The Good and Bad and Other of Oshkosh 2014

[1600vw]

Sorry Tony, I don't believe for one moment that the masses come or don't come to Oshkosh based on the quality of the wifi service. I believe they come because, like me, they want to see what GA has to offer and see and talk about the planes.

As far as attracting new blood, the overwhelming grounds will take care of that. And when the kids discover that all those devices they carry around and are addicted to, can actually be functionally used and adapted to aviation, they'll be even more intrigued and possibly hooked.

To say, "if you think this is bad now, just wait", is fear mongering with no basis in fact. If you want something to be really worried about, be worried about whether we'll have sufficient supplies of avgas in the future.

You know you are right. Oshkosh is full of kids and young adults. I stand corrected. You are also right that technology is not going anywhere, we have seen all there is to see, I stand corrected on that too.

If stating you have not seen nothing yet is fear mongering not sure what to say about that, for I am speaking of technology. If this frightens you, I would stay away from everything in the future for its going to get worse.

Tony

[wyoranch]

In my case, I am occasionally a critical cog in the big organization that writes my paycheck. If/when the poop hits the fan, I need decent connectivity. I may only need it for 10 minutes at a time, but I do need it. I bet there are thousands at Osh who have the same need.

This year, I was at the show by early Saturday afternoon. Even with the limited number of people on the field at that time, EAA wifi was a no-go. Just pitiful. Either get it right or forget it. Instead, it is like Charlie Brown, Lucy, and the football. Every year, I'm promised a different result, but every year the wifi is a bust.

I am also one of those people who is 'critical' to my companies operation should an emergency arrive. I am MORE than willing to take the chance that WIFI will not be available and MAY have to head over to McDonalds or Starbucks to correct an issue. Yes it would be terribly inconvienent and turn a 10 minute fix into an hour, but I would get that excited feeling twice in one day when I enter the grounds. :-) For me Osh is a vacation and I treat it as such, the bare minimum contact with the outside world. My cell/texting worked flawlessly.

[FlyingRon]

I had different experiences with Cell data. It only worked marginally better than the EAA WIFI at times. Some people actually do have to maintain contact. Even as a self-employed person, I can't go incommunicado for two weeks. Fortunately, the cell data only craps out on the busier days.

Camping in the middle of the field with no car, doesn't open up a whole lot of options to get to an off-field WIFI. Fortunately, wandering up to show center worked the few times I needed to do that.

[L16 Pilot]

I have no problem with those who need these electronic gadgets but having worked in a school system (in addition to driving school bus for a number of years) it seems like the kids simply can't live without calling or texting someone they just left the school with about their latest teen crisis. What we're doing is building is an addiction. On another note: I help out at a local food bank. Yesterday while the folks were waiting to get (probably a dozen or so) I noticed at least half were playing with their 'smart phones'. It does seem to me that buying food for your family would be more important than having a smart phone that has a monthly fee.

[Bill Berson]

It does seem to me that buying food for your family would be more important than having a smart phone that has a monthly fee.

I don't have a smart phone with a monthly fee. My T-mobile is pay as needed and costs me about $10 per year for minutes because I only use it once per month, it costs $.30 per minute. For several years I went with no cell phone at all.
But they removed every pay phone at Airventure, so I had to get a cell phone.

Wifi is free, so why not use it?
I read that some cities now have free wifi across the whole city.

[L16 Pilot]

On the other hand, I guess it's like a GPS (speaking of electronic gadgets). I'd hate to fly without it although I still carry paper maps (just in case) and use my check points and watch. Time marches on....and on....and on.....

[FlyingRon]

Times change. Used to be people didn't need to be connected because NOBODY was connected. You still had people talking on the phone but rather than their cell they were huddled around payphones. Those who have been coming to Oskhosh for more than a few years remember the payphone stands (both permanent and temporary) that were heavily used before cellphones (and served as a defacto posting place for airplane for sale ads).

[CarlOrton]

Times change. Used to be people didn't need to be connected because NOBODY was connected. You still had people talking on the phone but rather than their cell they were huddled around payphones. Those who have been coming to Oskhosh for more than a few years remember the payphone stands (both permanent and temporary) that were heavily used before cellphones (and served as a defacto posting place for airplane for sale ads).

That was 'way before I started attending, so my comment is completely conjecture, but if those payphones were heavily used, I'll bet that there were more than a few folks who would snarl at the payphone users and comment something like, "Look at that - they have to be tied to the office and can't even enjoy the show! Why do they even bother to show up?"

[FlyingRon]

Why do they even bother to show up?"

Because it's better than not attending at all. Perhaps you have some Mickey Mouse job where you can disappear incommunicado for two weeks, but in order to get a job that pays well enough to allow me to own and operate an aircraft, I need to check in from time to time.

[Mayhemxpc]

That was 'way before I started attending, so my comment is completely conjecture, but if those payphones were heavily used, I'll bet that there were more than a few folks who would snarl at the payphone users and comment something like, "Look at that - they have to be tied to the office and can't even enjoy the show! Why do they even bother to show up?"

It really doesn't seem like it was all that long ago…I think there were still some phones in 2007. Maybe not. Anyway, I never called work. Did call my wife and Dad to let them know I was safe and, especially for my Dad -- who first took me to what was then the EAA Fly-in, what great things I saw.