October 2019 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:28872] CalFire - The Real Fires
by N5AUS 11 Oct '19

11 Oct '19

Marty and Clara Woll were just placed on mandatory evacuation due to the California fires. Say a prayer, sacrifice a goat or make a good wish the fire misses their home. 73 JRS N5AUS Sent from my iPad

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[arrl-odv:28868] Re: update on the Repeater Directory
by rjairam＠gmail.com 11 Oct '19

11 Oct '19

Then in that case it will always be inaccurate as many uncoordinated repeaters are going up now and many of these are widely used. What burns me about the current coordination system is that someone can apply for a pair only to be turned down while one of their friends gets 3 and 4 pairs easily for linked repeaters. So some people just give up and don’t bother with coordinators. There may be good coordinators but some are rife with corruption and politics. Clean that up and coordinators will be a reliable source once more since people will be encouraged to use them rather than just go rogue. There must be a clear, transparent, non-bureaucratic process with clearly defined standards of fairness and no preferential treatment for friends and family. Additionally some coordinators appear to be inactive. Metrocor hasn’t updated their website since 2012 and they only take coordination requests via snail mail. I’m not defending RFFinder in any way but the coordination system is clearly broken. RIa N2RJ On Fri, Oct 11, 2019 at 8:34 AM Greg Sarratt <gsarratt(a)att.net> wrote: > Sounds like we are going back to the way it was before rf finder (when the > process worked well and we had accurate listings and it was a trusted book) > except rf finder is still in the loop. > > Southeastern repeater coordinators and repeater owners will not work with > rf finder because, rf finder will not protect repeater coordinates, > reconginse established coordination groups and compensate for the > information. > > Many site owners have requirements and agreements with repeater owners to > not publish coordinates. > > Two coordinators told me they were told by rf finder. If you dont give us > your data we will steal it. > > Many hams tell me they stopped buying the repeater directory. > > Crowd sourcing for repeaters doesn't work. People are inventing pairs, > taking over pairs, etc.. > > I think the solution is to go back to the way we use to do it without rf > finder. > > 73, > Greg, W4OZK > > > -------- Original message -------- > From: John Robert Stratton <N5AUS(a)n5aus.com> > Date: 10/10/19 12:26 PM (GMT-06:00) > To: arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org > Subject: [arrl-odv:28859] Re: update on the Repeater Directory > > None of the Texas/Oklahoma coordinators will work with RF Finder due to > the staggering inaccuracies. Their past attempts, according to them, to do > so were rebuffed. > > They consider the Directory to be trash and our agreement with RF Finder > to be slap in their face on their efforts to maintain coordination. Unless > we wish to assume responsibility for coordination and unless we make peace > with the coordinators, the problems will remain. > > > _______________________________________ > > > > John Robert Stratton > > N5AUS > > Director > > West Gulf Division > > Office: 512-445-6262 > > Cell: 512-426-2028 > > P.O. Box 2232 > > Austin, Texas 78768-2232 > > > > *_______________________________________* > On 10/10/19 11:53 AM, Bob Famiglio, K3RF via arrl-odv wrote: > > When we stopped sourcing information from the repeater coordinators and > went to crowd sourcing, the quality of the listings dropped considerably. > >From my own experience in SE Pennsylvania regarding the greater tristate > area, the book is , maybe, 65% accurate at best. Moreover, some repeater > owners seem to think they can change their location or PL or power without > re-coordinating again because they just upload their new information to the > RF Finder. Then they lose their coordination when that comes to light and > the wars start. Been involved in those recently. It is going to get worse > too unless we support coordination and coordinators. > > > > > > *Bob Famiglio, K3RF* > > *Vice Director - ARRL Atlantic Division* > > *610-359-7300* > > > > www.QRZ.com/db/K3RF > > > > > > > > *From:* arrl-odv *On Behalf Of *Rod Blocksome > *Sent:* Thursday, October 10, 2019 9:21 AM > *To:* Michel, Howard, WB2ITX (CEO) <wb2itx(a)arrl.org> <wb2itx(a)arrl.org> > *Cc:* Ford, Steve, WB8IMY <sford(a)arrl.org> <sford(a)arrl.org>; Inderbitzen, > Bob, NQ1R <rinderbitzen(a)arrl.org> <rinderbitzen(a)arrl.org>; arrl-odv > <arrl-odv(a)arrl.org> <arrl-odv(a)arrl.org> > *Subject:* [arrl-odv:28854] Re: update on the Repeater Directory > > > > Thanks for the update Howard. These actions should make the Repeater > Directory worthy of the ARRL "brand". > > In general, ARRL publications have a reputation of high quality and > accuracy which we need to maintain continuously. > > Best 73's, > > Rod, K0DAS > > > > On Wed, Oct 9, 2019 at 7:47 PM Michel, Howard, WB2ITX (CEO) < > wb2itx(a)arrl.org> wrote: > > Dear Officers, Directors and Vice Directors, > > At the April A&F meeting, an issue was raised about the quality of > listings in the Repeater Directory. At that meeting, we committed to study > the issues in detail and report back to the A&F in July with a > recommendation. > > At the July A&F meeting, we committed to work with RFinder to find > additional ways to improve the repeater listings which ultimately get > published annually in the Repeater Directory. Since that meeting we’ve > taken the following steps. > > (1) Publication Manager Steve Ford, WB8IMY has taken-on additional editing > of the Repeater Directory to correct obvious and glaring errors. For > example, frequency coordinators contributing data to RFinder will sometimes > include city-name spelling errors, inconsistent naming, and incorrect state > abbreviations. To the extent possible, Steve has already corrected over one > thousand errors. The corrections are carried into RFinder’s online database > and will be reflected in the next edition of the Directory. > > (2) We have assigned Member Services Representative Jon Faasen, AA1EZ to > serve as liaison to RFinder, supporting anyone who contacts us for > assistance with correcting listings in the Repeater Directory. RFinder will > work with Jon to ensure the corrections are made, and Jon will reach out to > frequency coordinators and Section Managers for any instances requiring > additional verification of repeater information. > > As we reported at the A&F meeting, the landscape for repeaters has changed > significantly in recent years. A proliferation of digital repeaters and > related communities maintaining lists of active repeaters has introduced > new challenges to the previous single-source model. Repeater users > increasingly turn to online services such as RFinder for > more-regularly-updated sources of repeater listings, and where listings are > contributed and maintained by frequency coordinators, digital network > databases, repeater owners, and users. I’m hopeful the additional effort we > are making to review and correct listings will contribute to an even better > annual Repeater Directory. > > 73, Howard, WB2ITX > > -- > > Howard E. Michel, WB2ITX > > Chief Executive Officer > > ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio® > > 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/225+Main+Street,+Newington,+CT+06111?ent…>-1494 USA > > Telephone: +1 860-594-0404 > > email: hmichel(a)arrl.org > > _______________________________________________ > arrl-odv mailing list > arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org > https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv > > > _______________________________________________ > arrl-odv mailing listarrl-odv@reflector.arrl.orghttps://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv > > > _______________________________________________ > arrl-odv mailing list > arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org > https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv >

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[arrl-odv:28850] update on the Repeater Directory
by Michel, Howard, WB2ITX (CEO) 11 Oct '19

11 Oct '19

Dear Officers, Directors and Vice Directors, At the April A&F meeting, an issue was raised about the quality of listings in the Repeater Directory. At that meeting, we committed to study the issues in detail and report back to the A&F in July with a recommendation. At the July A&F meeting, we committed to work with RFinder to find additional ways to improve the repeater listings which ultimately get published annually in the Repeater Directory. Since that meeting we’ve taken the following steps. (1) Publication Manager Steve Ford, WB8IMY has taken-on additional editing of the Repeater Directory to correct obvious and glaring errors. For example, frequency coordinators contributing data to RFinder will sometimes include city-name spelling errors, inconsistent naming, and incorrect state abbreviations. To the extent possible, Steve has already corrected over one thousand errors. The corrections are carried into RFinder’s online database and will be reflected in the next edition of the Directory. (2) We have assigned Member Services Representative Jon Faasen, AA1EZ to serve as liaison to RFinder, supporting anyone who contacts us for assistance with correcting listings in the Repeater Directory. RFinder will work with Jon to ensure the corrections are made, and Jon will reach out to frequency coordinators and Section Managers for any instances requiring additional verification of repeater information. As we reported at the A&F meeting, the landscape for repeaters has changed significantly in recent years. A proliferation of digital repeaters and related communities maintaining lists of active repeaters has introduced new challenges to the previous single-source model. Repeater users increasingly turn to online services such as RFinder for more-regularly-updated sources of repeater listings, and where listings are contributed and maintained by frequency coordinators, digital network databases, repeater owners, and users. I’m hopeful the additional effort we are making to review and correct listings will contribute to an even better annual Repeater Directory. 73, Howard, WB2ITX -- Howard E. Michel, WB2ITX Chief Executive Officer ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio® 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494 USA Telephone: +1 860-594-0404 email: hmichel(a)arrl.org<mailto:hmichel@arrl.org>

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[arrl-odv:28831] Video Circulating About California Government and a Repeater
by Richard J. Norton 11 Oct '19

11 Oct '19

Some of you have likely been made aware of a video that is circulating around the Internet produced by K6UDA (who I do not know). California declares Ham Radio no longer a benefit, severs ties across the state. - YouTube <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv2sb4LJq2g&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR2fvXhB…> I've received enough comments on it that I've prepared a stock answer that I send back. Marty Woll actually made phone calls to investigate the situation, and assisted with the response. The response is shown below, and after it is an e-mail that seems to explain the situation in more detail. I have not included the more detailed explanation in my responses to members. This doesn't appear to rise to the level where national ARRL needs to take action. 73, Dick, N6AA My response - --------------------------------------------------- Thanks for the info. Overall - 1) The video in response to a lengthy lawyer-generated letter, written in reaction to a harshly worded letter from a CAL FIRE property management employee, makes certain statements about the Governor’s position or State policy that I have been unable to corroborate.. The State of California has not made any determination we can find "that Ham Radio [is] no longer a benefit." What happened is that CAL FIRE has transferred responsibility for its communications sites to its property management department. That department has the significant task of evaluating each site, its condition, use and tenants. If a repeater not known to be associated with the emergency management function of a local jurisdiction is found in a CAL FIRE vault, the default action is to move it out or subject it to commercial rental rates. Our contact in the California Office of Emergency Services suggests that, if any affected repeater is in any way involved with local emergency or government support activity, they should ask that agency to engage with CAL FIRE concerning the repeater. If the agency makes the case, there is a good chance that the repeater will be unaffected. Their advice, with which I agree, is not to elevate this to State Legislators or the Governor's office. There has been similar activity in Southern California, wherein sites managed by the U.S. Forest Service have required repeater owners to post bonds to cover the dismantling of their sites if they cease operation. Negotiation has resulted in considerable easing of the original requirements and a modification of terms to help mitigate the short-term financial impact on those repeater owners. 73, Dick Norton, N6AA --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional information that came through AC6VV - *From:* John Minger [mailto:john.minger@gmail.com] *Sent:* Thursday, October 3, 2019 8:02 PM Before we call out the guard, read this by Jim Aspinwall: Here's a good explanation from Jim Aspinwall, a respected ham who knows emergency communications. ——————— Heads-up related to a California/ham radio video we do not need to have shared here... or anywhere for that matter... There is a "viral video" going around proclaiming and asserting that "California declares ham radio no longer a benefit..." That click bait, the content of the presentation, and the original situation prompting this video range from deceptive to false. Actually unbecoming amateur radio. The original situation is over a repeater system not authorized to be in the State-owned radio site where it is/was. The State agency had no reason to fund the repeater site costs and suggested the individual make proper application and submit fees to be approved to stay at the site. (EVERY radio in a State site must go through this process - from law enforcement to fire service to road maintenance to business to hams - someone/everyone has to pay.) This story first came out via a private website encouraging everyone to call their representatives in hope of getting the issue turned in favor of the repeater owner. That content is also not completely honest or respectful to amateur radio or the agency involved. There is more fact behind the story neither source above care to present. I've been in contact with people familiar with such issues at state, county and private levels in addition to my own experience in this realm. As with good Elmering, the general good of amateur radio is best served by open, honest, objective, rational discourse, discovery and sharing - not 'reactions.' That said - amateur radio is NOT dead in California, "the State" is NOT trying to kill it off, no one in any agency with a relationship to ham radio is against it. Simply, tax payer dollars are just not available to pay for everyone's/anyone's repeater site. That is all. ———————————-

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[arrl-odv:28864] IN Newsletter October 11 2019
by Pereira, Carla, KC1HSX 10 Oct '19

10 Oct '19

This week's edition is arriving a little early due to the Executive Committee meeting. Happy Friday!

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[arrl-odv:28863] Wireless Charging makes the news....
by Kermit Carlson 10 Oct '19

10 Oct '19

Hello ALL - Not the WPT-EV but something that we will be measuring...of course this reads more like a prospectus than an engineeringarticle. 73, Kermit W9XA https://www.computerworld.com/article/3442967/fcc-approves-wireless-chargin…

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[arrl-odv:28851] Australian Hams Don't Need Complex 500 Hz and 2.8 kHz Government Regullations
by Richard J. Norton 10 Oct '19

10 Oct '19

"The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has published changes to the Amateur Radio license conditions, effective on September 21. According to the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA), all restrictions on emission modes have been removed for all licensees, and restrictions on permitted transmission bandwidths have been lifted for all licensees on all bands allowed for each license class, with the exception of 2200 and 630 meters, which only Advanced-tier licensees may use." For the full story see http://www.arrl.org/news/new-amateur-radio-license-conditions-in-effect-for… 73, Dick, N6AA

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[arrl-odv:28848] Fwd: Your AmazonSmile charity received a $1, 835.59 donation
by rjairam＠gmail.com 09 Oct '19

09 Oct '19

Dear ODV, Passing along this feedback about the amazonsmile program. 73, Ria N2RJ ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Glenn Carella <gcarella(a)verizon.net> Date: Wed, Oct 9, 2019 at 9:36 AM Subject: Fwd: Your AmazonSmile charity received a $1,835.59 donation To: <n2rj(a)arrl.org> Good morning Ria, I received the email below and thought I would send it along. I know you have mentioned this to the membership in the past, but it is good to remind them. This isn't huge but it isn't chump change either. Be well, Glenn Carella, N2GOP gcarella(a)verizon.net -----Original Message----- From: Amazon.com <store-news(a)amazon.com> To: n2gop <n2gop(a)arrl.net> Sent: Wed, Oct 9, 2019 3:11 am Subject: Your AmazonSmile charity received a $1,835.59 donation You are supporting American Radio Relay League by shopping at smile.amazon.com <https://smile.amazon.com/gp/f.html?C=3SP3QVKC2S1HL&K=3143FU15DQ7UX&M=urn:rt…> [image: Amazon.com] <https://smile.amazon.com/gp/f.html?C=3SP3QVKC2S1HL&K=3143FU15DQ7UX&M=urn:rt…> [image: = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =] *Dear Glenn Carella,* This is your quarterly AmazonSmile donation notification. Your charity, *American Radio Relay League*, recently received a quarterly donation of *$1,835.59* thanks to customers shopping at smile.amazon.com <https://smile.amazon.com/gp/f.html?C=3SP3QVKC2S1HL&K=3143FU15DQ7UX&M=urn:rt…>. To date, AmazonSmile has donated a total of: - *$34,045.28* to American Radio Relay League - *$144,958,582.84* to all charities Thank you for supporting American Radio Relay League by shopping at smile.amazon.com <https://smile.amazon.com/gp/f.html?C=3SP3QVKC2S1HL&K=3143FU15DQ7UX&M=urn:rt…>. You can track your impact throughout the year at your My Impact page <https://smile.amazon.com/gp/f.html?C=3SP3QVKC2S1HL&K=3143FU15DQ7UX&M=urn:rt…> . Go to smile.amazon.com <https://smile.amazon.com/gp/f.html?C=3SP3QVKC2S1HL&K=3143FU15DQ7UX&M=urn:rt…> This notification reflects the charity you were supporting as of Sept 27. © 2019 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Amazon, Amazon.com, the Amazon.com logo, Prime, and 1-Click are registered trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Amazon.com, 410 Terry Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/410+Terry+Avenue+N.,+Seattle,+WA+98109?e…>-5210. Reference: 432091860 Please note that this message was sent to the following e-mail address: n2gop(a)arrl.net

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[arrl-odv:28845] Re: On the air magazine
by Michel, Howard, WB2ITX (CEO) 06 Oct '19

06 Oct '19

Dear Officers, Directors and Vice Directors, We’ve gotten to the bottom of this. Page Suite, a British company that does our digital QST app, was testing over the weekend. They accidentally made our “test issue” of On the Air (OTA) live in their app. The content shown in the app is not the real first issue of OTA. Additionally people using the new app may have been prompted to login to get QST and/or OTA. Since neither the displayed issue of OTA nor the complete integration into our system was production-ready, we have told Page Suite to restore the original app (without OTA). If you downloaded the new app yesterday, you may need to download the correct version and/or clear your cache to see the QST-only version. People who did not access the app yesterday should not see any changes today. 73, Howard, WB2ITX Howard E. Michel, WB2ITX Chief Executive Officer ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio® 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494 USA<x-apple-data-detectors://1/0> Telephone: +1 860-594-0404<tel:+1%20860-594-0404> email: hmichel(a)arrl.org<mailto:hmichel@arrl.org> On Oct 6, 2019, at 12:20 AM, k6jat <k6jat(a)comcast.net<mailto:k6jat@comcast.net>> wrote: I had no problem accessing it. Jim K6JAT Sent from my Sprint Samsung Galaxy S8. -------- Original message -------- From: "Michel, Howard, WB2ITX (CEO)" <wb2itx(a)arrl.org<mailto:wb2itx@arrl.org>> Date: 10/5/19 9:10 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "Jairam, Ria, N2RJ, (Dir, HD)" <rjairam(a)gmail.com<mailto:rjairam@gmail.com>> Cc: arrl-odv <arrl-odv(a)arrl.org<mailto:arrl-odv@arrl.org>> Subject: [arrl-odv:28843] Re: On the air magazine Thanks Ria, I’d say that’s an “oops.” Been flying all day, let me check tomorrow. Howard E. Michel, WB2ITX Chief Executive Officer ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio® 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494 USA<x-apple-data-detectors://1/0> Telephone: +1 860-594-0404<tel:+1%20860-594-0404> email: hmichel(a)arrl.org<mailto:hmichel@arrl.org> On Oct 5, 2019, at 10:39 PM, "rjairam(a)gmail.com<mailto:rjairam@gmail.com>" <rjairam(a)gmail.com<mailto:rjairam@gmail.com>> wrote: Howard - Perhaps the message was lost in translation, but the magazine is in fact visible in the QST app to the general public. I asked a trusted third party and he was able to see it as well, so it is "out there." I was asking if it launched already so I can tell people about it. You're talking about a December launch but the magazine is there. So either someone put a copy out early by mistake, or it's a soft launch. Just need some clarity so I can answer questions when I'm asked. Thanks Ria On Sat, 5 Oct 2019 at 23:18, Michel, Howard, WB2ITX (CEO) <wb2itx(a)arrl.org<mailto:wb2itx@arrl.org>> wrote: Hi Ria, I’ve told ODV more and earlier than general audiences, but it’s not secret. I didn’t want to promise more until the project matured. As you can imagine, rolling out a new magazine requires lots of effort across many different functions— editorial, design, advertising, marketing, membership ... You can tell people about it, but we will also put out specific info in a month or so. This is a big deal and we need to make a splash. 73, Howard, WB2ITX Howard E. Michel, WB2ITX Chief Executive Officer ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio® 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494 USA Telephone: +1 860-594-0404 email: hmichel(a)arrl.org<mailto:hmichel@arrl.org> On Oct 5, 2019, at 2:58 PM, "rjairam(a)gmail.com<mailto:rjairam@gmail.com>" <rjairam(a)gmail.com<mailto:rjairam@gmail.com>> wrote: Thanks Howard. So did I get an advance copy as ODV? Or is this already in public release? Ria N2RJ On Sat, Oct 5, 2019 at 3:43 PM Michel, Howard, WB2ITX (CEO) <wb2itx(a)arrl.org<mailto:wb2itx@arrl.org>> wrote: Hi Ria, ODV, I’ve been giving audiences at hamfests a few details, kind of a teaser. You can do the same. We will have a big PR push when we get closer, probably in December after we go to press. Here are some details you can release. It will be a member benefit (no additional charge) to receive it in digital form. Members will have the option of selecting either OTA or QST in print. We may offer the option to get both in print depending on demand. OTA will come out bi-monthly. The content will be a 2-3 year rolling content for new hams that you can start with any issue. After 2-3 years, members will probably change to QST, or I hope, to one of several mini-mags that we are in initial discussion at HQ. FYI, we are thinking NCJ beefed up to radio sport, QEX, EmComm. But these are just initial thoughts. Let’s see how OTA goes. 73, Howard Howard E. Michel, WB2ITX Chief Executive Officer ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio® 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494 USA Telephone: +1 860-594-0404 email: hmichel(a)arrl.org<mailto:hmichel@arrl.org> On Oct 5, 2019, at 10:52 AM, "rjairam(a)gmail.com<mailto:rjairam@gmail.com>" <rjairam(a)gmail.com<mailto:rjairam@gmail.com>> wrote: I noticed this in my digital QST App. Any announcements? Is this public or just for a select few? I would like to spread the word to my division. Ria N2RJ _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org<mailto:arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org<mailto:arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv

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[arrl-odv:28837] On the air magazine
by rjairam＠gmail.com 06 Oct '19

06 Oct '19

I noticed this in my digital QST App. Any announcements? Is this public or just for a select few? I would like to spread the word to my division. Ria N2RJ

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