 Welcome to the RF elements unlicensed podcast. I'm Caleb now or and this is Tossos Alex you what's going on buddy What's happening everybody? How are you? How are you? Oh man? Good So we we've managed to survive yet another year in Vegas at whistlepalooza. So absolutely. I'm tired I don't know if it shows and maybe get some bags into my eyes or something But you know, I spent a few extra days there as well My wife flew in on Thursday evening after the event so I stayed till Sunday and whoo. That was tough It was definitely tough. Yeah, it was a long week I'm gonna use this as excuse for the bags under my eyes for at least the next few weeks So didn't didn't go hard as it would have sometimes gone, but it still went pretty hard. So yeah I'm glad to be back. So we had a really great show I thought what we do this week is talk a bit about our experience kind of give a recap of what happened But before we do that give the audience the call-to-action Tossos Absolutely, don't forget to like listen or subscribe to our podcast on YouTube or anywhere else you download your audio podcast like Google Spotify and Apple Alright, alright, so the show most things went really really well with it We did have a couple little bombers. I figure we get the bombers out of the way Then we'll talk about all the cool stuff that happened. So The first one was the travel. So luckily I got in okay, I flew in on Sunday American flight out of Charlotte Got there. No problem. I'm like, alright, everyone's gonna be here when I get here. That's gonna be great, but unfortunately Didn't work out that way do it. Nope not at all It did not I mean I was I was I would say you were the most fortunate because you made it, right? I was more fortunate than others But yeah, it was terrible, especially with Southwest canceled so many flights and Yeah, I knew it the night before I was like damn it. I'm gonna get caught up in this I woke up early in the morning to get my early flight out and sure enough as soon as I checked canceled Southwest allowed me to rebook my flight, which I did for like an 8 p.m. Flight that night Which was you know more than sufficient because it was Sunday We really don't have to be there till about noon on Monday, but somehow I knew I had a feeling that you know This is probably too good to be true. I was like what if what if I get there at 8 p.m. And then they cancel it now I'm struggling to get there on Monday. So yeah, I went on Expedia I found the the cheapest flight I can find not on Southwest, which by the way much love for Southwest Still but I found a flight So I bought a second ticket with American Airlines to leave at pretty much like 20 minutes before my Southwest flight And I was at the airport and I was considering I'm like well shit, you know, it still says Southwest is on time Maybe I should just take you know my original flight good thing I didn't because I took the American Airlines direct flight as soon as I landed in Vegas and took airplane mode off Here come the notifications, you know flight delayed flight delayed with Southwest So I don't know if those people ever made it out, but I made it and all things are good now. I think Yeah, I was we had already finished dinner hanging out and you're like, hey I'm finally here. I'm like come on down. You're like no, no, I'm done. I'll see you in the morning So probably good decision, but yeah, I was made for a long day So now flying back is kind of a different story for me because we take off Friday morning. Everything's cool We're a little late. They're like, oh, it's maintenance tickets, but yeah, they're closed out now So we finally go about an hour in the flight the pilot comes on. He's like, yeah We got some check engine lights on one of the engines I'm sure it's not a big deal, but we might be making some changes a few minutes later He's like, yeah, we're going to Dallas and I'm like, but I don't want to go to Dallas But I didn't have a vote in this. So We get a Dallas we land We get to the gate. They won't open the door. They're like, well, we might reuse this plane We might fix it. We might let some people off. We're not really sure, right? Okay, sit there 20 30 minutes That comes on he's like, yeah This plane is broken. So Everybody off we're gonna get you a new plane. We finally and they shuffled us around whatever else So it went now on a couple hours. We hung out So got home a few hours late about 11 o'clock, but could have been a lot worse So that's my first diversion because of a broken plane. So that was really cool Definitely, I mean my my flight back was uneventful whatsoever I was just an absolute genius and deciding to book like the 730 a.m. Flight I wasn't think I probably saw 730 p.m. Who knows it was 730 a.m. So I woke up at like 430 right to get to the airport by 5 Thank God I did because the line was like all the way around the corner outside the door Luckily TSA pre so like I got on that line at first and I'm like, is there TSA pre no like it's all the way The other way so I ended up zooming through. I was there two hours early So this you know, despite just being exhausted from a week in Vegas I made it home direct no issues. No check engine lights. No baggage loss Nothing right to my car right to my bed and cuddled my puppies man I was I was happy I was happy to get my see my dogs again and the kids. Yeah, yeah for sure So that was a crazy thing like we got to I'm like Friday morning 11 o'clock fly is gonna be packed to get there about nine I was 15 minutes from walking in the door to being at the gate. I'm like, man, this is awesome We're gonna get home so easy. I was feeling good. I got some sleep night before I'm like couldn't be easier and I was wrong, but So anyway, it's not a big deal now the real bomber unfortunately it was some little logistics and shipping stuff in so Terrible we're we're spread out the the US folks are spread across the country and then of course young or based in Slovakia and that's where they send most of the marking material So our things like shirts and you know all the new stuff and everything else So we're like, all right, we ship everything like we've done every year piece of cake We had like two weeks to get your shirts and stuff here. They got stuck in customs got stuck I mean for two weeks. They got stuck in customs in LA Never could move it and that really sucks because that's what a lot of people are for we have this super cool Ultra horn shirts that we're so excited about so absolutely and of course, you know supposed to be to debut, right? Exactly, everyone's like man. I want one of those shirts. I'm like, well get into we got a whole lot coming They're gonna be here like Tuesday. They're gonna be here Wednesday. So we tear down the booth We get done tearing down the booth about 6 15. No five minutes out the door. I get notification. It's like it's cleared customs Yeah, yeah, y'all really coming through the other 15 shipments not a problem the one people actually cared about so Yeah, that was lame, but we're not gonna focus on the bombers. Let's talk about all the cool stuff Which is definitely, you know, the the majority of what was happening. So we had a great show as always I guess the biggest news for us winning product of the year for the asymmetrical horns for the third year in a row My precious is right here hold on 2021 product of the year is three years in a row. This is fantastic I can't even begin to tell everybody again how proud I am of the company how hard we worked and how thankful thankful we are For everybody in the wisp industry that continues to support us and vote for us I actually have all three and I kind of sleep with these things underneath my pillows at night and stuff like that Maybe that's why your back is jacked up Yeah, it's that lump on my pillow The awards stabbing me in the neck and no honestly for all you guys out there much love. Thank you so much We love you guys we work hard seriously for you guys for the industry We try and do what's best even if it's you know some some tough medicine you have to take sometimes We have to do what we have to do in order to be at the top and we're getting there we're definitely getting there and it's an amazing feeling and Y'all should be proud too because you guys are you know doing what's right for this industry and working hard and Showing that you know with a little grit and some effort man. The sky is the limit everybody. Love you seriously. Thank you Yeah, thanks so much. We definitely couldn't do it that you guys and can do what we're doing right now with that you guys so True another yet another shout out to the folks back in Slovakia I mean, you know, it's real easy for a process and the rest of us to slide up our own stage. We're like, yeah, we roll I've been here. I've been here like six months. I'm like, yeah, you know, it's just what we do, right? But everyone back at HQ. I mean, you know, you guys made this happen. So thanks. I say it all the time I mean they honestly our Extremely talented designers and engineers. They are the heroes that don't wear capes Honestly, they are the ones behind the scenes, you know, they they see me the face they see you the foyer face and They think but we have an army an army of talent and not just engineers and designers logistics people right administrative people Everybody we really can't do it without the entire team coming together. You and I Caleb I mean, we get the easy part of thing, you know, these guys work hard make a fantastic product and we're up front Receiving all the praise. So yeah, definitely team Slovak 100% 100% so of course nobody from that team could get here this year because the travel restrictions and stuff another looks like Yeah, another bomber, but it looks like that's about to live So you'll get to meet hopefully a bunch of these cats in New Orleans for Whisp America in March Definitely, I'm looking forward to that some more. Hmm. Yum. Yum's good food That was another thing, you know, Vegas is always a cool town, but you know, it's funny or the older you're getting used to be like We're just the biggest party and now we're like, what's the best meal we can find? So How early can I escape and go to bed and nobody'll notice? Yeah, we're like you want the 930 reservation or the 630 reservation. We're like, oh 630, please But the food's great, you know, it always is so I know we're looking forward to that New Orleans as well That's another eater's town and we will definitely get it done then for sure. So the show itself You know, I think went really really well, especially for being yeah We did Whisp American Dallas and that was a big show But the Vegas show is just so much more involved, you know We were talking about the venue and the unions and you know the shipping and all this other stuff And I think the show came together really well Yeah Again, like I said, I really can't say enough about the again the entire team, right? So so people again just like us they see you and me, right? So they think whisper is Claude, you know And and those guys that are like kind of the face of whisper that I see up front But man, there's an army an army of hard-working individuals behind the scenes that are doing all the work the contract Negotiations the food preparation stuff to make sure that we have enough food and drink to feed people and just you know Making sure that it really goes off without a hitch and and I'll tell you I mean it was absolutely smooth There was really zero problems. Everything went off timing was right You know, no rooms were double booked or anything like this. I mean they did a fantastic job once again So Bravo to our friends at whisper and we look forward to the same the same type of event at the same caliber in Nola in March For sure for sure. I like the flow was really good Like you said the meals were good like everything just move the way it should have as we would expect So that was really good Attendance was good, you know, not as high as some folks at home But realistically considering the state of where everything is right now I think we had really really good intent is not from you know from the staff But also you know all the other exhibitors and stuff, you know, there were a crowd of folks there I think we were 17 2017 50 and 1800 which is a really strong count for where we are right now. So yeah again I think 2019 was like 500 people so in 2020 when it got cancelled because of COVID we were expecting to see, you know 3000 people, right? So I would have assumed that you know, this one would have been at around that same level Maybe slightly more maybe, you know, slightly less But yeah, again with a lot of the travel restrictions and uncertainty and stuff like that I mean even a lot of whisper or having a hard time finding employees to work, right? So a lot of people who would have had backup, you know, and they could have came Had to stay behind and run their wisp. So I mean bravo to you guys too. You got to do what you got to do There's always, you know, whisper America next year whisper Palooza as well I am excited to say that for the second time in a row, you know, whisper America and now whisper Palooza We had a showing from somebody from Rhode Island. So we had our Rhode Island whisk So we still got all 50 states at least at least we got representation from every state again And that was cool to see so I'm excited about that as well That's very cool. Very cool. So Puerto Rico is huge too. Did you notice how many people showed up wisp from Puerto Rico? Some really really big teams, you know, we saw our Geno which we we see quite often Ivan from most net came out as well with his team It was great seeing his face again. I mean a bunch of wisps from basically the Caribbean area, right? I think there were some people from Virgin Islands as well and stuff like that So that was again really cool to see Yeah, there are a few more a few more countries and you know other regions I wouldn't necessarily expecting so Mexico had a strong contingency. Yeah, one's Canadians and stuff You know folks that could get into the country. So yeah, basically anybody who could travel made it, right? So again, 1700 is a really strong number I think considering all the obstacles that we've had so Yeah, um, we talked to a whole ton of folks at the booth So it's kind of we did the scan thing just to see how many people we talked to and I don't think we got everybody You know Our best efforts, but you know, it's just hard to do but you know, that was really cool seeing the numbers Um and getting to see like names were like, you know, I'm looking through the list I'm like, oh those guys were there, but I couldn't talk to them. I wonder why I'm like Oh, because you know, there were four or six of us. Excuse me. They were talking constantly, you know During the main hours and stuff. So yeah, can our sales guy lost his voice on day one, you know Man down, you know poor guy. We're like, oh, he's just got a little dry voice You know Vegas or whatever will come back. Uh, yeah, it's not back yet. So we may have broken Ken. So Oops Not our fault. Yeah It's why here's this is nothing had nothing to do with what we were doing. So But no, the attendance at the booth was really good. It has some really cool conversations again You know getting to meet, you know, folks we've known for a long time Getting to meet a lot of folks that we've talked to on calls and stuff You know, we picked up a lot of new customers over the last, you know Since we've had one of these shows for sure and getting to put faces to those names You know, as always is a really good experience. But I think especially so now and this year that was really cool We had our product launch too, right? So we had a lot of new items that we brought to market So we did a virtual product launch, you know, eight months ago or something like that So it was really cool to see people's faces and to get their real reactions and feedback most importantly on The changes that we've made to some of our existing products and in the new products for bringing out like larger array sectors We finally have a CBRS sector, which is pretty pretty kick-ass and we're excited to see that stuff come out So that that was really good because really it's that feedback we get from the user base is how we, you know Build products that are just outstanding and get better, you know, year after year So that was really really good to have that interaction Yeah, that was a fun part you put all this work into it. I'm like, hey, we made a new thing You guys want this thing, right? Like this is cool. Okay. Yeah, all right so Definitely some sort of unique touches on stuff here CBRS sector with the new port Doors and stuff. I think that's really slick a lot of interest in the new two for the higher gain sector The new asymmetrical 45 starter horn. I think that one's going to be a beast That's kick-ass for its size and the gain is just really fantastic and it and of course the the cost, right? It's a definitely an entry level 45 degree asymmetrical starter horn It's going to be fantastic when that thing comes out Definitely is so share the new tweaks to the 60 and 90 asymmetrical with the chassis change and stuff So got a really good feedback on that plus the stuff that you know that we launched last time people hadn't really seen yet You know, everyone's been so busy this year. It's been hard to catch up So, you know, the starter dishes had a lot of really good conversation about the starter dishes some different applications Whether using the isos or the mimosas and stuff like that with the native wave guy So I had a ton of really good conversations about that Especially as people are seeing the need more and more to have this higher gain and quality antennas at the cpe side Get those higher snr's and push those higher modulation raisin stuff. So That was super cool. What else we had? Oh the taco truck Tossos tacos. Yeah, the tossos tacos the tossos truck taco tacos. Yeah Yeah So, uh, I think a lot of folks got a big kick out of that So that was for those that didn't see it or didn't see the pictures, you know We've got this cardboard cut out of a taco truck and it was mainly for new whisk users or you know, you're getting started You know, I'm frustrated. Yeah, maybe I should just do the taco truck, which is this long-running sort of Uh, joke that's been going on social media and stuff So we had a little fun with it take a lot of pictures But it was mainly to say hey new folks like you can do this It's going to be okay And here's a way that you can start out doing a smarter, you know as you go so A lot of really good feedback from that Uh, plus it's just kind of cool to have something different. So now we're already plotting out next year. What we're gonna do So we might have to have a little more Might have a few more of our late night friday sessions to do some more Hard thinking to come up with some more ideas. So we'll see Yeah, yeah Let's see. What else we do. It was cool. Oh the session, you know I Bitched and moaned about that session being at 9 15 the whole time until finally ken explained to me He's like no, it's not. I hate you. It's just the best attended sessions. I'm like, okay. Well, if you don't open with that I'd have been a way less fussy about this whole thing, dude. So yeah, but the the session went really well We had like 60 some odd folks in there The folks were engaged Answered questions. So at 9 15 in the morning in vegas to have that sort of engagement and question and back in a worth conversation I was more than tickled man. So that was that was super cool I really can't complain about that either and you can only imagine What it possibly would have been if we had full attendance at the show as well, right? So that's another thing that we kind of judge, you know, how how things are growing and I remember our First session ever, you know, our first vendor presentation that we did, you know, six years ago or something like that and that, you know, it was You know, terribly under attended, you know and and just to see it grow, you know, year after year is just Just fantastic. So that was it was good. It was good information good updates And again another really great reason for people to come and join whisper and attend these shows because There's a lot of information that you get directly fed and you know It's really again not about getting information because you could always go to a company's website and try and get, you know All the updates and stuff But where else can you just sit down with the manufacturer and just beat up on them and let them know? Hey, this is what we need. This is what we want and this is why Something isn't working and you know, of course, this is what you're doing great, right? Because there's no better motivation than, you know, some praise from your user base and stuff like that So it's really important, you know, if you you know, if you're going to sit back and complain About everything that isn't right and really not do something to get involved and be part of the change you want to see Well, then, you know, there's nothing we can do about that But definitely whisper is Is the place to be for a lot of this stuff and and making change For sure for sure a hundred percent. So And I think all those sessions went well like the feedback from everyone I talked to was really good So just more of the good things and we're gonna keep on cranking. So like we said new orleans They announced it's going to be new orleans for whisper america march like 14th to 17th something like that. So That'll be a fun one. Um But yeah, so it was it was great. Um, happy to be there. Happy to go back. I'm happy to be home in the inter I think I I think I slept to like like noon or one o'clock on on monday So I was a little late coming into the office, you know With with occasional kind of wake up on skype and kind of answer like I was working But now I was I was dead man. I was dead Yeah, I feel you so oh and the last thing that the paris paris worked out really well I did like not having to walk eight miles between the exhibit area to the room So it was pretty short hikes there. That's always a really awesome thing too Yeah, my feet were thankful for that for sure very much very much. So Well, we got a lot to catch up on so not to try to cut anybody short here But you know, we have a lot going on. We still have a lot going on We have a lot of things we got to get back to folks on so I think we're gonna wrap it a little bit early this time In the meantime though, if you guys have any questions reach out to us Oh, thanks to everyone by the way who was like, hey guys, we'll listen to the podcast and it's awesome Like I was surprised how many folks were like, oh, hey, he's here from the podcast. I'm like, hey, dude I have no idea who you are awesome So Yeah, we're super pumped We got a lot of energy coming back from the show to do this. So again, you know, we've got a lot of plans But in the meantime You guys have any questions or anything? Please reach out to us You can find us on all of our social media channels and the facebook groups Caleb at RF Elements comm tosses RF Elements comm Let's know what you want to hear. Let's know what you want to talk about and we'll get after it Yeah, and we definitely want to see you on our podcast, right? So if you're interested in being a guest if you're a wisp specifically, we want to talk to you If you're a hardware manufacturer, we want to talk to you too So here's your chance to kind of get on board join our podcast and kind of plug into what we have going on here So I hope to see you guys soon, you know, send us some direct messages and let us know if you want to get involved But I guess until next time stay horny everybody Stay horny all