April 2005 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:12055] AES Superfest Report
by dick＠pobox.com 04 Apr '05

04 Apr '05

4 APR, 2005 - 1235 CDT Below, is an excerpt from the report generated by ARRL Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R. As usual, Bob did a very nice job at this event. My appearance helped with the membership sales effort, but Bob and Wisconsin SM Don Michalski, W9IXG did most of the work. Their presence enabled me to answer a lot more questions from the public. For the first time in my four plus years on the board, I received no complaints about ARRL action or non-action. BPL is still the number one issue and our license restructuring petition was number two. I only had one inquiry about our proposed bandwidth petition. 73 - Dick, W9GIG ======================================================================== <SNIP> Amateur Electronic Supply hosted their in-store SuperFest, April 1-2, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. AES national sales manager, Mike N9LBQ, said that the event brought comparable sales to last year (or maybe slightly more). He seemed very satisfied with the event. Working along with me at the ARRL exhibit was SM Don Michalski, Director Dick Isely, and OO Richard Polivka, N6NKO. We took 55 memberships. Dues and subscriptions totaled $2,422. The revenue was slightly higher than 2004, due in part to multi-year sign-ups. The new edition of the Repeater Directory proved to be a good premium offer. Visitors were friendly, and many offered nice words about ARRL and the work being done by our association. Director Isely presented the cover plaque for December 2004 QST to Wayne Long, K9YNF. Photos of this presentation and some other shots from our exhibit are attached. <SNIP>

1 0

[arrl-odv:12054] Re: Yachts, cruisers, and rowboats
by Dick Mondro 04 Apr '05

04 Apr '05

Tom, I'm not sure where you got the information on ARRL Membership of Winlink 2000 users but when I attended a forum in Melbourne FL last November to a packed auditorium, we asked how many were members and I was shocked to see that it was about 98 percent of the attendees. Dan Miller and I were prepared to sell League Membership to them but felt we were preaching to the choir. We did manage to enlist some new members though with the help of South Florida SM Sherry Brower and I feel we covered that two percent. I had a stronger feeling that these people knew about ARRL and were selling it to others in greater numbers than I have ever seen in any special interest group. The people writing are no different than any other special interest group. As we attend meetings, we ask people to let us know how they feel on issues and we have given them the opportunity to do so. Is that a bad thing? Asking for member input, as we have done, is a positive thing that gives them a feeling of being an important part of our organization. The problem now is that we are not supporting the WL2K effort in any positive way through information or education. The only information folks are getting is through misinformation and innuendo. If we are committed to supporting the future of digital communications for ARES(r) we must get the Winlink Management Team formed and working. It has been eleven weeks since the last BoD Meeting and very little progress has taken place. We need to be able to deal with the bandwidth issues to promote experimentation with digital modes and I am confident that we will do what needs to done. I'm sorry I disagree with your numbers, but they are wrong as I have seen it with my own eyes. 73, Dick Mondro, W8FQT -----Original Message----- From: Tom Frenaye [mailto:frenaye@pcnet.com] Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2005 7:10 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:12043] Yachts, cruisers, and rowboats The e-mail about wideband digital modes has been interesting in the last couple of weeks. I see the Winlink "managers" have called out the troops. I assume you've all seen at least a couple of them. The thing that strikes me most about the messages I've received is just how little they appear to know about ARRL and what is being considered, even though they were prompted with detailed info on what to comment on. A large majority are not ARRL members. Why not? Ham radio seems to be an important thing in their life. Getting licensed, then investing in the hardware and setting up and using an HF radio with Winlink isn't exactly plug and play. We've always thought that getting people on the air was an important step in getting people to a lifetime of ham radio - and that leads to ARRL memberships. Is it just that they can't easily get delivery of QST while "on the road"? What aren't they members? (Why don't they understand that membership gives them a real voice?) -- Tom ===== e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444 -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.1 - Release Date: 4/1/2005

1 0

[arrl-odv:12053] Re: Yachts, cruisers, and rowboats
by Joel Harrison 04 Apr '05

04 Apr '05

For the second time in as many weeks, I find myself agreeing with Dick. Scary, isn't it? 73 Joel W5ZN p.s. I'm not Dick's yes man......if Dick says NO, I say NO ! (hi) -----Original Message----- From: dick(a)pobox.com [mailto:dick@pobox.com] Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 11:59 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:12052] Re: Yachts, cruisers, and rowboats 4 APR, 2005 - 1155 CST While I do not subscribe to the "sky is falling" rhetoric of a very small group of my Central division constituents, I am very concerned about the following Winlink issues: 1. The real HF interference potential when a Winlink robot responds to a message from a human operator; 2. It appears most of the users seem to be using Winlink as an RF extension of the Internet for direct personal ham to non-ham, and non-ham to ham (without a control operator) use; 3. And the fact that Winlink is a proprietary (expensive) system that so far has not generated any alternative hardware/software for using this mode. I agree our draft petition to regulate sub-band usage by bandwidth does not specifically endorse Winlink. But proposing to allow increased data bandwidths in more HF spectrum in our petition effectively endorses Winlink since there is no competitive system. I do not consider this to be a wise move. Once the (unlicensed) camel has its nose in the tent, it will soon occupy most of the tent. I am still not convinced that Winlink will provide a super-enhancement to HF emergency communications. I also believe the business model of the Winlink developers is to mass-market this system to non-emergency communications users under the guise of providing a virtually fool-proof emergency communications system. I do not criticize the profit motive. But I do criticize the promoting this system to the ARRL board under what looks like false pretenses. - Dick, W9GIG

1 0

[arrl-odv:12052] Re: Yachts, cruisers, and rowboats
by dick＠pobox.com 04 Apr '05

04 Apr '05

4 APR, 2005 - 1155 CST While I do not subscribe to the "sky is falling" rhetoric of a very small group of my Central division constituents, I am very concerned about the following Winlink issues: 1. The real HF interference potential when a Winlink robot responds to a message from a human operator; 2. It appears most of the users seem to be using Winlink as an RF extension of the Internet for direct personal ham to non-ham, and non-ham to ham (without a control operator) use; 3. And the fact that Winlink is a proprietary (expensive) system that so far has not generated any alternative hardware/software for using this mode. I agree our draft petition to regulate sub-band usage by bandwidth does not specifically endorse Winlink. But proposing to allow increased data bandwidths in more HF spectrum in our petition effectively endorses Winlink since there is no competitive system. I do not consider this to be a wise move. Once the (unlicensed) camel has its nose in the tent, it will soon occupy most of the tent. I am still not convinced that Winlink will provide a super-enhancement to HF emergency communications. I also believe the business model of the Winlink developers is to mass-market this system to non-emergency communications users under the guise of providing a virtually fool-proof emergency communications system. I do not criticize the profit motive. But I do criticize the promoting this system to the ARRL board under what looks like false pretenses. - Dick, W9GIG

1 0

[arrl-odv:12051] Re: Yachts, cruisers, and rowboats
by Kay Craigie 04 Apr '05

04 Apr '05

X-GANYMEDE-MailScanner-SpamScos X-MailScanner-From: n3kn(a)comcast.net Return-Path: n3kn(a)comcast.net X-OriginalArrivalTime: 04 Apr 2005 16:26:58.0733 (UTC) FILETIME=[1FAACDD0:01C53933] At the Maryland State Convention, Al Nollmyer W3YVQ, a member of the ARESCOM group who lives in the Atlantic Division gave a lengthy presentation on Winlink and ARES. In the presentation he offered the opinion that in a major emergency there would not be enough HF bandwidth available to handle all the messages being generated under the Board's bandwidth proposal. I am not here to defend his opinion about sufficiency of bandwidth but simply to relay it to you. It deserves thoughtful consideration because it comes from a member with deep experience in ARES/NTS/RACES -- and he's not a True Believer from the Winlink community. Al could not care less about recreational boating. He lives, eats, and breathes emergency communications. On the other hand, I have said privately to another person involved with the ARES & Winlink project that some of the Winlink devotees need to lighten up in their approach to the Board. People who are not crackpots, I said, do well not to act like crackpots if they want to win over the hearts and minds of the Directors. I am having no success in recalling the names of any Directors who've responded real well to badgering. Bottom line: If we want to discount the spammish input from the recreational boater hams who don't seem to be ARRL members and who just use Winlink for personal safety at sea, fine. But let's make sure we do not also dismiss input from our own committee volunteers who are ARRL members and who have relevant experience in emergency communications. Although in the end the Board may decide not to adopt their ideas, we must have put them on the committee because we believe they know what they're talking about. 73 - Kay N3KN

1 0

[arrl-odv:12050] Re: Yachts, cruisers, and rowboats
by Frank Fallon - N2FF 04 Apr '05

04 Apr '05

Guys, While I never mind hearing from members on any subject, I have a real problem spending time with a non-member who is vociferously trying to convince me to think or vote a particular way on a ham issue. Once I find out that the individual is NOT a member my ears start to turn off and I let him know that. I really do not believe that I should allow a long time non member to try to influence my vote on any issue. I think it's a bad practice. I don't want members thinking that such an individual has as much influence over issues as a member. I think we actually want to send the opposite message to our members. It's really not fair to those who paid their dues. In my mind it diminishes the value of membership. If some guy can get all wound up on an issue it's going to cost him at least $39 to get my ear. As far as I'm concerned, if you are not a member you really don't have input into any policy decisions ARRL makes. My two cents. Frank.....N2FF....

1 0

[arrl-odv:12049] Re: Yachts, cruisers, and rowboats
by Tom Frenaye 04 Apr '05

04 Apr '05

At 10:53 PM 4/3/2005, you wrote: >This may not be the "in thing" to do, but during nearly each time I >speak to a group of hams I comment on membership in ARRL. Included in >my remarks on this subject is a very brief, frank and >non-confrontational statement that I value the input of MEMBERS on >issues of note to them. I add that I review comments from anyone, but >that it Is MEMBER input that carries the greatest significance for me. >I note this position should come as no surprise to nonmembers inasmuch >as one would not expect the Shrine to routinely pay much attention to >non-members, the Knights of Columbus to non-members, the Kiwanis, etc., etc. I get a good response at clubs also. I'm just trying to lay the groundwork for a trip to visit all of my potential new constituents in various Caribbean ports of call. I'll at least volunteer to carry Rod Stafford's baggage to one of his Region II meetings... Dave Patten tells me he's answered about 250 recent e-mails from Winlink users on behalf of the Board. Only about 10% are members (but they would all be General licensees). I guess the Winlink users are really just using it for a personal Internet e-mail connection. Most of them don't get on the air to talk to people, just to the mailbox. Pretty commercial sounding. If they have more frequencies to operate on, I'm sure they'll use it. Lots of machine-to-mailbox QSOs. That prospect doesn't make me want to relax the subband restrictions for semi-automatic operation very much. -- Tom ===== e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444

1 0

[arrl-odv:12048] Re: Dayton Donor Reception
by Hobart, Mary K1MMH 04 Apr '05

04 Apr '05

Hi Rod, I'm sorry you won't arrive in time to join us. That just means I owe your some liquid refreshement at another tim, right? 73, Mary K1MMH -----Original Message----- From: Stafford, Rodney (Int'l Vice President) Sent: Sat 4/2/2005 12:46 AM To: arrl-odv Cc: Subject: [arrl-odv:12036] Re: Dayton Donor Reception Mary -- I will be attending Dayton but I will be arriving late in the evening on Thursday and not available to attend the donor event earlier that evening. 73, Rod Stafford At 05:44 AM 4/1/2005, you wrote: >Good morning! > >I hope that all of you who are attending Hamvention this year will be able >to join us for the Donor Reception honoring Tony England on Thursday, May >19 at 6:30 pm. To help with our planning, I hope you will let us know if >you are attending and who your guest will be, and if you will be riding on >the bus with us from the Marriott to Wright State University. > >Thank you and 73, > >Mary K1MMH

1 0

[arrl-odv:12047] Re: Dayton Donor Reception
by Hobart, Mary K1MMH 04 Apr '05

04 Apr '05

Great, Greg. We look forward to seeing you there! 73, Mary K1MMH -----Original Message----- From: Milnes, Greg (Dir, NW) Sent: Fri 4/1/2005 9:12 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: Subject: [arrl-odv:12032] Re: Dayton Donor Reception Thank you Mary I will be attending and riding on the bus to and from Wright State. 73/Greg W7OZ

1 0

[arrl-odv:12046] Re: Dayton
by Hobart, Mary K1MMH 04 Apr '05

04 Apr '05

Hi Rev, I hope you'll kick off your first visit to Hamvention with attendance at our annual Donor Reception on Thursday evening. Please let us know...and especially if you'll travel to the party on the bus. See you there! 73, Mary K!MMH -----Original Message----- From: Morton, Warren G,WS7W ( Dir, RM) Sent: Sat 4/2/2005 11:52 AM To: arrl-odv Cc: Subject: [arrl-odv:12038] Re: Dayton I will be there for my very first Dayton. So TRY and be nice to me. Rev WS7W On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 21:25:33 -0800 "R. B. Vallio" <w6rgg(a)sbcglobal.net> wrote: > I'll be there... > > >

1 0