Agreed Rita.
Coordination is one of the last things that stands between the VHF/UHF amateur bands and an 11 meter-like environment. The coordinators work with no payment or filing fees and need support, acknowledgement and assistance to get quality help and coordinators. With perhaps some exceptions they mean well, but get burned out and get nothing but flak for most hams. We are starting to get uncoordinated systems here in my general region installed by new hams who are clueless about the part 90 type standards to apply for best practices or do not care. It makes it difficult for anyone to operate when they clash. I am sure some of you have the same stories. It is not going to get better on its own. In my area, as with many, there are no 2-meter frequencies left and few 220 or 440 either. And private ham hot spots, newcomers mainly, just open up anywhere including our satellite bands – whole ‘nother story.
What is the solution? This will be the next big thing (problem) and people will look to organizations like our League to solve it. Not necessarily get involved in the work but help organize the standards and policies beneficial to most hams. That is a big vacuum right now.
Should we stay ahead of it or ignore it?
Bob Famiglio, K3RF
Vice Director - ARRL Atlantic Division
610-359-7300
www.QRZ.com/db/K3RF
From: rjairam@gmail.com
Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2019 1:00 PM
To: Bob Famiglio, K3RF <RBFamiglio@verizon.net>
Cc: Ford, Steve, WB8IMY <sford@arrl.org>; Inderbitzen, Bob, NQ1R <rinderbitzen@arrl.org>; Michel, Howard, WB2ITX (CEO) <wb2itx@arrl.org>; Rod Blocksome <rod.blocksome@gmail.com>; arrl-odv <arrl-odv@arrl.org>
Subject: Re: [arrl-odv:28856] Re: update on the Repeater Directory
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
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, WB2ITXChief Executive OfficerARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio®225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494 USATelephone: +1 860-594-0404email: hmichel@arrl.org_______________________________________________
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