wm4t
09-20-2004, 01:42 PM
Hello. #My name is Andy Masters, NU5O, and I serve as the Tennessee Director
for SERA. #I have been a ham since 1966, helped put the first repeater on in
Jackson, TN back in the 1970's and at one time was the driving force behind
the VOLNET-a group of 10 repeaters linked full time over a wide area.
Currently, I maintain 3 UHF repeaters in Memphis, including one that has 4
voting receivers. #I also assist small groups in planning, tuning, and
installing their new repeaters.
I have been asked by a great number of TN repeater owners to comment on the
mandatory tone policy that SERA has implemented and I have chosen to do so
through Sam, WM4T. #I don't always agree with Sam's view on things but I
always know where I stand with him and I hear his views directly-not from
some other direction. #For that reason, I respect him and appreciate him.
The short version is that I am against a mandatory tone policy for two
meters and I will not support it or enforce it except when the repeaters are
short spaced and/or a clear operational advantage is gained by using tone.
An example of that would be a new repeater in a mountainous area. #Users
often hear other co-channel repeaters well over a hundred miles away but the
signal is so weak it just breaks the squelch. By using tone, the group(s)
have an opportunity to use CTCSS and get rid of the annoyance. It's not
interference per se-but it is an annoyance. #Several of you in East TN have
written to me since this issue came up and have stated that is why you like
tone.
Having said that, I want also to state clearly that the discussions that
brought about this decision at the June SERA board meeting were based
entirely on user complaints and a desire to help get more repeaters on the
air. #There was NEVER an attitude of "let's shove it down their throats" at
the meeting. In fact just the opposite was the case. #Since 9/11 there has
been a great demand on the spectrum (especially 2 meters) for new repeaters.
Most of those requests are coming from rural areas where hams want to
install an emergency powered repeater to be able to respond to a crisis in
their area. #Is that a bad thing?
It is obvious that SERA did not handle the announcement of the decision well
nor did it handle the outcry of repeater owners properly. I and others did
try to reverse the decision but as of this writing it has not changed. While
a few of our board members seemingly do not care whether members comment or
not others do in fact care. #You will have decide where your own directors
stand and act accordingly.
Interestingly, SERA already requires the use of tone on 10 meter and UHF
repeaters (CP&G Policy 14G...). To my knowledge not a single ham has ever
complained about this policy. #It seems the real issue is that the
coordinating body made a decision that significantly affects the membership
without first asking for input from the membership and that is the key
issue. Some of the directors are ok with that but I am not. I do apologize
to the repeater owners of Tennessee for our decision to make this policy
mandatory without seeking input first. #I did suggest to the board as a
result that SERA change its by-laws to require two meetings to change a
policy that seriously affects repeater owners in order to allow a comment
period but it was voted down.
It would seem there are at least three options left to repeater owners and
users:
1. Do not renew your membership in SERA until the policy changes. #
2. Renew your membership in SERA, read carefully the by-laws section of SERA
on the website and pursue the election of individuals that will represent
your views. #Bear in mind that several states have had almost no complaints
about this new policy in the SERA group.
3. Renew your membership and maintain the status quo.
Personally, I choose to remain a member of SERA and to continue to try and
persuade the organization to be more responsive to its members feelings. #It
still remains the best coordinating body in the USA. #All of the member
states that surround Tennessee take each new coordination seriously-using
our new ComSoft software to determine the actual coverage of a repeater and
whether or not it will work. #We have successfully placed a number of
repeaters on the air with minimal issues as a result. #We have denied far
more as a result of the software because we could prove in advance that
serious issues would arise as a result of the coordination.
We are not perfect. #Many of our detractors however would soon find
themselves unhappy in any coordinating body. #Unbelievably, some of these
people think that they can own a repeater frequency for eternity and it will
always be their's even if it has been off the air for several years. #Others
will move their repeater many miles and just plop it down wherever they want
thinking that location has nothing to do with coordination. # While those
groups are highly verbal in situations like this and do a lot to muddy the
water-I believe most repeater owners would soon find them to be unwelcome
guests in any coordinating body.
I did propose changes to the CP&G in the June meeting that were also
approved that will allow us to go after paper, dormant, and un-coordinated
repeaters. #These repeaters are keeping good ham operators from putting
repeaters on the air in their area and they know it. #If you are aware of a
repeater in this category in Tennessee, I want to know about it.
Below is an excerpt from the letter that will go out to all TN repeater
owners this fall from SERA. #The data sheets are critical to the
coordination process. #PLEASE PARTICIPATE! #You don't have to join SERA to
send in your data sheet but please send in the data sheet so we can have an
accurate census of repeaters.
Again, I do sincerely apologize to the amateurs of Tennessee for the
implementation of the tone policy without first seeking input and gaining a
better perspective on the issue.
Sincerely,
Andy Masters NU5O
TN Director SERA
SERA DATA SHEET LETTER FALL 2004:
Greetings fellow Tennessee repeater owners from your SERA State Director. #A
lot has happened this year in the State of Tennessee with repeaters and with
SERA. #
Let me introduce you to the SERA coordinators for the state. #First, in East
Tennessee, is David Fridley, KG4FZR, as a new Coordinator and Assistant
Director. #David owns a tower company and is well versed in communications
and ham radio. #Next, in Middle Tennessee, is Jerome Buie, KB4POA, who also
serves as Coordinator and our Vice Director for the state. #Jerome is in
traffic control communications and has a truck that looks like Fibber
McGee's closet (it's full of stuff). # Last, in West Tennessee, is Alan
McClain, KA4BNI, who works in communications for the state and serves as a
new Coordinator and Assistant Director. #Tim Berry, WB4GBI, resigned from
his post as State Director in January due to extreme business obligations.
He is one of those guys who works 80 hours a week. #I agreed to be State
Director only if he would remain as an Assistant Director-which he has
agreed to do. #Tim now serves as a Technical Assistant Director and we are
very fortunate to benefit from his experience. #You may review the
biographies of each of these fine gentlemen at: www.sera.org
The events of 9/11 have put a great pressure on our state and those
surrounding us in terms of demand for new repeaters. # This demand has
driven several decisions by SERA to help alleviate some of the pressure.
Some of the decisions are welcomed and some are not. #First, at the June
board meeting this year, I made several proposals to change the CP&G of SERA
to make it easier to de-coordinate repeaters. There are a significant number
of "paper" repeaters in Tennessee. #We have people who actually think a
repeater can be off the air for 20 years and somehow they have a right to
that frequency. #Some people think they can move a repeater 20 miles or more
from its current location without re-coordinating it first. #For those of
you sitting on paper repeaters and uncoordinated repeaters-we are coming
after you. #Every month I receive requests from rural groups in Tennessee
wanting a repeater frequency. # Currently, there are no 2 meter pairs
available in state. These groups are angry because they know of paper,
dormant, or uncoordinated repeaters in their areas that are keeping them
from a legitimate frequency pair.
As State Director, I believe it is my responsibility to serve the person
seeking a new repeater for his area and not the guy who refuses to
participate in the coordination process, never put the repeater on the air,
or failed to maintain his repeater and never put it back on the air. #This
is a no brainer. #I am going to help the new group every time. #It is a fair
and consistent policy and it better serves the needs of our amateur
community.
Tones. #At the June Board Meeting, SERA adopted a new mandatory tone policy.
I don't like it and I will not enforce it. #The policy was adopted in an
effort to address complaints from several users over interference issues.
It was NOT an attempt to shove anything down the member's throat. #However,
it was poorly handled, done without consulting the membership for comments,
and generally will cause hardship and expense to a lot of repeater owners.
I do agree that short spaced repeaters and certain other co-channel
repeaters should be required to have tone-but not all repeaters. #I will
continue to insist we use tones under the previous guidelines set forth in
the CP&G. #
I am not happy about the way the board has chosen to respond to the issue of
soliciting input from the users and making decisions that significantly
affect our members. #I have voiced those complaints to the board as many of
you have. #I encourage you to continue to voice your thoughts. #SERA does
not have a right to autocratically do things to the amateur community
without input from the same. #It is supposed to be our organization and when
you agree or disagree with policies-you should let somebody know. #Many of
you have told me that you will not be joining SERA again until this way of
doing business changes. #I can't blame you and I understand your feelings.
Regardless of whether you choose to join SERA or renew your membership, I do
ask that each repeater owner fill in the data sheets and return them. #Good
data is the only way we can do a proper job of coordinating. #If you have
any changes you need to make on the data sheets and you have questions-do
not hesitate to write me at: nu5o@sera.org
If you know of repeaters off the air, paper repeaters, uncoordinated
repeaters, please write me with the details. #Recovering these frequencies
means some rural group will be able to put their repeater on the air. #It is
the right thing to do. #If you have a repeater that is no longer on the
air-talk to me. #I will work with you if you need some time to get it on the
air but I also encourage you to consider turning it back in to the pool and
saving us a lot of trouble de-coordinating your repeater.
A word about service. #All of our coordinators are good people. They are
also busy people. #They do this work voluntarily. They are not paid a penny
for their time. #However, if you are not getting timely service, I want to
know about it. #I promise you, I will address your issues regardless of
whether you are a member of SERA or not. #
73 de Andy Masters NU5O
TN Director SERA
for SERA. #I have been a ham since 1966, helped put the first repeater on in
Jackson, TN back in the 1970's and at one time was the driving force behind
the VOLNET-a group of 10 repeaters linked full time over a wide area.
Currently, I maintain 3 UHF repeaters in Memphis, including one that has 4
voting receivers. #I also assist small groups in planning, tuning, and
installing their new repeaters.
I have been asked by a great number of TN repeater owners to comment on the
mandatory tone policy that SERA has implemented and I have chosen to do so
through Sam, WM4T. #I don't always agree with Sam's view on things but I
always know where I stand with him and I hear his views directly-not from
some other direction. #For that reason, I respect him and appreciate him.
The short version is that I am against a mandatory tone policy for two
meters and I will not support it or enforce it except when the repeaters are
short spaced and/or a clear operational advantage is gained by using tone.
An example of that would be a new repeater in a mountainous area. #Users
often hear other co-channel repeaters well over a hundred miles away but the
signal is so weak it just breaks the squelch. By using tone, the group(s)
have an opportunity to use CTCSS and get rid of the annoyance. It's not
interference per se-but it is an annoyance. #Several of you in East TN have
written to me since this issue came up and have stated that is why you like
tone.
Having said that, I want also to state clearly that the discussions that
brought about this decision at the June SERA board meeting were based
entirely on user complaints and a desire to help get more repeaters on the
air. #There was NEVER an attitude of "let's shove it down their throats" at
the meeting. In fact just the opposite was the case. #Since 9/11 there has
been a great demand on the spectrum (especially 2 meters) for new repeaters.
Most of those requests are coming from rural areas where hams want to
install an emergency powered repeater to be able to respond to a crisis in
their area. #Is that a bad thing?
It is obvious that SERA did not handle the announcement of the decision well
nor did it handle the outcry of repeater owners properly. I and others did
try to reverse the decision but as of this writing it has not changed. While
a few of our board members seemingly do not care whether members comment or
not others do in fact care. #You will have decide where your own directors
stand and act accordingly.
Interestingly, SERA already requires the use of tone on 10 meter and UHF
repeaters (CP&G Policy 14G...). To my knowledge not a single ham has ever
complained about this policy. #It seems the real issue is that the
coordinating body made a decision that significantly affects the membership
without first asking for input from the membership and that is the key
issue. Some of the directors are ok with that but I am not. I do apologize
to the repeater owners of Tennessee for our decision to make this policy
mandatory without seeking input first. #I did suggest to the board as a
result that SERA change its by-laws to require two meetings to change a
policy that seriously affects repeater owners in order to allow a comment
period but it was voted down.
It would seem there are at least three options left to repeater owners and
users:
1. Do not renew your membership in SERA until the policy changes. #
2. Renew your membership in SERA, read carefully the by-laws section of SERA
on the website and pursue the election of individuals that will represent
your views. #Bear in mind that several states have had almost no complaints
about this new policy in the SERA group.
3. Renew your membership and maintain the status quo.
Personally, I choose to remain a member of SERA and to continue to try and
persuade the organization to be more responsive to its members feelings. #It
still remains the best coordinating body in the USA. #All of the member
states that surround Tennessee take each new coordination seriously-using
our new ComSoft software to determine the actual coverage of a repeater and
whether or not it will work. #We have successfully placed a number of
repeaters on the air with minimal issues as a result. #We have denied far
more as a result of the software because we could prove in advance that
serious issues would arise as a result of the coordination.
We are not perfect. #Many of our detractors however would soon find
themselves unhappy in any coordinating body. #Unbelievably, some of these
people think that they can own a repeater frequency for eternity and it will
always be their's even if it has been off the air for several years. #Others
will move their repeater many miles and just plop it down wherever they want
thinking that location has nothing to do with coordination. # While those
groups are highly verbal in situations like this and do a lot to muddy the
water-I believe most repeater owners would soon find them to be unwelcome
guests in any coordinating body.
I did propose changes to the CP&G in the June meeting that were also
approved that will allow us to go after paper, dormant, and un-coordinated
repeaters. #These repeaters are keeping good ham operators from putting
repeaters on the air in their area and they know it. #If you are aware of a
repeater in this category in Tennessee, I want to know about it.
Below is an excerpt from the letter that will go out to all TN repeater
owners this fall from SERA. #The data sheets are critical to the
coordination process. #PLEASE PARTICIPATE! #You don't have to join SERA to
send in your data sheet but please send in the data sheet so we can have an
accurate census of repeaters.
Again, I do sincerely apologize to the amateurs of Tennessee for the
implementation of the tone policy without first seeking input and gaining a
better perspective on the issue.
Sincerely,
Andy Masters NU5O
TN Director SERA
SERA DATA SHEET LETTER FALL 2004:
Greetings fellow Tennessee repeater owners from your SERA State Director. #A
lot has happened this year in the State of Tennessee with repeaters and with
SERA. #
Let me introduce you to the SERA coordinators for the state. #First, in East
Tennessee, is David Fridley, KG4FZR, as a new Coordinator and Assistant
Director. #David owns a tower company and is well versed in communications
and ham radio. #Next, in Middle Tennessee, is Jerome Buie, KB4POA, who also
serves as Coordinator and our Vice Director for the state. #Jerome is in
traffic control communications and has a truck that looks like Fibber
McGee's closet (it's full of stuff). # Last, in West Tennessee, is Alan
McClain, KA4BNI, who works in communications for the state and serves as a
new Coordinator and Assistant Director. #Tim Berry, WB4GBI, resigned from
his post as State Director in January due to extreme business obligations.
He is one of those guys who works 80 hours a week. #I agreed to be State
Director only if he would remain as an Assistant Director-which he has
agreed to do. #Tim now serves as a Technical Assistant Director and we are
very fortunate to benefit from his experience. #You may review the
biographies of each of these fine gentlemen at: www.sera.org
The events of 9/11 have put a great pressure on our state and those
surrounding us in terms of demand for new repeaters. # This demand has
driven several decisions by SERA to help alleviate some of the pressure.
Some of the decisions are welcomed and some are not. #First, at the June
board meeting this year, I made several proposals to change the CP&G of SERA
to make it easier to de-coordinate repeaters. There are a significant number
of "paper" repeaters in Tennessee. #We have people who actually think a
repeater can be off the air for 20 years and somehow they have a right to
that frequency. #Some people think they can move a repeater 20 miles or more
from its current location without re-coordinating it first. #For those of
you sitting on paper repeaters and uncoordinated repeaters-we are coming
after you. #Every month I receive requests from rural groups in Tennessee
wanting a repeater frequency. # Currently, there are no 2 meter pairs
available in state. These groups are angry because they know of paper,
dormant, or uncoordinated repeaters in their areas that are keeping them
from a legitimate frequency pair.
As State Director, I believe it is my responsibility to serve the person
seeking a new repeater for his area and not the guy who refuses to
participate in the coordination process, never put the repeater on the air,
or failed to maintain his repeater and never put it back on the air. #This
is a no brainer. #I am going to help the new group every time. #It is a fair
and consistent policy and it better serves the needs of our amateur
community.
Tones. #At the June Board Meeting, SERA adopted a new mandatory tone policy.
I don't like it and I will not enforce it. #The policy was adopted in an
effort to address complaints from several users over interference issues.
It was NOT an attempt to shove anything down the member's throat. #However,
it was poorly handled, done without consulting the membership for comments,
and generally will cause hardship and expense to a lot of repeater owners.
I do agree that short spaced repeaters and certain other co-channel
repeaters should be required to have tone-but not all repeaters. #I will
continue to insist we use tones under the previous guidelines set forth in
the CP&G. #
I am not happy about the way the board has chosen to respond to the issue of
soliciting input from the users and making decisions that significantly
affect our members. #I have voiced those complaints to the board as many of
you have. #I encourage you to continue to voice your thoughts. #SERA does
not have a right to autocratically do things to the amateur community
without input from the same. #It is supposed to be our organization and when
you agree or disagree with policies-you should let somebody know. #Many of
you have told me that you will not be joining SERA again until this way of
doing business changes. #I can't blame you and I understand your feelings.
Regardless of whether you choose to join SERA or renew your membership, I do
ask that each repeater owner fill in the data sheets and return them. #Good
data is the only way we can do a proper job of coordinating. #If you have
any changes you need to make on the data sheets and you have questions-do
not hesitate to write me at: nu5o@sera.org
If you know of repeaters off the air, paper repeaters, uncoordinated
repeaters, please write me with the details. #Recovering these frequencies
means some rural group will be able to put their repeater on the air. #It is
the right thing to do. #If you have a repeater that is no longer on the
air-talk to me. #I will work with you if you need some time to get it on the
air but I also encourage you to consider turning it back in to the pool and
saving us a lot of trouble de-coordinating your repeater.
A word about service. #All of our coordinators are good people. They are
also busy people. #They do this work voluntarily. They are not paid a penny
for their time. #However, if you are not getting timely service, I want to
know about it. #I promise you, I will address your issues regardless of
whether you are a member of SERA or not. #
73 de Andy Masters NU5O
TN Director SERA