Bryan Fields W9CR is accusing the Florida Repeater Council of being corrupt and inefficient to the point of inaction. It stems from his attempt to coordinate a 220 MHz band repeater in Tampa Bay, FL. Bryan's account is that the process went from delay to friction to outright hostility. Bryan has launched a reform group with this web site where he makes his case. He's produced a 15-minute YouTube video that also details the story (which we've condensed into about 3 minutes and inserted at the very end of the show), and now this 90-minute HamRadioNow Episode in which host Gary Pearce KN4AQ grills Bryan mercilessly (OK, he asks a few pointed questions), and David Goldenberg W0DHG supplies the average ham perspective, asking questions that have bedeviled frequency coordinators for decades (where do they get their authority, who do they report to, who's supposed to fix this?). We've invited the FRC to appear on a future show to respond, and Gary realizes (again) how much we need to do a Repeater Show or two with some of the rich history of ham radio repeaters, a close look at the issues and problems repeater users, owners and coordinators face, and some predictions of the future. It's another talking-head show, with just a few web sites and a little video, so it earns its Radio Rating of A. LISTEN/DOWNLOAD AUDIO
How can a repeater council be..corrupt? Where's the money paid? Where's the personal gain? Counsel--but no lawsuit? More click-bait....
In Indiana, its the good'ol boys that want "clear" channels and don't understand what PL tones are for.
That's Squelch, not gain... ;-) Corruption implies dishonesty for money. My 2M rigs haven't been used in, oh, 2 years. Too much conflict.
Having been a resident of Ft Lauderdale for many years, the main cultural advantage I saw was a topless donut shop. Below: this man died happy... http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-04-10/news/9001020434_1_doughnut-shop-donut-shop-coffee That and Keese's chicken...guaranteed to turn your dining room into a chicken boneyard! MMMmmmmm! Keese's now is a hummus place. Yechh! (in comparison). NEBA was cool too. RB place with great burgers! Sounded obscene, but was a great predecessor to 5 Guys Burgers, or In and Out Burger (CA and LV). Gee! That sounds obscene too (but isn't). The point of these digressions is that Gary KN4AQ should STOP using click-bait, and drooling controversy as a pitch. MO. Yours may differ.
Your don't think there was a lot of controversy in this show? And if you think this was Click-Bait, you won't believe what happens next.
1) First off, my recent experience in dealing with Bryan W9CR was over shoddy workmanship he performed on a radio modification for me, as a service. When I received the radio back it was reassembled with the face 180 degrees upside down, being very obvious immediately when I opened the box. When I brought this to Bryan’s attention he said I didn’t recognize good workmanship! I have never been treated so badly. When I indicated I was going to let others know of my experience he said just be sure I spelled his name correctly (I had misspelled it “Brian” in a few emails). 2) In California when a repeater owner wishes to sell a repeater to another individual it is often done with a handshake and under the radar ie. not reported the actual sale to the coordinating body (council). This will avoid losing the existing coordination completely and a reapplication started, all that is required is an application for a change in the call sign (this predicated on no change to the repeater location, ERP or PL etc. I should be clear here and I’d like to point out I have never been involved with an “under the radar” change of ownership as described above, this is not something I have ever been involved with directly and I am not condoning this type of thig. But such an act did occur with another repeater system that I was involved in an interference complaint with; I didn’t threaten to sue the organization then but I did however attempt legal action (a verbal mention of intent to sue) the No Calif repeater council in the past. At that time it was an un-incorporated club and just the mention of a potential lawsuit led to a meeting with all parties involved and the dispute was resolved peacefully. Bryan is on dangerous grounds throwing a number of allegations as he did openly but the video presented does show a serious issue however. I feel if Bryan had worked to change the call sign there would be no massive problem as it is now. But since he is now a member of FRC and seems to know Roberts Rules of Order well, I’d wager he will “put things right” and reorganize the org. GL to all! 73 Reid Brandon W6MTF
Directly off his linked page he posts: "The FCC does give preference to coordinated repeaters per 97.205(c) Where the transmissions of a repeater cause harmful interference to another repeater, the two station licensees are equally and fully responsible for resolving the interference unless the operation of one station is recommended by a frequency coordinator and the operation of the other station is not. In that case, the licensee of the non-coordinated repeater has primary responsibility to resolve the interference. As such it’s in our best interest to coordinate our systems with the FRC." -- I bolded that last part. Ok--he is trying to do the right thing, but I'm lost in the rest of the details. Its Florida--that already says its beyond explanation. Run it uncoordinated. Move if you are required to, but make them show it is actually causing interference, not that it 'could cause it'. There's not that much 220 activity anyway. Too bad it came to this. Gave me pause as I was considering a 220 repeater myself! Solution: do a simplex repeater. A guy north of me did, and I use it on Echolink all the time.
Maybe there should be some regulatory clarification on this one to the benefit of everyone. I see a lot of Seattle-area repeaters for sale on Craigslist here. It would be easy to move the station call and not pursue coordination, but that's sneaky IMO. Moving it out of area increases the likelihood it will be interfering somewhere else. Of course the FCC doesn't do enforcement anymore, so it wouldn't deter people anyways, and we certainly don't need yet another law.
Gary, There are very much situations that head to the machinations of formal complaints. I see no attorneys here and I see no threat. An injured party has a right to point out legal options to resolve a dispute. Many hams see themselves as essentially independent of society and its protocols. Pointing out a legal option is a reminder that is not the case. No, I do not see a controversy here Gary; I see you attempting, IMO, to foment one. I see a dispute. It gets peoples' attention but so what? What's the point Gary? 73 Chip W1YW
