Amateur Repeaters

[kc4wwu]

I think it would be a great idea, to have some type of Amateur Repeaters forum included. There are so many places on the Web, that have site for Amateur Repeaters, but they are not up to date. It would be nice to be able to click on a state and county and have it display not only Scanner Frequencies, but AMateur Radio Repeaters as well. Since we always keep it up to date on the Scanner Frequencies, we could also keep it up to date on the Amateur Repeaters as well. I know there are a few counties in the database that have Amateur Repeaters listed, but not all do. Just a suggestion!

73, Pete
K4QHR

 

[SCPD]

Why reinvent the wheel?

 

[kc4wwu]

Why reinvent the wheel?

Well, if the wheel does't work.. why not?


73, Pete
K4QHR

 

[SCPD]

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123118

 

[kc4jgc]

Well, if the wheel does't work.. why not?


73, Pete
K4QHR

It would depend on what wheel you're speaking about. If you're referring to the "major" on line databases, you're right they're not worth the server space they're occupying. Woefully out of date/inaccurate. The best information on amateur repeaters is going to be the ARRL Repeater Directory, which gets its data from the repeater coordinating bodies around the USA, which includes the South Eastern Repeater Association, the organization that coordinates repeaters in the southeast (except AL and FL). Become an associate member to recieve the Repeater Journal, a quarterly publication that has a directory by frequency and state in the center section.

BTW, if you plan on visiting southeast Virginia, check out my page at www.qsl.net/kc4jgc . I do keep an updated local listing there. 73,

 

[WayneH]

Whatever amateur repeaters that are included in the database are supposed to be specifically for Skywarn and the like. No ARES or general related stuff is supposed to be in there.

And a HAM forum has come up before. I doubt it will happen when you already have the QRZ forums hence the comment "why reinvent the wheel". This site is supposed to be a primary resource for monitoring of communications with scanners and radio receivers.

 

[N4DES]

It would depend on what wheel you're speaking about. If you're referring to the "major" on line databases, you're right they're not worth the server space they're occupying. Woefully out of date/inaccurate. The best information on amateur repeaters is going to be the ARRL Repeater Directory, which gets its data from the repeater coordinating bodies around the USA, which includes the South Eastern Repeater Association, the organization that coordinates repeaters in the southeast (except AL and FL). Become an associate member to recieve the Repeater Journal, a quarterly publication that has a directory by frequency and state in the center section.

BTW, if you plan on visiting southeast Virginia, check out my page at www.qsl.net/kc4jgc . I do keep an updated local listing there. 73,

And for Florida you can get the information that we update quarterly at http://www.florida-repeaters.org/dblist.htm

 

[BigLebowski]

I still think it would be good to just have a Ham Repeaters section grouped in with the database... especially one with the ability for users that are logged in to edit it. There are enough listeners on this site to keep anything up to date that gets posted.

 

[kc4wwu]

This site is supposed to be a primary resource for monitoring of communications with scanners and radio receivers.

O.K. So if I use my XTS2500 I cant get the info for "monitoring" from this site?"

Back in the day, about 25 years ago, when I started listening to scanners, one of my first programmable scanners was the Bearcat 210XL. I used to listen to Ham Repeaters ALL the time before I was a licensed HAM. I personally don't think it would be much of a burden to add a Amateur Repeaters section. Any why only have a section for Skywarn? Skywarn is as much as a joke as ARES is. But whatever, it was just a suggestion. Since only a dozen or so "members" would like to see it, it doesn't count.

Mark, KS4VT, I agree with what your saying about the Florida Repeater Council. MOST of the time it's accurate. But that is only a "coordinated" list. Most of them are on the air, some of them aren't.

The ARRL repeater journal? HAHAHA... okay. Thats a start, but again, it's not very accurate. I used that on a trip to New england, back in June. Some of the repeaters listed were not there, OR the P.L. wasn't listed, or the wrong P.L. was listed.

And AlabamaRS, why direct me to a link about a transceiver made in Hong Kong? Thats not what I was asking for.

anyway... again, just an idea..

73, Pete
K4QHR

 

[CCHLLM]

After using the ARRL guide for a cross country trip, I found that primarily it's best use is for propping up a short leg on a table or use as a fire starter source while camping. I used a few pages each day and it lasted the whole trip back home, but it's a bit pricey if that's your intended use..... Oh, and the print will leave smut on your fingers and that should be a clue that it's not good as a butt tape substitute.

So, how about instead of going through the throes of compiling sections listing the repeaters themselves, why not a section with lists of reliable repeater lists and sources for such contributed by the members here. You could then hit those sites and determine for yourself whether it's good, bad, or suxbutt info. If there's conflicting, missing, erroneous, etc., info between lists, this could be pointed out in caveat posts in the appropriate sections.

Just a thought.......

 

[SCPD]

Let drop it, you are NOT going anywhere with this...

 

[Caesar]

maybe see about a stick thread in each states forums for ham repeaters, but repeaters change to often and like already mentioned this site is more for Public Safety etc and not ham radio database. Check for good guides in your area though, in the South East we have the SERA Journal - South Eastern Repeater Association Journal, which is updated quarterly...

 

[Grog]

The SERA journal is just as outdated because once you get in, you're not getting removed so I would say that up to half of the repeaters that are listed for my area are "paper repeaters" and not actually on the air.

 

[WayneH]

O.K. So if I use my XTS2500 I cant get the info for "monitoring" from this site?

I understand where you're trying to go with this but you're certainly pushing the realm. Commercial radios have become commonplace as receivers - besides their transceiver capabilities - because of the sensitivity and selectivity (which you know), hence there being forums for them. Amateur radio is more in its own category compared to what this website is for.

There are always what ifs and stretching the scope, like what you're trying to do, but we've gone over this before and it didn't happen.

I really would not want to have to deal with some of the people that are not currently here but would be drawn to an amateur radio forum. I have enough drama to moderate.

And I seem to recall there being a recommendation for using the Wiki to list amateur repeaters for a region. Administration for them is a bit different than what we already have in the DB.

 

[tbnmaster]

The OP touched on both an amateur repeater forum and adding amateur frequencies to the database. Along with most, I don't agree with adding an amateur radio area to the forum. QRZ.com serves that purpose. I do however think it would be somewhat nice to have the frequencies in the frequency database. I don't see how that would cause any "drama". If keeping them updated in the Wiki is an option, why don't we give that a try?

 

[kc4wwu]

I don't think I said in my original post that I wanted an Amateur Radio "Forum"?? I said it would be nice to have an Amateur Repeater Forum, where Amateur Repeaters can be Added, Updated, or Deleted. Wayne, if you don't think that would be a good idea, how about just having the ability, or adding an area in the County Sections of the Database, to add such. So if and when I go on a trip, I can look up the County I am going to, or going through, and see what Amateur Repeaters are actually active there. Of course it will have to be updated and maintained by "us", the "members", and IF it catches on, could be a great resource.

73, Pete
K4QHR

 

[kg4ojj]

I have to agree with Pete. My brother-in-law just returned from Iraq and is stationed at Fort Campbell KY. After searching here, ARRL, SERA, and our friend "Google," I finally found what I need for an upcoming trip to see him. That took a few hours, not counting the time with programming portables (both XTS2500), and a few emails to confirm a repeater was off for repair, PL tones, etc.

The RR community is notorious for keeping stuff updated. I frequently contribute to update, correct, and add information to our collaborative knowledge. In Jacksonville FL, there are (at most) a few dozen amateur repeaters. Many listed on the FL Repeater Council are silent (from non-use or no power, I don't know).

Since many RR members are hams, why not add it another category on each county page?
Heck, I'd volunteer to act as an "amateur-radio" database admin.

 

[burner50]

As mentioned before, this is a MONITORING website. It just so happens that monitoring is a "gateway" to becoming a ham (at least it was for me).

With the fact that this is a monitoring website in mind, What is talked about on an amateur repeater that is interesting to the average scanner listener? A good recipe for chili? How about logistics for a club meeting that they probably wont attend?

The ONLY thing that would be of any interest to a party not directly involved in the conversation is something like SKYWARN or storm spotters. And many of those repeaters are only used for storm spotting for a few hours per day, a few days per year. My local county recently purchased my club a repeater, but you wont find it in the DB, because its mainly used as a ham repeater, but its primary function is Emergency Management.


As a Ham, it is something I would like, But I understand that this website is not aimed at Hams, it is aimed at scanner users, the majority of who would not care about the topics presented on Ham repeaters most the time.

 

[grem467]

i disagree with the statement that ham repeaters are not of interest to people to listen. Sure listening to "well i tried Doan's back pills and they worked better than the pills i took last week" gets old, but people have different listening tastes. I personally dont really care for listening to EMS traffic, but others on here get their jollies off it. Obviously someone is using their scanner for ham listening, as every recent scanner i have owned has a dedicated search for the ham bands in its firmware.

Point is my first scanner had 10 channels in it and 6 of them were local ham repeaters LONG before i got a license, granted it was LONG before radioreference, but it would have been nice to have that as a resource.

While i dont want this site to turn into the QRZ type crap, i do think it would be nice to have the output freqs with PL for amateur repeaters. Hell we have joes tow truck service and walmart on here, why not that? The infrastructure is in place (obviously) to handle it in the database, if its an administration concern you have, would it really be more of a burdon to handle it than joes tow truck freqs?

Not to mention the growing number of P25 ham repeaters to listen to on your fancy new 500+ dollar receiver

 

[kc4wwu]

Umm... okay...

As mentioned before, this is a MONITORING website.

With the fact that this is a monitoring website in mind, What is talked about on an amateur repeater that is interesting to the average scanner listener? A good recipe for chili? How about logistics for a club meeting that they probably wont attend?

As a Ham, it is something I would like, But I understand that this website is not aimed at Hams, it is aimed at scanner users, the majority of who would not care about the topics presented on Ham repeaters most the time.

Okay... "this is a MONITORING website"

There is a Forum on this "MONITORING website" where you can discuss OBAMA.. Go Figure...
www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121713

or Screen Savers! yeah... gotta have a good screen saver to "MONITOR"
www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123149

or better yet... UFO's! Yeah... Now that would be interesting to monitor comms from a UFO!
www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122773


73, Pete
K4QHR