08/13/2020

The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo[1] over the August 8 - 9 weekend appears to have been an unmitigated success, so much so that another virtual event will be held next March.

"It was far better than we expected," Virtual Ham Expo chair Eric Guth, 4Z1UG/WA6IGR, told ARRL. "We had over 26,000 registered and over 14,000 on the platform both days."

Guth said event sponsors and exhibitors that he's heard from so far "are thrilled with the turnout, engagement, and responses that they received." He said they're also enthusiastic about the second QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, set for March 13 - 14, 2021. "Our plan is to offer this twice a year," Guth added.

The show, an ARRL-sanctioned event, was developed on the vFairs[2] virtual conference platform, and cleverly re-created the atmosphere of a typical large hamfest, with several tracks of forum sessions on a wide array of topics. Those who had registered but did not log into the live event can see it all on demand[3] until September 9.

"All of the services, except the chat, are running," Guth noted. "The doors are still open."

Dozens of video presentations are available to replay, including the keynote given by ARRL Maxim Society Member Dr. Scott Wright, K0MD, "COVID-19: Amateur Radio's Impact on Problem Solving to Create a Global Response to the Pandemic." Presentations from other ARRL member-volunteers span technical and operating interests, including "Everything you need to know about Lithium Batteries" with Marcel Stieber, AI6MS, and an introduction to creating Arduino-based projects for home and ham radio, with Glen Popiel, KW5GP. Presentations highlighting young ham involvement and development include "Youth in Ham Radio," moderated by Carole Perry, WB2MGP, with six youth presenters.

Guth said a poll would be sent to determine what visitors enjoyed most. "However, my guess will be that the speakers were fantastic, along with the moderators for the live Q&A afterwards," he said. Exhibitors will also be polled for their post-show impressions, but Kevin Zanjani, KI6DHQ, of Bioenno Power, told ARRL he gave the virtual event high marks. The show, he said, "was quite exciting and a great platform to interact with customers and the entire ham radio community during these times." Bioenno Power, based in Southern California, is a providerÿof Lithium-Polymer (LiPo) batteries and solar-power devices. Zanjani said the chatroom was very effective to engage with customers. "Many also dropped by to say hello as well, so we found that nice."

Product Development Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, was among the ARRL representatives engaging with event attendees using text and video chat. He described the experience as having some similarities and some difference from an in-person convention.

"Our team answered questions about ARRL membership programs and services, amateur radio licensing, and even had some fun challenging visitors to our booth with ham radio trivia," he said. Physically located at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, Inderbitzen treated more than 500 visitors to live, online tours from inside Hiram Maxim Memorial Station W1AW.

"It was fun to see a screen full of smiling faces, and to answer questions in real time. The experience had an on-air feel. I should have kept track of all of the US states and countries I connected with," he said. A short welcome video[4] greeted visitors at the ARRL booth.

Guth said the organizers' challenge going forward is to reduce the workflow in putting the show together. "But all in all, it was a lot of work, I have a great team, the volunteer speakers and moderators were out of this world, and I am grateful to our sponsors and exhibitors for footing the bill," he added.

Guth said that the main complaint he heard about was the show's use of a leaderboard for awarding prizes. "We used it because the sponsors and exhibitors paid for their booths and donated the prizes," he said. "The Leaderboard rewarded those who visited exhibitors, chatted with them, watched their videos, and downloaded their documents."

"We will evaluate other games for March that also increase engagement," he added.

ÿ


[1] https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/
[2] http://www.vfairs.com/
[3] https://qsotoday.vfairs.com/
[4] https://youtu.be/BStzRccXhBQ

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þ Synchronet þ Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBS

01/05/2021

The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo[1] will return March 13 - 14 for a full 48 hours, QSO Today host Eric Guth, 4Z1UG/WA6IGR, announced this week. ARRL[2] is a QSO Today Expo Partner. Guth said the inaugural QSO Today Expo last August attracted more than 16,000 attendees, and he anticipates that the March 2021 event will be even more successful.

The upcoming QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo will feature new speakers and presenters, panel discussions, and kit-building workshops among other activities. Guth pointed out that attendees can log in from anywhere. While he anticipates a good turnout by those who typically attend such ham radio events, the virtual Expo also offers an opportunity for those concerned about pandemic travel restrictions as well as for those who don't typically attend in-person events.

"At our last Expo, we found that 60% of attendees don't go to in-person national conferences, and 40% don't attend state or local events," Guth said, noting that distance and the high cost of travel and lodging were the most oft-cited reasons.

Registration[3] is required, and to help cover the costs of staging this event, there will be a charge to attend. Advance tickets are $10 ($12.50 at the "door") and include entry for the live, 2-day show as well to the 30-day on-demand period. At the Expo, visitors can:

Learn from a line-up of such well-known ham radio personalities as Bob Allphin, K4UEE, on "My Favorite DXpeditions to DXCC Top 10 Most Wanted;" Michael Foerster, W0IH, on "Using the Arduino in Your Shack," and Ron Jones, K7RJ, on "3D Printer Basics."

Take part in live virtual kit-building workshops. (Kits will be available for purchase and delivered to attendees in time for the Expo.)

Walk through the virtual exhibit hall to visit an array of amateur radio vendors and see live demonstrations of the latest equipment. This show will leverage newer video technology to provide a better experience for attendees to engage with exhibitors.

Those planning to attend the Expo may take advantage of new speaker calendar technology to create their own calendar of presentations in their time zones, which can be saved to a Google or Outlook calendar.

Registrants may return over the 30 days following the live event to catch speakers and presentations missed during the live period, as well as to explore and re-engage exhibitor offerings.

"The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo has all of the familiar hallmarks of an in-person hamfest, including opportunities to connect and learn," ARRL Product Development Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, said. "Expect to bump into friends and well-known experts and personalities from throughout our worldwide ham radio community!" He explained that attendees visiting an exhibit or virtual lounge will be able to interact with other attendees in those settings.

FlexRadio is the Expo's Platinum Sponsor. Gold sponsors as of this time include Elecraft, RFinder, and CSI.


[1] http://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/
[2] http://www.arrl.org/
[3] http://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/

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þ Synchronet þ Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBS

01/26/2021

The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo[1] on March 13 - 14 will devote a speaker track to AMSAT and the world of amateur radio satellites.

The Expo is in "full planning mode" and promises "many exciting new things" for the upcoming event, which will include a world-class lineup of more than 60 speakers and workshops for beginners to experts. Presenters at nine AMSAT sessions will discuss the broad spectrum of ham radio satellites, including:


o Introduction to Amateur Radio Satellites (Douglas Quagliana, KA2UPW)


o Getting on the Air with Satellites (Clint Bradford, K6LCS)


o How to Enjoy Amateur Radio Contacts with the International Space Station (Frank Bauer, KA3HDO)


o Implementation of LDPC Encoder on FPGA (Anshul Makkar)


o Debris Mitigation in Earth's Orbit (Anshul Makkar)


o Digital Multiplexing Transponder from the Open Research Institute (Michelle Thompson, W5NYV)


o Solving the ITAR and EAR Problem for the Amateur Radio Satellite Service (Michelle Thompson, W5NYV)


o Remote Labs for P4XT Engineering Development (Paul Williamson, KB5MU)



Thompson, an AMSAT Board Member, said working satellites is one of the most rewarding privileges of holding an amateur radio license.

"There has never been a better time to be involved in amateur radio satellites, since some long-standing regulatory burdens have been lifted and advanced technology has never been more affordable and accessible," Thompson remarked. "We have opportunities now that were not available as of even a few years ago. AMSAT is fortunate to contribute to the Expo by showcasing the truly amazing work going on around the world in the amateur satellite scene. And the Expo is an ideal partner to show it off to the wider ham audience."

AMSAT will have a booth at the Expo, where attendees can talk to experts, enthusiasts, operators, and technicians and obtain contact and membership information for the 30 AMSAT societies around the world.

Early Bird tickets are $10 (to help cover the cost of this event) and $12.50 "at the door." That includes entry for the live, 2-day event as well as access during the 30-day on-demand period following the event. Register[2] on the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo website.

ARRL is a QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo partner.ÿ


[1] http://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/
[2] http://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/

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þ Synchronet þ Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBS

03/18/2021

The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo[1] attracted thousands of participants over the March 13 - 14 weekend. Taking a different tack than it did for its inaugural event last August, the expo leveraged the capabilities of two virtual event platforms to increase interaction among attendees, speakers, and exhibitors. All did not go smoothly, however.

"Unfortunately, we had many technical issues with the Airmeet presentations and the integration of the vFairs and Airmeet platforms," expo chairman Eric Guth, 4Z1UG/WA6IGR, explained afterward in a message to participants. All recorded presentations are available for attendees during the expo's 30-day on-demand access period, which ends April 16.

ARRL, a QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo partner, enjoyed virtual visits from attendees to its two exhibits. One included staff representatives for Member Services, Radiosport, ARRL Field Day, and Field Services. The other exhibit highlighted the expertise of ARRL Laboratory personnel, who offered technical and practical advice to those stopping by. On the team were Senior Test Engineer Bob Allison, WB1GCM, who streamed from inside the Lab's screen room where QST "Product Review" testing is conducted, and RFI Engineer Paul Cianciolo, W1VLF, who helped participants deal with pesky noise and interference issues. W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, conducted virtual tours of the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station all weekend.

All told, 16 staff members[2] worked in rotating shifts at ARRL Headquarters, greeting visitors through livestreaming video and audio. Several members of the ARRL Board of Directors were on the platform too.

CEO David Minster, NA2AA, delivered the event's keynote address. Minster, who arrived in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, said ARRL would become a bigger player in the digital age.

"A major part of the digital transformation at ARRL has to do with taking our excellence in content development and editing, and bringing it to video," Minster said. "You are seeing more activity from us on YouTube, the Learning Network (webinar series), and then later this year the launch of our Learning Center." Video, Minster pointed out, is always available and easy to pause and refer back to.

Amateur radio manufacturers and vendors including FlexRadio, Elecraft, Connect Systems, and Quicksilver Radio Products welcomed visitors and answered their questions on a one-to-one basis.

Guth apologized for the poor experience many participants had in accessing and navigating the event.

"I attempted to integrate a number of systems together in order to make a better user experience," he explained. "It was a noble idea, because I wanted the convention like last August, with the lounge tables of Airmeet to make it more interactive. We failed on this platform for many of you. I am very sorry."

"One of the things that we've stressed in all of our communications is that the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo team is committed to constantly learning and improving what we do," Guth said in a statement. "Virtual conventions of this magnitude are new territory. We believe that there's a place for a virtual ham expo to serve the needs of the very large amateur radio community, especially those that don't attend in-person national or regional events (or even local events). We are committed to making that happen."

The expo announced on Wednesday, March 17, that 80 presentations had already been added to the platform for on-demand viewing[3].


[1] https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/
[2] https://www.facebook.com/ARRL.org/posts/10158394330292408
[3] http://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/

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þ Synchronet þ Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBS