Overview

Hosstraders is a big hamfest (amature radio festival) and "flea market for geeks". It is help twice a year at the Hopkinton Fair grounds. See HosstradersAnnouncement for more info. Linux and ham radio go together very well. See HamRadio for why.

GNHLUG tries to have a booth at Hosstraders and do the Linux evangelism thing. We spead the word about Linux in general and GNHLUG in particular. We also have CDs/DVDs with recent Linux software (generally burned to order), which we sell for a buck per disc.

BenScott and MadDog are the current major coordinators for this, but quite a few others help out, and the help is needed. Just manning the booth and answering questions helps a lot. In the past, EdLawson has sometimes managed to bring a Linux-based ham demo, which really rocked.

People

Present and past volunteers include:

• BenScott - Event coordinator
• MadDog - Event coordinator
• EdLawson - Live Ham radio demo
• RobLembree
• PaulLussier
• MikeLedoux
• RobertAnderson
• BayardCoolidge

Wishlist

Ideas for Future Improvements

• More Ham radio demos and knowledge
• A custom CD (bootable or otherwise) with radio-related software on it
  • Does this mean "custom with GNHLUG info" or what? Harv's Hamshack Hack is already a bootable, radio-centric Linux distro. -- BenScott - 20 Sep 2006

Checklist

Pre-show

• Announcements
• Reserve booth
• Table rental for the booth
• Sign-up warm bodies to man the booth
• Make signs, banners, flyers, etc.
• Download Linux distro disc images
• Gather "Information" (see below)

Information

This information should be saved to hard drive for offline access while at the event, and/or printed out so we have hard copy. Preferrably both.

• GNHLUG
  • Regular meetings
  • Upcoming events
  • Recent events
• Other area LUGs
• http://radio.linux.org.au

Equipment

• Computers with CD recorders
• UPS
• Power cords and strips
• Ethernet cables and hub

Supplies

• Blank discs
• Disc sleves
• Markers
• Rubber bands
• Masking tape
• Index cards

Collateral

• GNHLUG signs/banners
• GNHLUG flyers (many copies, for distribution)
• GNHLUG "business cards"
• Signs with list of distros/archs and "burned to order" w/ price

Other

• Fans and/or space heaters (depending on weather)
• Umbrella (it always rains)
• Folding chairs
• Extra folding table(s)?
• Small spotlights?