[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] Some ideas on the G.W. Parade

[n4asx at cox.net]

First I miss read the inputs we had on the parade.  We knew that the parade
had a NEW course and that the participating units grew from 1000-1500 to
over 3500.  What we were told was that those extra units would form
themselves and we would NOT worry about changes.  So, the ASSUMED workload
was no greater then in the past.

 

What REALLY happened:

                1 - The Mason's did not establish a cut off time for units
to join the parade.  So, many units just showed up.  

                2 - The time it took the LEAD unit to go from start to the
reviewing stand was less then 10 minutes.  (with an unknown gap of time to
the rest of the parade.

                3 - Because we made the above assumptions we used a single
voice channel to pass changes in the parade to the reviewing stand.

Result we pass information when we had to but it lacked many changes.

 

Due to the change in the course AREDN was not workable and packet would have
been difficult at best due to the time to get the changes from the marshals
and enter them into the revised order of march.

Next year,  We hope to be back to normal with the normal workload,  I do NOT
know if the course changes will be permanent.

 

In order to better get the changes to the reviewing stand we CAN make some
changes to increase through put.

                1 - Add a second voice channel in the trailer.  

                2 - SEND the changes for EACH UNIT as they pass the START.
This gives the UNITS time to be COMPLETE and once this is in UNIT order we
would have the time it takes for a unit to go from start to reviewing stand.

                3 - If we have a spreadsheet for each unit,  the reviewing
stand can print by UNIT.  

                4 - If the course goes back to the old course, we can enter
changes at START and send via packet / Winlink to the revieing stand or if
the course stays as it was this year we can call in the changes and edit at
the reviewing stand.

                5 - The parade organizers also learned a great deal and next
year we should have better information.

 

Thanks to all who participated.  As always,  the city was impressed with our
abilities.

 

73 Rick
N4ASX