Hi all,
I was able to slip under the wire and obtain what turns out to be the very last presenter slot for the upcoming QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo event this coming weekend, August 8 and 9, https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/ . I will be doing a "Getting Started with Amateur Radio Satellites presentation which is scheduled at the conclusion of the second day of the event, starting at 2245Z on Sunday August 9th. The first half of the hour will be a pre-recorded and edited talk I submitted to them for playback at that time, followed by a live Q and A session for those attending real time. My recorded piece also includes a tour of my portable setup as well as part of a contact on RS-44. The event organizers will then archive that presentation and Q and A, along with the others for the weekend for on-demand streaming over the next month. I also get to have a virtual "Table" with downloads that can be grabbed and viewed at a later time, just like a real information table.
I only had about a day to put together the edited 30 minutes and felt like I had to rush through things and definately know I forgot items and concepts that I hope to be able to bring up during the Q and A. I hope though that it will be enough to grab the interest of the hearers.
The event organizers have come up with a cool way to spur ongoing interest in participating in as much of the event activities as possible, by giving points for every activity viewed. These points act as virtual tickets in a prize drum and can accumulate for the month following the live Expo. The more activities one takes in, the more tickets, and thus, the more chances to win a cool selection of prizes.
If you know someone who is interested in learning more about our fascinating niche of the amateur radio hobby, please do send them to the event and point out the presentation time on August 9, or the post event archives.
I think they are planning on doing this again next March and I do hope to have an improved video presentation by then.
73 and hope to see you, virtually at least.
Tom Schuessler, N5HYP EM12ms