I’m writing from the Virtual Auditorium of the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo. They’ve had some problems with expo access and then with running the presentations.
That’s unfortunate for sure. Over the course of the Expo weekend there have been improvements plus a great deal of ham ingenuity on display.
Some few months later, here’s the video of my presentation along with the follow-on Q & A session.
VHF Contesting, Jim Wilson K5ND from QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo on Vimeo.
K5ND QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo VHF Contesting Presentation Slide Deck
I also encourage you to explore this website for more information about VHF Contesting. I’ve compiled a listing of resources at Guide to VHF Contesting — References to Further Information.
In addition, you may find my Guide to 6 Meter DXing including a free download eBook to be helpful as well.
Try out VHF contesting. It has a great deal to offer.
I can also assure you it is not an exclusive group. After all I’m there.
Plus, I could use a few new contacts! See you on the air.
Post Presentation and Event Comments
Whew. The presentation went very well. Thanks in large part to the presentation host, Anthony Luscre, K8ZT. He was the speaker for a number of presentations as well as serving as host to several more. That experience coupled with his technical know how paid off. My presentation went off without a hitch.
I will also mention that I enjoyed the Expo Lounge area. The lounge consisted of tables with designated topics that you could join. Once there, it was much like a Zoom video call.
It was fantastic to just meet up with a few people and share stories. I really enjoyed it. Frankly, I feel it almost worked better than an in person hamfest.
Also a big shout out to Naubert, WP4OXG. He served fellow hams early Saturday by providing information in the chat/texting area of the expo on how to activate camera and mic.
He provided just the clue I needed on how to get into the Expo with everything running. Sadly, there were still many hams late Sunday trying to figure that out and all too many had already given up.
Overall, this is an excellent concept and the platform had the potential to offer a fabulous experience. The implementation, particularly the support provided to attendees and speakers, was poor to nonexistent.
I have a strong suspicion that event management professionals are needed to make this a viable event in the future. I wish Eric Guth and QSO Today Ham Expo all the best in making that happen.
My apology to you Jim for the problems with the execution of joining the two platforms. I take full responsibility, my fault. The Expo has become very large and it organization needs a few more bodies. The support was existant, but with 5000 plus messages, my small team couldn’t keep up. We never were under so much stress. My programmer stayed as long as he could before being intubated in the hospital for Covid-19. He survived and is back writing code this week for our listing of videos for blind and vision impaired.
Again, I hope all of the people who had a difficult time at the Expo will forgive me. We are committed to making is better each time. I learned my lesson, again. August will be great.
73,
Eric, 4Z1UG
Thanks for your comment, Eric. The nature of our hobby is to try things out and then move on with further improvements. That’s what is happening with the Expo but with a great deal more at stake and far more visibility. Good luck with the next steps toward improvement. I’ll be back in August!
73, Jim, K5ND