[FRC] FYI... Florida Repeater Council Information

[Mickey Baker]

One more comment on this topic and then I'll quiesce...

Asking for "unused pairs" for almost any geo reflects a lack of
understanding of frequency coordination. Quite likely, all wide band pairs
are allocated somewhere in the state. In order to assign a frequency pair,
the likelyhood of interference must be evaluated.

That's why the application process asked for things like precise geographic
locations, HAAT of the antenna, ERP, mode, etc. A "vacant pair" that might
work without interference is located...

Abandoned frequencies are sometimes found. There are a lot of "paper
repeaters" around with not working hardware, yet the owners renew.

And then there's the worse case scenario - owners of unused repeaters keep
renewing. There seem to be a lot of privately owned repeaters in South
Florida that are simply Ego Repeaters - no one every uses them, sometimes
they're down for long periods but they get renewed. For examples, simply
look at the callsigns for non-club repeaters and you'll see the same ones
over and over. Listen to the repeaters and there is zero to little traffic.

Want to help your coordinators? Report non-working frequencies, first to
the licensee then to the FRC!

Mickey

Mickey Baker, N4MB
Fort Lauderdale, FL
*“Tell me, and I will listen. Show me, and I will understand. Involve me,
and I will learn.” *Teton Lakota, American Indian Saying.

On Mon, Oct 3, 2016 at 11:35 AM, Mickey Baker <n4mb at arrl.net> wrote:

> A couple of words of advice from an experienced IT engineer - who has had
> an IT management position in Florida in the public sector as well as worked
> at DoD:
> 1. Anyone who doesn't want unpredictable emails on their corporate or
> government email server shouldn't subscribe to open lists. Get a free email
> account, like this one from Google and point all the groups to that email.
> 2. Anyone hoping that what they write in an email could remain private
> should learn to use email encryption. I won't go into details, but...
> 3. Anyone sending a plain language email should anticipate that email
> being read by anyone anywhere.
>
> That said, I've found the entire FRC to be a slow moving, difficult to
> deal with organization with antique web sites. Some of the directors are a
> bit gruff and condescending, but I find that a common trait among long term
> hams, particular trying to relate to the current crop of no-code licensees.
> I include myself, as I quickly lose patience with folks who don't know the
> basic things covered in the license material.
>
> I submitted a coordination request the day I got a message in May that the
> W4AB 2m repeater coordination had expired - May 7, 2016. It was approved
> over this weekend - almost 5 months to approve a registration for a
> repeater that has been in operation on that frequency at that site for 28
> years.
>
> W4AB is currently not in the directory they publish, but now that the
> "official" ARRL repeater directory is now RFinder, I can (and do) deal
> directly with them for directory issues.
>
> My local director (Mark) has been very responsive, but he doesn't have
> direct access to add to or edit the database!
>
> It is my understanding that coordinations are handled by Dana and he's the
> only one with database access. Something might be going on in his personal
> life that causes this delay, but it is the duty of people with
> responsibility to engage with others to ensure succession of the
> organization and the mission. This appears to be the point of failure in
> many organizations but is key to the survival of that organization.
>
> All that said, here's the problem - if everyone on the board resigns or
> gets otherwise terminated, someone needs to have the time, talent and
> inclination to immediately recover data from wherever it is and create a
> new database and start up a complete new system, while doing all the things
> the current FRC are doing now... this will require cooperation with the
> current directors, particularly Dana.
>
> Are we all ready for that?
>
> If so, let's go get this handed over. Exactly where and when is the
> meeting next weekend?
>
> Mickey N4MB
>
>
> Mickey Baker, N4MB
> Fort Lauderdale, FL
> *“Tell me, and I will listen. Show me, and I will understand. Involve me,
> and I will learn.” *Teton Lakota, American Indian Saying.
>
> On Mon, Oct 3, 2016 at 10:03 AM, Dave Messinger H. <dmessing at pbcgov.org>
> wrote:
>
>> Gentlemen (and Ladies, if any) ,
>>
>> I don’t know where you got this e-mail from. I truly doubt you got it
>> legitimately from the FRC.
>>
>>
>>
>> Regardless,
>>
>> I have not asked to be included in this group or any discussions,
>>
>> You are e-mailing my work/Government e-mail account (so everything is
>> open the Florida Sunshine Law),
>>
>> And finally, I have never had any troubles with the Florida Repeater
>> Council. They have always acted quickly and fairly with any questions or
>> registration I have had.
>>
>>
>>
>> Mr. Fields,
>>
>> I would ask that, in the future, you consider your actions a bit more
>> before blindly e-mailing a large group of people with your grievances.
>>
>>
>>
>> -----=====-----=====-----
>>
>> *Dave H. Messinger*
>>
>> *Communications Specialist*
>>
>> *Palm Beach County Network Support Services*
>>
>> *FCC Licenses: N4QPM, WQCA678*
>>
>> [image: cid:image002.png at 01CAB493.44E57100]
>>
>>
>>
>> *Please Note:  Due to Florida’s very broad records laws, most written
>> communications to or from County employees regarding County business are
>> public records, available to the public and media upon request.  Therefore,
>> this written e-mail communication, including your e-mail address, may be
>> subject to public disclosure.*
>>
>>
>>
>> ---
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* FRC-Info [mailto:frc-info-bounces at lists.keekles.org] *On Behalf
>> Of *kg4ugk at kg4ugk.com
>> *Sent:* Monday, October 03, 2016 8:26 AM
>> *To:* Florida Repeater Council Discussion <frc-info at lists.keekles.org>
>> *Subject:* Re: [FRC] Florida Repeater Council Information
>>
>>
>>
>> Back in 2002, Dana was extremely helpful in getting my coordination
>> completed.
>>
>>
>>
>> Bryan, question. Why would you need a listing of unused pairs? It seems
>> counter productive to starting a new repeater, as well as trying to find
>> existing ones.
>>
>>
>>
>> In my understanding and past experience, you request temporary
>> coordination and based on your location and desired output power, they then
>> assign you a frequency pair that won't interfere with existing repeaters in
>> the output powers RF range. They then give you time to setup and test
>> before providing full coordination.
>>
>>
>>
>> Launching a repeater on an unused frequency pair, would potentially cause
>> interference to those setting one up in the future, and would possibly
>> result in a cease and deceit letter from the FCC when someone else receives
>> coordination for that pair.
>>
>>
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Shawn Campbell
>>
>> KG4UGK
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: vern at highwayusa.com
>> Sent: Monday, October 3, 2016 6:58am
>> To: "Florida Repeater Council Discussion" <frc-info at lists.keekles.org>
>> Subject: Re: [FRC] Florida Repeater Council Information
>>
>>
>> I must say that I have tried several times to contact the
>> council to see if I could fire my repeater back up on my
>> old pair, and have heard nothing. I thought they were
>> defunct until I saw this email come through.
>>
>> Vern
>> KI4ONW
>>
>> >
>> > P.S. Please feel free to discuss this on list. If you
>> >wish to not be a part of this discussion you can remove
>> >yourself using the link at the bottom. I'm happy to
>> >oblige your wishes via direct email as well if you have
>> >any questions.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> >FRC-Info at lists.keekles.org
>> > <http://lists.keekles.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/frc-info>
>> >http://lists.keekles.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/frc-info
>> >
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not
>> want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request,
>> do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by
>> phone or in writing.
>>
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>>
>
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