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Squelch rampages!
At the Times Columnist 10k in Victoria BC April 2023

Squelch is ready!
Sunday April 30th, at 8am about 6,000 runners start out in waves from the start line of the Times Columnist 10k run in Victoria BC. The Legislature lawn was full of brightly coloured runners who had no idea a dinosaur was approaching. Squelch is waiting at the first turn in the run, cheering everyone on, dancing in eager anticipation. Squelch has a plan to sneak along behind the last runners and walkers to enjoy a 10k rampage through the city. Slow runners are easy pickings for hungry Velociraptors.
	The radio brief involved providing communication at the tail end of the run, eyes on the ground and an APRS tracking point. Hiding radio equipment inside an inflatable dinosaur costume does not offer much space for antenna, so I kept the rubber duck on my HT (which I had tested with moderate success on the route, by bicycle, a few weeks before the event) I also had to carry quite a few extra batteries, for my phone, radio and to keep Squelch inflated all morning. All packed in my vest, I carried about five pounds of equipment, about 4 of which was batteries.
With the exception of the speaker microphone emerging from the air seal at the wrist, the radio equipment was mostly invisible. Which is to say I had to carry all the equipment to leave Squelch free to be a dinosaur. So Squelch was free to frolic, dance, erm, rampage, get selfies with strangers, scare dogs, and make children go wide eyed then squeal with delight.	Thanking volunteers was also a fun thing Squelch got to do
	The radio aspects were not as successful as I had hoped, APRS that worked well in testing was considerably worse on event day (some local equipment has gone offline, amongst other problems) and I missed some calls by voice... That was very disappointing, since I was particularly looking forward to answering to the tactical call sign 'Dinosaur'!
But that's how I discovered that the police radios were also carrying traffic about the rampaging dinosaur, relaying Squelch sightings to the radio operators posted on the route.
Other radio operators weren't entirely safe from the rampaging Velociraptor...

So the radio aspect can be improved upon, but I can not imagine how Squelch could do any better. Kids were delighted, adults were entertained, loads of people asked for selfies with Squelch. Dogs, unfortunately, were often upset by Squelch, and I did feel badly about that. Squelch rampaged happily all morning, after a breakfast of an EMS crew person and a radio operator or two, Squelch finished off with some children.
	I stopped for a moment, enjoying the fresh breeze off the ocean, and savouring the experience of impersonating a late Cretaceous period dinosaur while making radio... Then I scampered off in pursuit a delighted toddler! Squelch went a total of 13.4 km, with a finish time several hours slower than the lead runner, who did not stop to eat bystanders, or pose for photos. Squelch did end up with some tail chaffing 'road rash' from dragging their tail along the road, but recovered in time for the Salt Spring Island Fall Fair! Andrea, and Squelch Photo Credits: VE7PLI, VE7IRR, VE7PYX, VE7EPX
APRS: This year I tested my APRS equipment a few weeks before the event, by bicycle (not by dinosaur) with another radio operator volunteering at the event, David VE7EPX and while his equipment seemed to work slightly better than mine, we both made good clear tracks in testing, but our performance in the event was hampered by a local digipeater going offline.
Testing, VA7ALG on April 13th APRS via APRSDroid phone app
Testing, VA7ALG on April 13th APRS via Yaesu FT3D Radio
Testing, VE7EPX on April 13th APRS via Anytone radio
Event Day APRS radio track of VA7ALG (Squelch)
VIDEO: Need more Squelch? Here's their video! Hint: the closed captions are very funny... Thanks to SkyTech Photo: https://www.skytechphoto.ca