On the flip side of the coin, many are shunning the coordinators because they are non transparent and often operate like a good old boys club and a bureaucracy. It’s a two way street and sadly I have to say that there has been failure all around. Also, crowdsourced data isn’t necessarily bad. However I don’t think it’s suited for a hard copy book. Ria N2RJ On Thu, Oct 10, 2019 at 12:53 PM Bob Famiglio, K3RF via arrl-odv < arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> 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@arrl.org> *Cc:* Ford, Steve, WB8IMY <sford@arrl.org>; Inderbitzen, Bob, NQ1R < rinderbitzen@arrl.org>; arrl-odv <arrl-odv@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@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?entry=gmail&source=g>-1494 USA
Telephone: +1 860-594-0404
email: hmichel@arrl.org
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