ARRL Elections
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Yes you are correct. My last full time employment was with the dubious United Healthcare, so I know what they are trying to do…UHC had many similar initiatives with other companies with the excuse that they could help lower costs.
Right or wrong, I just felt that arrl should stick to radio etc and not directly associate themselves with other for profit companies without explaining how this helps amateur radio or if there is any money being exchanged.
I know, this was done to show they are providing another benefit of membership, but it is mostly directed at folks on medicare and definitely not to younger people where the future lies. If I was a new or younger member, I, too would question the reason for this since it continues to perpetuate the “old folk” image of ham radio.
alcahuete
Member
Perhaps they should just offer a link to the discount then? All this shows is that they are going to sell your information to a 3rd party, who is probably going to spam the heck out of you with offers.
Not a fan.
I'm not a fan, either. My health insurance isn't eligible.
alcahuete
Member
I guess they won't sell your info to a 3rd party then. That's actually a win for you!
rf_patriot200
Active Member
I use to buy the repeater directory almost every year, until Repeaterbook started putting it to shame in terms of far less errors and omissions. My $23.95 should have given to repeaterbook just on accuracy alone. I too still get the Antenna anthology or whatever it's called though.
Several years ago, the ARRL contracted out their Repeater Directory to a third party. That third party broke the existing good relationship that the ARRL had with most of the amateur radio repeater coordinating bodies. That third party continued to print old data from the coordinators and wouldn't work with them to update the data. I see that RFinder has now been sold to another company. IMHO, the ARRL Repeater Directors is not worth the paper its printed on.
As for Repeaterbook, out of 9 repeaters listed on Repeaterbook for my county, 4 of the listings are incorrect. That's an improvement. Repeaterbook used to list 15 repeaters for my county, but they've culled out 6 listings for repeaters that weren't on the air. However, they still list a repeater that has never been on the air (see note below) and they don't list a repeater that is coordinated and is on the air. Repeaterbook is crowd-sourced data and the "crowd" doesn't always know what they are talking about.
For you, the most accurate listings of coordinated repeaters can be found on the Illinois Repeater Association's website.
Note: The never-been-on-the-air listing shows one of my old callsigns that I gave up in 2020 which has since been picked up by a ham in Michigan.
As for Repeaterbook, out of 9 repeaters listed on Repeaterbook for my county, 4 of the listings are incorrect. That's an improvement. Repeaterbook used to list 15 repeaters for my county, but they've culled out 6 listings for repeaters that weren't on the air. However, they still list a repeater that has never been on the air (see note below) and they don't list a repeater that is coordinated and is on the air. Repeaterbook is crowd-sourced data and the "crowd" doesn't always know what they are talking about.
For you, the most accurate listings of coordinated repeaters can be found on the Illinois Repeater Association's website.
Note: The never-been-on-the-air listing shows one of my old callsigns that I gave up in 2020 which has since been picked up by a ham in Michigan.
rf_patriot200
Active Member
I see the Last time the IRA's website was updated shows Febuary, 2024 ?
Isn't this how RR operates?
rf_patriot200
Active Member
I consider RR's DB more accurate, at least in my region. I would rank Repeaterbook Second. There are a Few conventional fm and Dmr discoveries I can't share with the RR DB, in my area otherwise they'll disappear !
I agree. But I was asking if RR is crowd sourced as is RepeaterBook.
rf_patriot200
Active Member
Lindsay could answer that, I'm not sure ?
Sometimes I think I am in a foreign country, since every time I scan 2 meters and 440 no one is ever talking and I am searching the entire ranges. I heard a short conversation about 2 weeks ago about the weather and that is it. Maybe this is unique to my area and I am sure there is more activity in more populated areas but not here.
Back on topic, many years ago I bought the arrl repeater directory but found it somewhat incomplete and now unfortunately with much print becoming obsolete, why do they even publish it? They have basically stopped printing their magazines.
Back on topic, many years ago I bought the arrl repeater directory but found it somewhat incomplete and now unfortunately with much print becoming obsolete, why do they even publish it? They have basically stopped printing their magazines.
rf_patriot200
Active Member
ARRL Loves money. They'd publish phone books if people would buy them, accuracy is probably irrelevant.
The repeater listings were last updated December 31, 2024.I see the Last time the IRA's website was updated shows Febuary, 2024 ?
The magazines are still being printed and mailed to subscribers.
The RadioReference Database is crowd sourced. If someone submits something that proves to be incorrect, someone else can make a subsequent submission to correct it.
Correct, at additional cost.
Please understand, I am 100% behind having an organization like ARRL, but I firmly believe they have lost their direction and initial purpose by getting into areas that do not truly advance the hobby and, in a few cases, using members money in a less than useful way. I would be more than happy to send them a donation in addition to my dues, if I felt comfortable with both the direction and use of funds.
jaymatt1978
Member
The Internet made Repeaterbook obsolete. 4 repeaters with the incorrect listing is completely unacceptable and that would make me not buy the book ever again! Even when there isn't an Internet signal hams can print out up-to-date information on repeaters ahead of time!!! Just knowing by contribution information on other frequency books I know some authors purposely publish mistakes so the can figure put if their information is being copied. The only radio person you NEVER did that was Gene Hughes of Police Call, he basically printed the FCC database and added a few features like channel numbers and some other information.
Amateur repeaters established by an amateur or several amateurs may or may not be viable at various times or periods. Money is often tight and construction may or may not be of first quality. There are no mandatory schedules of operation and who knows if a frequency coordinator follows through in an rural area to see if any construction has been done.
There is one UHF 'backyard' repeater in my town and it when it is on, there is no traffic that I've been able to eke a response from. I sent a SASE letter to the on file licensee/owner asking, but never received a reply as to status or hours.
The Internet isn't going to tell me if it is functioning or the weekly net is simply on hiatus for vacation or the holidays.
R.B. is a decent reference material for myself and others who want to know what may be in a county or State.
Still, the ARRL is not a worthy advocacy group for many amateurs who aren't into EOTW prophecies, contesting, CW on 80 meters, or Chronic Illness Chat nets.
There is one UHF 'backyard' repeater in my town and it when it is on, there is no traffic that I've been able to eke a response from. I sent a SASE letter to the on file licensee/owner asking, but never received a reply as to status or hours.
The Internet isn't going to tell me if it is functioning or the weekly net is simply on hiatus for vacation or the holidays.
R.B. is a decent reference material for myself and others who want to know what may be in a county or State.
Still, the ARRL is not a worthy advocacy group for many amateurs who aren't into EOTW prophecies, contesting, CW on 80 meters, or Chronic Illness Chat nets.
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