[Elecraft] Seeking comments on Ham Expo from participants

[Barry Baines]

Rick:


> On Aug 22, 2020, at 7:29 PM, Rick NK7I <rick.nk7i at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I agree and there was apparently some cheating involved too, requiring a resolution after the fact.


While I spent the weekend at the Expo, I did not sign up for the ‘contest.’  First, it wasn’t clear how to do that and second, it seemed to me that my preferences for how I intended to spend my time viewing presentations and resulting Q&A would be counter-productive towards a ‘winning’ score.

> 
> If prizes are offered, just make it "They showed up here (each vendor), so they're entered into a random drawing", just like any other hamfest.  Appearance equates to one (only) 'ticket'.

Given that winners have been announced, it would be interesting to see how many points were racked up by the top 10 winners and how they were generated.  My hypothesis is that if the focus is on ‘contesting’, then one needs to fully appreciate the rules and determine a strategy for ‘hitting spots’ that maximizes points over the course of the weekend.  I suspect that such a strategy would result in lost opportunities to see presentations in full, be involved with Q&A sessions, chat with vendors on specific topics of interest, peruse materials of interest at various vendors, and simply take full advantage of the opportunity to “talk ham radio’ with those attending.  Contesting also introduces stress and a focus on maximizing points/QSOs per unit of time, which is counter to the idea of taking time to fully benefit from the resources being offered at the Expo.  

Consequently, I ignored the ‘contest’, and I as I would normally do at Hamcation or Hamvention, mapped out in advance the specific presentations I wanted to see and ensured that my iPhone would alert me when a presentation of interest was about to begin.  And rather than having to rush to  a forum room and squeeze by other attendees to get a seat (as what happens at in-person events), I then sat back on my desk chair  and ‘got educated’.  If there was a break in the presentation schedule, I checked the various commercial booths that were of interest to me and asked questions/got answers, took a look at the documents being offered at these booths of interest and ended each day feeling that I had spent my time well.  

Elecraft and others did a great job with their presentations and willingness to ’talk up’ their products.  In some respects I learned more at this Expo than at prior hamfests.  I suspect this was due to the presenters taping their ’schtick’ which allowed them more carefully plan/script how they using their allocated time and to redo/edit/modify as necessary to make a better product, and there weren’t interruptions/distractions that occur when things are done live.  The Q&A was generally excellent.

Now, with all that said, the one thing that a hamfest has that the Expo does not is the face-to-face personal interaction.  I look forward to hamfests because of the people and the opportunity to see friends and meet new ones.  Yes, I also enjoy the fun of getting there and checking out the flea market looking at the latest/greatest gizmos, and having dinner with friends.  Hopefully, we’ll be able to enjoy one another’s company in 2021 at both Orlando and Xenia and every other hamfest in between.  

FWIW,

Barry Baines, WD4ASW
(Currently in Boston/Roslindale, MA)



> 
> 73,
> Rick NK7I
> 
> PS I watched after, those days were already filled with family things.  Being able to see what I wanted on my own schedule, really nice.
>