[MilCom] Addendum Report -- Westfield International Airshow General Comments

[Ken]

Just a few more comments regarding attending the show on 6/24/06.

My MAJOR error was forgeting to bring my earphone/headphones to use with the 
portable scanner -- It was almost impossible to walk, look at exhibits, talk 
with other hobbyists,  & monitor the scanner without the earphones!!! --  
Suggestion is to pack the vehicle with all your radio gear using a checklist 
to make sure you have EVERYTHING!!!! (Hey I didn't forget the sunblock!!! :) 
;)  ).

Security Checkpoint -- At the security checkpoint early in the morning, all 
the ANG security team entrance inspectors had blue latex gloves on and I 
comment "well looks like you are going to do full body cavity searches 
today" which got a chuckle from them all!!!    Absolutely, no problem after 
inspection of getting any radio equipment into the area.

Digital cameras -- By far the most fantastic piece of gear you can carry 
with you.  My advice is to always have it on!!!  There were plenty of ANG 
people carrying radios around, with some having a piece of paper attached to 
the radio indicating channel # & usage...   By the time I would turn on the 
camera & get ready to shoot the opportunity had passed :(   .

Regarding frequencies in use ---- Personally, one has to be careful that 
some "newly found" radio frequencies being used may have been special 
programmed for the airshow & will not be commonly used or the normal 
functional usage will not be apparent.  It's probably better to come back to 
the base during a normal training weekend to verify all  typical functional 
frequencies in use.

Finding new frequencies in use  --- still much easier if you are sitting 
down in your vehicle with a mobile scanner radio in the search mode.  Also 
if you bring a portable seat with you to the show, sitting in the seat & 
search is also easier.  Walking around, looking at exhibits, & talking with 
others makes it VERY difficult to stang any new frequencies.

Static Displays -- It's important to take advantage (even if standing in a 
long line) of any & EVERY open cockpit/aircraft, just to see the cockpit and 
possible frequency cards.  Additionally if crew members are present ask 
about the callsigns they normally use.  It was disappointing that stairs 
weren't at least available for looking into the cockpit of the various 
smaller aircraft.  Perhaps the rain caused a safety problem, and they didn't 
want to take chance of someone slipping on the metal stairs.

A10's Use of UHF for tactical air/air --  I was somewhat puzzled why the 
A10's changed from their VHF highband air/air to a UHF air/air tactical 
(225.5) since this isn't the normal --  Bill Jassett log postings tuned all 
of in to the possibility of A10's using UHF for air/air.    I noted that 
there were about 44 to 54 presets on the new comm card for A10's 
(unfortunately my distant digital picture didn't come out to adequately ID 
channels/freqs/usage (was shooting at a lower size/density)).

FRS Radio Usage -- My advice would be to do a general call anyone from X (X 
= being the radio groups you belong to)when you arrive (typical frs 14/38) 
(that's how I meet up with one other hobbyists that I thought wasn't going 
to be attending). Again unless you have an earphone for this piece of gear, 
it's nearly impossible to monitor the radio.  Perhaps a standard listening 2 
minute monitoring time like 15 after, 45 of the hour or so should be 
considered at future shows

I expected to see &  meet/more people from the various local scanner & 
milcom/milair related lists, but this wasn't evident, at least for Saturday' 
attendance.

BTW I finally recovered late today from foot & leg pains.. I guess those 5+ 
miles of walking was just a bit too much for my old feet/legs!!!! :) 
   -- Hmm perhaps some of those golf carts being used could be used for 
transport taxi's for a small fee ($1 or $2) !!!

Ken