If you look at last week's AMSAT News Service bulletins, you'll find that the lead article was, "AMSAT Ambassadors to Speak at QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo," and three different panels were highlighted.
--
Mark D. Johns, KØJM
AMSAT Ambassador & News Service Editor
Brooklyn Park, MN USA   EN35hd
-----------------------------------------------
"Heaven goes by favor; if it went by merit,
   you would stay out and your dog would go in."
    ---Mark Twain


On Mon, Mar 15, 2021 at 8:08 AM Michael Walker <va3mw@portcredit.net> wrote:
I have the advantage of being on the inside as a vendor.

The QSO today had some challenges, and COVID played a part when 2 key people were struck hard by COVID at a critical time.

I have worked closely with Eric G for both events.  He is a visionary and it goes without saying they have heard all the problems loud and clear.  

The good news is there will be 83 presentations all supporting amateur radio that will be available shortly for all ticket holders.  And, after all, it is only $10 on a hobby you have invested thousands of dollars in.   A drop in the bucket.  The monies are not used to make a profit but to pay for all the staff that Eric hired and server time.  These items don't come for free.

What I want to understand is why was AMSAT absent?    You had thousands of registered guests and you still will for another 27 days of advertising.   Not one AMSAT logo anywhere.

Mike va3mw


On Sun, Mar 14, 2021 at 3:16 PM <fousley@citlink.net> wrote:
   From my location and perspective it just didn't work. The procedure to get the ticket was long and convoluted and didn't follow the instructions. Once in the links didn't work or they took me somewhere else. Many excuses are being put forth but the bottom line is we paid for an event that didn't even come close to delivering. I am extremely disappointed.

Frank Ousley
KD9ISN
-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-request@amsat.org <amsat-bb-request@amsat.org>
Sent: March 14, 2021 10:42 AM
To: amsat-bb@amsat.org
Subject: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 4, Issue 38

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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of AMSAT-BB digest..."

Today's Topics:

   1. Re: QSO Today Virtual HamFest (KENT BRITAIN)
   2. QSO Virtual Convention (Clint Bradford)
   3. FW: QSO Today Virtual HamFest (tjschuessler@verizon.net)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2021 15:26:14 +0000 (UTC)
From: KENT BRITAIN <wa5vjb@flash.net>
Subject: [AMSAT-BB] Re: QSO Today Virtual HamFest
To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@amsat.org>, Clint Bradford
        <clintbradford@mac.com>
Message-ID: <557818487.785067.1615735574149@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
        boundary="----=_Part_785066_1580616391.1615735574146"

 Clint   I was suppose to do some presentations and man a 'table' for Q&A's.
I was NEVER able to get in.   Problematic?   Now about NON-FUNCTIONAL! (Secret Keys that are not shared is hardly a solution!)    Kent WA5VJB



    On Sunday, March 14, 2021, 10:18:57 AM CDT, Clint Bradford via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote: 

 I cannot believe the whining and complaining I am reading from fellow hams this morning.

We had some technical glitches at the QSO Today! Extravaganza yesterday. The AirMeet software was problematic. Savvy Windows users thought to "right click" and enter those pages in new Windows. But many just complained that it didn't work.

We're HAMS, for gawd's sake. Plan Bs and Plan Cs should be in our blood ...

Complaints of "the sessions were pre-recorded" are ignorant: ALL sessions were pre-recorded by design and submitted by February 1, 2021. Then we went to LIVE Q&A and Tables to further discuss life.

Here's a complaint: "I had to scroll too much to find my Table." Make the tables' icons smaller so more fit on a page, and that same whiner would then write, "The font's too small ... "

Organizer Eric is beating himself up on all this. He shouldn't be. It's not his fault. Conversed with him this morning at 6am - after another all-nighter …

    • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I have heard NO ONE pointing a finger at YOU. We are hams, for gawd’s sake - Plan Bs and Plan Cs should be in our bloodlines ...

"Whatever platform(s) you choose for next year, I would like to assist create a one-page “cheat sheet” of keyboard commands and “tips and tricks” to negotiate. A single page we can each print out and refer to ...

"Attendees are enjoying. Speakers are getting great Q&A sessions. The “tables” are absolutely wonderful.

"I couldn’t find the open bar .... but will search again today. '

Clint Bradford

PS Take me up on that offer with the cheat sheet. 951-533-4984

PPS Let’s have a Zoom session for speakers before next year’s extravaganza - to show us the techniques and intimacies.
    • - - - - - - - - -- - - - -

This morning, took me 30 seconds to log in and find my nest presentation area.

SO ... If you cannot provide constructive comments and assistance to make the event better, then you really are not behaving like true amateur radio operators. Writing from ignorance and bitching and moaning because of a couple problems OUT of the control of the event organizers is NOT how we operate.

OH - here's one for you: A ham complained the event was "too commercial." Yes, the event was sponsored by HAM RADIO EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS. What an idiotic thing to complain about. Now, then, if Marlboro was a major sponsor, that would be a legitimate topic of conversation.

Clint Bradford K6LCS
951-533-4984

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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2021 08:36:43 -0700
From: Clint Bradford <clintbradford@mac.com>
Subject: [AMSAT-BB] QSO Virtual Convention
To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org>
Message-ID: <03F2BD53-53BB-4BCA-A5E5-868DC46E8C03@mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset=utf-8

Kent - Correct. That AirMeet software was a real pain for many. I am not sure why.

I was on the system from 1am to 4am yesterday - all was PERFECT. But I left the room for the third pot
of coffee, came back and all hades broke loose. I was kicked out. I was then told my camera and mic
didn’t;t exist. It WAS A PAIN, indeed.

It was good to see that savvy Windows folks did the “right-click” and ENTER to open AirMeet in a new
Window, which worked for them. (I am on Macs.)

But you are absolutely correct: Even the “right-click” “rte rick” should NOT be a requirement to know
to enjoy a convention.

I am going to try to not write Eric for at least 48 hours - to allow him to get an hour or two of sleep.

But I would like us al to work and assist to make next year’s even better.

Clint K6LCS

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2021 10:41:21 -0500
From: <tjschuessler@verizon.net>
Subject: [AMSAT-BB] FW: QSO Today Virtual HamFest
To: <amsat-bb@amsat.org>
Message-ID: <006001d718e8$7c7dfdb0$7579f910$@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="utf-8"

All,


Yes there were problems with integration of two platforms.  There were problems with the way session hosts could or in some cases could not work with their presenters and presenters recorded sessions.  Heck, my presentation never actually aired in it's proper position.  It actually got aired in someone else's slot and thus was locked out of running where it should. ( I did see a compliment to my work from someone but I never could figure out where). 

My beef is with someone, most likely a ham, who wanted to wreak havoc with the event and initiated a deliberate Distributed Denial of Service DDoS attack on the event's database which most likely contributed  to some of the problems they experienced early on.  You have all experienced this kind of behavior with the "Repeater jammer", the HF broadcaster, or in our satellite case, the person who spends the whole FM satellite pass whistling into their microphone with rig running legal limit to block other's enjoyment.  Folks who do such things probably y are not part of this list, but if by chance they are, shame on them.

Yes I got frustrated and disappointed, but I had fun manning a table and talking to folks who did show up at the booth.  Directed several to by the AMSAT "Getting Started" book.

Oh and by the way, Michelle did an awesome job in trying her best to keep the satellite track running on Saturday, despite multiple problems.  She will not get the credit in the AMSAT community that she deserves in doing what she did. 

Tom Schuessler, N5HYP

-----Original Message-----
From: Clint Bradford via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@amsat.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2021 10:18 AM
To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org>
Subject: [AMSAT-BB] QSO Today Virtual HamFest

I cannot believe the whining and complaining I am reading from fellow hams this morning.

We had some technical glitches at the QSO Today! Extravaganza yesterday. The AirMeet software was problematic. Savvy Windows users thought to "right click" and enter those pages in new Windows. But many just complained that it didn't work.

We're HAMS, for gawd's sake. Plan Bs and Plan Cs should be in our blood ...

Complaints of "the sessions were pre-recorded" are ignorant: ALL sessions were pre-recorded by design and submitted by February 1, 2021. Then we went to LIVE Q&A and Tables to further discuss life.

Here's a complaint: "I had to scroll too much to find my Table." Make the tables' icons smaller so more fit on a page, and that same whiner would then write, "The font's too small ... "

Organizer Eric is beating himself up on all this. He shouldn't be. It's not his fault. Conversed with him this morning at 6am - after another all-nighter …

        • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I have heard NO ONE pointing a finger at YOU. We are hams, for gawd’s sake - Plan Bs and Plan Cs should be in our bloodlines ...

"Whatever platform(s) you choose for next year, I would like to assist create a one-page “cheat sheet” of keyboard commands and “tips and tricks” to negotiate. A single page we can each print out and refer to ...

"Attendees are enjoying. Speakers are getting great Q&A sessions. The “tables” are absolutely wonderful.

"I couldn’t find the open bar .... but will search again today. '

Clint Bradford

PS Take me up on that offer with the cheat sheet. 951-533-4984

PPS Let’s have a Zoom session for speakers before next year’s extravaganza - to show us the techniques and intimacies.
        • - - - - - - - - -- - - - -

This morning, took me 30 seconds to log in and find my nest presentation area.

SO ... If you cannot provide constructive comments and assistance to make the event better, then you really are not behaving like true amateur radio operators. Writing from ignorance and bitching and moaning because of a couple problems OUT of the control of the event organizers is NOT how we operate.

OH - here's one for you: A ham complained the event was "too commercial." Yes, the event was sponsored by HAM RADIO EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS. What an idiotic thing to complain about. Now, then, if Marlboro was a major sponsor, that would be a legitimate topic of conversation.

Clint Bradford K6LCS
951-533-4984

-----------------------------------------------------------

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Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!

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------------------------------

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End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 4, Issue 38
***************************************


-----------------------------------------------------------

Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed
are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!

View archives of this mailing list at
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Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed
are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!

View archives of this mailing list at
https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/amsat-bb@amsat.org
To unsubscribe send an email to amsat-bb-leave(a)amsat.org
Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at https://mailman.amsat.org