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QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo………will you be attending?
22 December 2020 | by 
2021 QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo
Last year in my blog I asked this same question, but it was before the Expo had started. I received a mixed bag of responses but now that one Expo has completed some of my readers may have a better idea about the Expo and if they will attend this year?
In my humble opinion, over this past year are a few new givens......COVID is still with us and a new type of stain noticed, video conferencing for personal and business has become the norm, working from home is no longer a novelty, most if not all ham radio clubs have cancelled monthly in-person meetings. On a positive note, clubs have stepped up and offered 2 meter weekly net meetings, club meetings via the many video conferencing programs, contesting has been tweaked to allow for events such as field day to be a success, there is a vaccine to bring hope for 2021 and finally on March 13-14 the 2nd QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo begins.
I did attend the online Expo last year but in a very part-time effort. At times, I found it frustrating to find my way around (which I did mention in my online survey to the hosts) navigating to sections of the Expo. I found some seminars a bit "fluffy" in content and some were just an advert. Last year it was free this year it's 10.00 early bird or 12.50 at the door.....virtual door that is. I will say that if I am going to drop 10.00 I will make more of an effort to attend the site more often over the 2 days. I have not as yet decided if I am going to drop the 10.00 but will take some time to look over the changes that are in effect for the 2nd annual show.
My questions to the blog readers are:
-Did you attend last year's QSO Today Virtual Expo?
-If you did what is some of your input regarding the show?
-If you did not attend why not?
- Who is going to attend this year either for the first time as an alumnus and why?
19 Responses to “QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo………will you be attending?”
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I plan to participate.
Hello I attended 2020 and I look forward t attending 2021. $10.00 seems very reasonable even cheap. 73
I attended briefly. Found the interface to not be to my liking. Hung around for a seminar or two and was not too impressed. I don’t see paying to get into the event. It just was not my cup of tea. Glad others liked it. A few members of the club were thrilled with it.
Good evening Bill, thanks very for stopping by the blog and leaving a comment. I am guessing by your comment that you very much enjoyed the 2020 event? I did visit your QRZ page and I will say you sure do have plenty of rigs.
Merry Christmas to you and your family and thanks for your service,
73
Mike
VE9KK
Michael good evening and thanks for the comment, I too was there briefly as well, but I want to think about attending over the next few weeks. For me 10.00 is just a few coffees. I am hoping the event will come out with some more updates as to what is happening. I am hoping that some hiccups from last year will be addressed this year. But as you said and other may agree that it’s just not your cup of tea.
73 and Merry Christmas to you and your family,
Mike
VE9KK
Hello John, glad that you have decided to attend the event, and it would seem you very much enjoyed the 2020 event. Yes 10.00 is not that much in the big picture for a full weekend. I still am going to mull things over for the next few weeks.
73 and Merry Christmas to you and your family,
Mike
VE9KK
I did attend and enjoyed the some of the sessions. Being so new I had my credit card ready, but like most shows I have gone to in my other hobbies there was not much new to me at special pricing. The few things I considered I could buy any day of the week for there show specials. The incentive to buy was not there. The displays I could see on line or in there catalog. I was never able to make any contact with a rep or get any inside on the new wizebang piece of equipment. Attending some of the meetings did give me some excitement. Everything was new to me. The vender presentation looked like they didn’t try very hard because they didn’t know what to expect. I will give them another chance, This might be all we get for a long while.
Mike
Good morning Mike and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, I am in the same boat as you. It was the first event, it was free and everyone involved was just getting their feet wet with the whole idea. This year now that a price tag is on it, not much mind you for what you get over 2 day but people will expect more. I am leaning toward spending the money, putting some time aside that weekend to go online, and we will see what happens. This may be a make or break year for them.
73,
Mike
VE9KK
The first one was kind of interesting, for about 30 minutes. Not worth $10.
Good afternoon Jeff and thanks for stopping by, yes it was kind of interesting for sure and really a first of its kind in that large a scale. I may drop the 10.00 and see if it has improved over last year.
Merry Christmas Jeff and Happy New Year,
73
Mike
VE9KK
I watched most of the talks last year and “strolled” through some of the vendor booths, intend same again.
Good afternoon Elwood very nice to hear from you, nice that you had a positive time last year and are going to attend again this year.
73,
Mike
VE9KK
I attended as a vendor and had a booth for my products. Obviously I would prefer an in person Expo but for now this is the only viable option. I enjoyed utilizing the chat room to answer questions but it would be nice if there were a better built in voice and video call system for hams to use to ask vendors questions.
I definitely had a big boost in sales because of the last expo. But with this next one charging a fee to attendees I’m on the fence as to if I will buy a booth again. I think there should be a free pass that lets hams explore the expo vendor hall and the $10 bucks should be dropped to $5 and that gets you access to all the other content.
73!
James Hannibal – KH2SR
QuirkyQRP Ham Radios
Good afternoon James and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, it’s great to get the inside scoop from a vendor. Now that a charge is being implemented I’m wondering if any other vendors are thinking along your line. I am also wanting to see if the attendance will be less from last year?
73 and thanks for the comment,
Mike
VE9KK
KC2HLA and I attended together. while I didn’t understand the content of all the talks I attended, those I did understand gave me material to mull. We will certainly attend and invest the $19.
Oops, that should have been $10.
We will also be attending Ham Radio University next Saturday, January 9.
Good morning Eric and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, yes as you know I too attended last year but very part-time. This year after mulling it over I do believe I am going to fork out the money to see how this year has improved over last year. I forgot all about the upcoming Ham University I will this evening have to get on the PC and look it up.
Thanks and stay safe Eric,
73,
Mike
VE9KK
I applaud the online expo concept in the pandemic environment and for those otherwise unable to attend a convention in person. I enjoyed last year’s expo for free and presume that the vendors paid the cost the ‘venue’. Some of the presentations were pretty good. That said, I was surprised by how few vendors were really there last year, and how many of those I’d expected were noticeably absent. I did not like the door prize system last year; it seemed to have been hacked by a few, demoralizing many in the process, hopefully that will be fixed that for this go round. As for paying this time, not sure yet and will mull it over closer to event. Certainly attending ‘in person’ expos comes at a cost both in terms of admission fees, travel and other costs far greater than the $10 being asked for. Nevertheless, if looking to increase overall attendance in order to appeal to more vendors, I tend to agree with James KH2SR comment that a ‘free’ exhibition hall would increase attendance for those vendors, and for those interested a $5 fee for the presentations. What you lose on initial sign ups, you might make up for in increased volume… I’m sure it’s a balancing act.
73 – and good luck,
Bud
AE6BH
Good afternoon Bud and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, I as of yet have paid my 10.00 and I think I will just see what the difference is between last year and this. I too noticed there were some absent vendors but as you say this year the price they are asking from us may offset things so more vendors will show up. Thanks again for your input Bud,
73
Mike
VE9KK