RR's Database, Military Freqs listing?

[iMONITOR]

Are there any plans to add a Military frequency listing to the Radio Reference database?

Thanks!

 

[trainman111]

I think that would be a great idea. Only problem would be keeping it constantly updated. But I guess with all the members RR has, that wouldn't be too much of a problem.

 

[crayon]

If the DB Admin setup the page correctly, there should be a military section.

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&ctid=2143

For example: scroll down until you see "Military Frequencies in Comanche County".

 

[trainman111]

If only it was like that for all the counties with military frequencies...

 

[loumaag]

If only it was like that for all the counties with military frequencies...

Try submitting the frequncies for your local area instead of saying it isn't there. No submissions = No data.

 

[trainman111]

I would but, can you submit the frequencies to radioreference if they came directly from other sites? I can't remember where I got all my information from since I used so many different sites. If I just submitted them wouldn't that be considered plagerism?

 

[eorange]

I asked this same question a little over a month ago, but it went unnoticed:

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50899

In this thread, I mentioned some alternate ways to categorize the database, because it somes cases the current rr database schema - by state, city, and county - wouldn't be suitable for mil air freqs. For example, what about aerial refueling freqs? Most AR tracks cover multiple states. Same thing with the 372.2 air-to-air freq that is widely used - where would we list it?

On the other hand, MOAs and bases would be state specific.

I'm not against using the existing rr db schema; I'm just wondering where these wide-coverage freqs would be homed.

 

[BMT]

Why not do it like the guys on the MD forum. Report what you hear in your area. You have to start someplace. A state wide or area dB is possible.

BMT

 

[iMONITOR]

I would but, can you submit the frequencies to radioreference if they came directly from other sites? I can't remember where I got all my information from since I used so many different sites. If I just submitted them wouldn't that be considered plagerism?

If you did a verbatim cut & paste from a site, possibly due to format, layout style, etc., but not the raw data itself. However if you just submit an ASCII text file, or a column list in an email, I don't see how that would be considered plagiarism. Frequencies can not be copyrighted. I don't know how they could prove the information came from their site. It would be no different that listing street addresses in a phone book.

 

[eorange]

Why not do it like the guys on the MD forum. Report what you hear in your area. You have to start someplace. A state wide or area dB is possible.

The sticky thread gets long and hard to search after a while, but I'm with you re: ya gotta start someplace. I'll start submitting some of the general freqs as statewide.

 

[ka3jjz]

Or build a Wiki page for your area; that way, many folks can contribute to it.

Eric, my buddy Mark Meece has started a milair blog for Ohio (he's with the MONIX group, one that of which you should be a part). The URL is in the milair web pages article, set up by state. He too would welcome such a list 73s Mike

 

[eorange]

I saw that; it's a good page and list.

See, I was musing about that in my original thread - Wiki or database? On second thought, I am thinking the Wiki might be better due to the changing and widespread nature of mil air freqs. I still have my mil air content I want to add to the Wiki, so I see a good project coming up.

Thanks Mike, good suggestions.

 

[iMONITOR]

I saw that; it's a good page and list.

See, I was musing about that in my original thread - Wiki or database? On second thought, I am thinking the Wiki might be better due to the changing and widespread nature of mil air freqs. I still have my mil air content I want to add to the Wiki, so I see a good project coming up.

Thanks Mike, good suggestions.

The problem with putting them in the WiKi is that you can't easily import them into your scanner like you can with the database. Considering the potential number of frequencies, the ability to import would really be nice!

 

[BruceB]

Just my 2 cents worth. I live just a few miles from Charleston AFB, and what you hear today might be blank tomorrow. Monitoring milair is a constant chanlenge( please excuse my spelling) It seems that freqs change all the time. I know that for alot of people programing known freqs into their scanner is the way they think is supposed to be. But for me the hunt is more exciting

 

[ka3jjz]

The problem with putting them in the WiKi is that you can't easily import them into your scanner like you can with the database. Considering the potential number of frequencies, the ability to import would really be nice!

You may not know this, but you can tie the two together - there are special extensions that can be used, so that once a list of frequencies have been imported into the database, you can yank those freqs right into the Wiki directly. So you could potentially do it both ways - use the wiki as a scratchpad to act as a collection point - then when you have enough freqs, turn it over to the admin who could post the data into the db where it can be downloaded. Use the extensions to display what's in the db, and list in the wiki what has yet to be added or confirmed. This way only confirmed entries are added to the db, which is what you would want anyway.

Or perhaps, you could simply add a link to the downloads page for that topic once they're added, leaving the Wiki to collect the unconfirmed or new frequencies. This is probably a much simpler approach once the number of freqs in the database becomes (hopefully) large.

The scratchpad addresses the changing nature of milair - with the migration to 380 Mhz trunk systems, changing spacing and users (particularly so because of BRAC) the Wiki has a clear advantage. There are many ways to build a Wiki article (page) 73s Mike

 

[iMONITOR]

You may not know this, but you can tie the two together - there are special extensions that can be used, so that once a list of frequencies have been imported into the database, you can yank those freqs right into the Wiki directly. So you could potentially do it both ways - use the wiki as a scratchpad to act as a collection point - then when you have enough freqs, turn it over to the admin who could post the data into the db where it can be downloaded. Use the extensions to display what's in the db, and list in the wiki what has yet to be added or confirmed. This way only confirmed entries are added to the db, which is what you would want anyway.

Or perhaps, you could simply add a link to the downloads page for that topic once they're added, leaving the Wiki to collect the unconfirmed or new frequencies. This is probably a much simpler approach once the number of freqs in the database becomes (hopefully) large.

The scratchpad addresses the changing nature of milair - with the migration to 380 Mhz trunk systems, changing spacing and users (particularly so because of BRAC) the Wiki has a clear advantage. There are many ways to build a Wiki article (page) 73s Mike

That sounds pretty slick! Are there instructions on how to do this anywhere? Is this something Lindsay would have to configure?

Thanks!

 

[loumaag]

Just to clarify the position of RR on submissions to the Database. It is (and always has been) the policy of the site (even back when it was Trunked Radio Net) to accept submissions from individuals who actually have verified (read heard and identified) what they are submitting. If you live in New York, don't tell us what is happening in Kansas unless you provide a reason for it (trip, TDY, etc.). We have been doing this for a pretty long time and generally can detect when someone is blowing smoke.

Questionable submissions are generally ignored without comment to the submitter, repeat questionable submissions will get you noticed by the administrators overall and then all subsequent submissions will be ignored without even looking at them. Remember, it is your "submission reputation" on the line when you send in data. There are individuals near the top of the Top Submitters list that are completely ignored; quantity has never equalled quality.

 

[trainman111]

So what happens if they weren't blowing smoke? I submitted a frequency to a TRS in Richmond that I discovered on my PRO-2055 about a month and a half ago. It had the same system ID as the one in the database (Radio Communications of Virginia) so I figured it must have been another frequency that hadn't been submitted by another member. I haven't seen an update yet...

 

[loumaag]

So what happens if they weren't blowing smoke? I submitted a frequency to a TRS in Richmond that I discovered on my PRO-2055 about a month and a half ago. It had the same system ID as the one in the database (Radio Communications of Virginia) so I figured it must have been another frequency that hadn't been submitted by another member. I haven't seen an update yet...

There are two Radio Communications of Virginia systems in the Database, one in Richmond Co. and one in Chesterfield Co. You have submitted nothing to either one, whereas I am sure you submitted something somewhere, obviously it was not submitted to either one of those systems; I also checked the State of Virginia, Richmond County and Chesterfield County and your name does not appear on those submission lists either. I am sorry, I have no way of checking all submissions by your userID, but that ability is coming soon.

 

[TinEar]

Just a note to say it takes a lot of work to develop a comprehensive frequency listing for MilAir. The Maryland Forum was mentioned somewhere above. It's a good example of what can be done with some teamwork. For instance, we have considerable amounts of information in the Wiki for our area. We also have much of it in the database. If you select the Maryland Database page, first you'll find both VHF and UHF ARTCC freqs for the Washington and New York Centers heard in this area beneath the counties list. (You'll find the same for your states.) If you select Prince George's County, you'll see a link for Andrews Air Force Base where you'll find not just the normal airport freqs but also the operational freqs for all the units stationed there.

The point is that you've got to start somewhere. Even if you just have one or two freqs for your area, submit them. If others in your area are interested in MilAir, you'll find the list growing rather quickly. If your area is not developed in the database, it takes work - lots of it - and constant searching in the MilAir freq ranges to arrive at a workable database. When we started building the Wiki and database for this area, we had nothing available. Now we've got many hundreds of freqs verified and posted. I don't know of any other way to arrive at that result other than searching, searching, searching and sharing what you've heard with others.

Alan