[R-390] Meeting up with other list members at Entelec

[Tisha Hayes]

It was surprising to have this guy walk up to our booth at Entelec in
Houston and start up a conversation with "so, does your company make the
390 model?"

I was instantly confused, I asked about three times in a row what he was
asking about; My personal radio hobby so rarely collides with my
professional life that it just did not compute. Finally with my bad eyes I
was able to read his name... Tom Frobase" and it still took a second to
click in my brain... then the conversation made sense.

Tom had set up a table in a back corner of the convention hall with a
BC-348, Heathkit transmitter, CW key, box of QSL cards and a very nice
little tribute to an SK who was a past member of the Entelec board. Entelec
is an association for oil and gas communications folks. Our company was
there with a booth to present our radios, I was there to do five different
sessions over the three days. Tom happened to hear my speaking at a
vendor-shootout discussing the merits of narrowband radio and the Internet
of Things.. He teased me because I commented about how the people who write
standards are often divorced from the reality of making systems work or
supporting them in the field.

When I made it back to the booth I was quizzed "how do you know Tom Frobase
from Boardwalk?"  I had to explain about R-390A's and boat anchors and that
just classified me even further in to the "weird radio chick" category.

Later that day Tom swung by as I was sitting on the floor, taking about
booth furniture. He always gets me at the most inconvenient moments!

But it was nice to see another boat anchor enthusiast. I am fortunate to
work for a company filled with electrical engineers who are also hams and
radio nerds.

*Ms. Tisha Hayes, AA4HA*