Third IVS TOW (TOW2005)
Summary of participants' evaluation
Compiled by D. Behrend

Multiple "x"s indicate the number of people making the same comment.


1. Classes
==========
Best:  xxxxxx Experiment pre-checks and operations
       xxx all classes
       xx Mark 5 verification and use
       xx Phase cal basics
       xx Cryogenics
       x ANTABFS
       x Correlator operations
       x RFI
       x Timing systems
       x Early days of VLBI
       x all Mark 5 classes
       x all hands-on classes
       x Linux administration
       x Spectrum analyzer
       x CONT05 verification
Least: x S2 system
       x Mark 5 verification and use
       x Timing systems

2. Arrangements
===============
                   ++   +   0   -
Web registration    8   8   .   .
Hotel               2   9   5   .
Food                3   9   4   .
Transportation*     6   3   4   .
Class content       4  10   2   .
Notebooks           3  10   3   .
Class assignment    4   8   4   .
Other*              1   .   .   .

*  3 had rental car
** smaller number of participants

3. Overall
==========
Liked best:  xxxxxxx meeting people, exchange experience
             xxx comradery
             x learn about station operations
             x some classes were very good
             x full schedule with classes and meals
             x learned a lot about operations and theory
             x opportunity to explain own developments
Liked least: xx presenters need to use the mike in Meeting Room A
             x level of some classes too high
             x some classes tried to cover too much
             x some classes too fast to follow
             x handouts not punched for binder
             x American coffee
             x hotel

Wanted but was not offered in a class:
- general discussions about problems (recording, receiver, telescope)
- general overview class about "how VLBI works"
- design plan for Haystack dish refurbishment
- maser was cancelled, so maybe next time
- deeper introduction into Linux
- recovery from disk failures
- FS/Mark 5 maintenance
- e-VLBI
- Beppe's channel checker program
- label printing

Improvements for TOW2007:
- get a hotel closer to the meeting
- thinner notebooks with classes on CD instead of paper
- coffee in the afternoon and more water to drink
- add another 0.5-1 day enabling to attend all requested classes
- expect a Mark 5B class
- split classes into rookie and veteran levels
- video-taping of classes
- video/audio contributions
- keep doing the good work
- no improvements possible

4. Other comments
=================
- good class length and organization
- separate correlator theory and operations (too much for 1 lesson)
- more operations workshops and maintenance workshops
- notebooks should be available online before the workshop
- install web cam to show the progress of the Haystack rebuild
- Many thanks to everyone, particularly to Heidi who is always
  very helpful.
- Many thanks to Heidi for all the help.
- This was my first TOW. It was even more valuable than expected.
- maybe worthwhile to add a short presentation of each station with
  basic information, special issues, and problems.