fair few during the year - seehttp://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2016, 07:59:12 pm
content: Quote from: grumpydoc on May 22, 2016, 07:17:01 pmIn previous years then Newbury has clashed withhttp://thesupercarevent.com/and I'd far rather spend a weekend thrashing round the top gear track for charity than sell off bits and pieces, but it's changed weekends so I might get to it this year.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2016, 09:05:08 pm
content: Quote from: KJDS on May 22, 2016, 10:54:31 amWell, I got a new DC-18GHz 0-69dB step attenuator for £30, and some reasonably priced SMA leads.And I even had time to visit the computing museum in Bletchley Park, see a bit of my youth again, and have a nice chat to museum "attendants" thatdohave a clueA good day out.

author: dmills
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2016, 12:19:51 am
content: Those rather nice Narda attenuators with the brass control wheels?Got two of them, also a 7150+ bench multimeter, and a new 250W dummy load, plus a few other bits and pieces.Regards, Dan.

author: TopLoser
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 23, 2016, 12:50:06 am
content: Missed it this year, I would have had shit loads of crap of variable quality to get rid of but I'm stuck in Amsterdam this week.I'm seriously in need of moving a LOT of stuff soon...

author: MrSlack
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2016, 05:40:13 am
content: My plans to attend were scuppered by tonsillitis and a cracked rib. Both caused by children. They should come with a health warning.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2016, 06:54:29 am
content: Quote from: dmills on May 23, 2016, 12:19:51 amThose are the ones. I didn't realise he had >1, but I had run out of money in any caseHe's amusing to chat to if there aren't many people aroundDid you get the 7150 with or without the handle?

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2016, 06:56:21 am
content: Quote from: TopLoser on May 23, 2016, 12:50:06 amIf you mention what you are going to shove in the car, then it may help people plan to spend money onyourpitch

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2016, 06:58:10 am
content: Quote from: MrSlack on May 23, 2016, 05:40:13 amThey do. I got my own back on my daughter by shoving her up trees, in big waves, backpacking around India, going down mountains fast, and doing "emergency" landings in aircraft. I hated,hateddoing all of that, but it was necessary. She still claimed I wrapped her in cotton wool, and only stopped doing that when she came to realise what other people at universityhadn'tdone.And don't forget that insanity is hereditary: you catch it from your kids