Donating money for the Radio Reference Site:

[josephdavis13]

Donating money for the Radio Reference Site:

Firstly I have seen scanning as a Hobby since 1975. Through the years it has been hard to always receive and get good creditable programming information for these radio scanners.

I can remember when I would look forward to going into Radio Shack to buy the annual frequency guide only to find out that the guide published for my region for the new year nothing had changed and I wasted my money purchasing the guide and I was disappointed.

Sometimes it was not always easy finding and meeting people willing to share their scanner programming information with you. Sometimes it was out of fear because they did not know you. Because of the way our world is today you have to be careful asking persons or agencies for frequency information because you might find yourself on a government watch list somewhere.

The bottom line is, this site is creditable. A lot if people drink from this well and the waters are good. It would taken me years to program my scanner on my own without this site. I was spending money for Radio Shack book for nothing before I found this site and the information was free.

I purchased my first new scanner in years because Austin Texas decided to go to APCO 25 trunked system. It was a very steep learning curve coming from conventional system to trunked systems. The transition was made easy for me because of this site. I think we should consider for ourselves what impact it would have if this site was not available and what have we received from it and how has it help us enjoy the hobby.

Advantages of Radio Reference:

No need to buy annual frequency guide
Receive timely updates
No club meeting to attend (can't make always make them)
Large collective group of people to help solve technical problems
No bearers information flows freely for all even if you are not a nice person and know wants to help you. (Not me I hope)

Lastly I do not know the owner of this site, but I am receiving good information from this site.

Thanks

Joseph

 

[Thunderbolt]

I have to agree with you wholeheartedly. I can remember when I would wait several months for the frequency guide books to come out, only to learn that the information was already outdated, and you had to wait another year, or have an "inside source" to keep abreast of local changes. Likewise, scanner clubs are another great way to share the hobby, and some were always better than others, but if the meetings were always held in a city across the state, you have no way to attend them.

Therefore, this site is well worth the money and it's database is always updated everyday. For us scanner enthusiasts, the Internet has been a goldmine of information for us and we can be thankful for this site, especially in the age of high-tech trunking systems. I can't think of any other Web site like RR.com that has local, regional, national and even global information in one single comprehensive package. Moreover, as you stated, you can usually ask a question when you have a problem and someone with experience will help you solve it.

I do know that running a site like this costs a lot of money and when you consider that most dues donations for any group is around $35-40.00 nowadays, its not too much to ask for. Always remember that you get what you pay for, and back when scanner guidebooks were king, the charges were to recover the publishing costs and improving future editions with better features. The same thing is happening on this Web site and others as well.

Just take a look back at how this Web site has changed and improved for the better since it first started. Lindsay has put a lot of work into this site, making it what it is today, and with over 76,300 members the amount of traffic on the server must be intense, which costs a lot of money to host. Likewise, as the amount of information increases on this site, so will the membership as well, making further bandwidth enhancements necessary.

73's

Ron

 

[gatorhater]

I would encourage others to help with the costs of running this website. Radio Reference is a true treasure for the scanner enthusiast or for the new guys trying to get a start. Scanning has changed since I got hooked in the early 1980's. With the help of RR, I made sense of trunk tracking. If you really need help, it is great to know that help is out there with many people offering assistance.

 

[blantonl]

Folks,

Thanks for the kind comments from everyone, it means a lot.

Warm regards to all,

Lindsay

 

[SCPD]

$30 a year is a mere pittance for the vast amount of information that is available at my fingertips. I'm on here almost every day and being a truck driver between Dallas and Laredo TX it has helped beyond words in keeping the scanners programmed. I have just ordered my first APCO 25 scanner (BCD396T) to keep up with the migration of DPS to that mode and I would be lost if it were not for this site. Keep up the kick-ass work. I'll be right there with you.

 

[hoser147]

Its very hard to beat, if you get the scanner call from RS the info is often outdated or incorrect and your looking at around 20 bucks for one year no updates and alot of BS you dont need. At RR you get an updated Database 365 with no waiting and if you have a problem you can and will get plenty of help. If your looking at buying a new radio you can get reviews and know what ur getting into. As far as I am consernd it s simply the best out there with out a dout....................hoser147

 

[STiMULi]

Thank you Lindsay for all of your efforts. We reallly appreciate your efforts.



REALLY!

 

[scanjunkie]

I agree 150%!! $30 a year is a bargain for what you get here!!

 

[MississippiPI]

This site is great-full of useful information and knowledge.

Be Safe

 

[Dubbin]

I agree 150%!! $30 a year is a bargain for what you get here!!

But $30 a year is not worth the added features that you get. Really the only extras you get for that $30 is the RR webservice, PDF reports (still only trunking after all this time) and the MyRR (not really worth anything). Everything else on this site is FREE. When my donation time runs out I will not pay the $30 and will only pay the $7.50 when and if I need those few services. I would not mind a one time $30 fee for the added services but IMHO $30/year for what you get is just not worth it.

 

[JoeyC]

But $30 a year is not worth the added features that you get. Really the only extras you get for that $30 is the RR webservice, PDF reports (still only trunking after all this time) and the MyRR (not really worth anything). Everything else on this site is FREE. When my donation time runs out I will not pay the $30 and will only pay the $7.50 when and if I need those few services. I would not mind a one time $30 fee for the added services but IMHO $30/year for what you get is just not worth it.

For someone who uses the site as much as you do, one would think that paying a measly $30/year would be the LEAST he could contribute.

The more and more these threads continue, the more I am amazed at the number of cheapskates there are here.

 

[STiMULi]

I look forward to the added features that Lindsay says will soon be added. I need the PDF and CSV files to get my monies worth. Much in the same manner I contributed to the AMD processor line I gave my last contibution to this site. My intent was to fuel the growth needed to keep its value so I can get what I want out of the site.

Lindsay has stated in previous threads that these features are coming.

Like Dubbin I am disappointed that the PDF files have only made it to the trunking aspects of the site but I see alot of potential for the site and the users

 

[blantonl]

But $30 a year is not worth the added features that you get. Really the only extras you get for that $30 is the RR webservice, PDF reports (still only trunking after all this time) and the MyRR (not really worth anything). Everything else on this site is FREE. When my donation time runs out I will not pay the $30 and will only pay the $7.50 when and if I need those few services. I would not mind a one time $30 fee for the added services but IMHO $30/year for what you get is just not worth it.

You'll change that tune when you see the new features that will roll out on July 1st. :roll:

Conventional PDF Reports
CSV Downloads for county and state data
PDF Reports of FCC information for a County
Web service access to FCC Data
New GoogleMaps Integration (will be free)
FAA ATA-100 Data Integration (ARTCC etc - will also be free)

PDF reports (still only trunking after all this time)

 

[maddogdecker]

I agree with everybody this site is the best out there. You get all the info you need and the support. I don't go anywhere else if I have a problem execpt here. I will not use RS for help. 30 dollars maybe a little high but it is well worth it.

 

[Dubbin]

Lindsay, I was NOT *****ing or crying about it. I simply stated how I will handle it. There was no need for the smart ass reply that you gave me or the attached image. Thats not a very good attitude when you are asking for peoples money. All I was stating is that the added features RIGHT NOW are not worth $30/year to me. You have been saying for how long now that we will have PDF's for conventional freqs but you have not yet delivered on that. Maybe you should have said something before about all of these new features that you say are coming out. There is nothing in the Donations will now be subscriptions thread or on the donations Wiki page. Christ, I even said I would still support the site but I guess thats just not good enough.

Again I am NOT *****ing or crying about it I am just saying how I will handle it.

BTW I would have sent this to you in privet but you do not accept PM's or emails... If you want to discuss this any further then please feel free to email or PM me. Just leave me the option to reply back to you.

 

[Dubbin]

For someone who uses the site as much as you do, one would think that paying a measly $30/year would be the LEAST he could contribute.

The more and more these threads continue, the more I am amazed at the number of cheapskates there are here.

Joey this has nothing to do with how much someone uses the site. It has to do with getting what you pay for. You are not understanding what I am saying here. All I am talking about is the extra features. Thats it, no more, no less. Right now the extras are not worth the $30/year to me. Do I have a problem with donating to the site? No! Will I donate again? More then likely yes but thats all going to depend on how Lindsay handles my reply to him.

 

[STiMULi]

Puhlease Stop It Now!

 

[blantonl]

Lindsay, I was NOT *****ing or crying about it. I simply stated how I will handle it. There was no need for the smart ass reply that you gave me or the attached image. Thats not a very good attitude when you are asking for peoples money. All I was stating is that the added features RIGHT NOW are not worth $30/year to me. You have been saying for how long now that we will have PDF's for conventional freqs but you have not yet delivered on that. Maybe you should have said something before about all of these new features that you say are coming out. There is nothing in the Donations will now be subscriptions thread or on the donations Wiki page. Christ, I even said I would still support the site but I guess thats just not good enough.

Again I am NOT *****ing or crying about it I am just saying how I will handle it.

BTW I would have sent this to you in privet but you do not accept PM's or emails... If you want to discuss this any further then please feel free to email or PM me. Just leave me the option to reply back to you.

Dubbin, Dubbin, Dubbin.... thank you for the lecture.

Take a chill pill man...I welcome comments about features, funcitonality, etc.... but be prepared to "hear back" from me if I don't agree with you or I feel like being a smart-ass in response.

Frankly Dubbin, *I* am allowed to do that...

 

[blantonl]

Will I donate again? More then likely yes but thats all going to depend on how Lindsay handles my reply to him.

Oh, well in this case, I love you Dubbin, you are the best.

I accept my lecture like a man.

Thank you Dubbin may I have another!

Sheesh...

 

[michaelsbus]

... Maybe you should have said something before about all of these new features that you say are coming out. ...

Well, the guy is a busy man. Just updating the database is a mind-boggling task. As well is monitoring the forum traffic. Adding features to the site involves software updates and testing on separate sytem to ensure that we don't have a problem before the site's servers get updates. That's another time- and money-consuming task. 30 bucks a year is a blessing for the kind of information and support you can find here...

I, too, would run to RS every year to get the latest Police Call... (still would, if they would continue publishing...) I also subscribed to another site that doesn't come close to RR, but it's search functions are better than the FCC site's, although the info is often out of date. I relegate generalized searches to them, then use RR for more specific searches and up-to-date information.

I have contributed to RR and will again. And I haven't even used any of the added features yet! Before you nickle-and-dime the added features consider this: the added features are a BONUS for your donation - a thank-you for contributing to the site. Also, no one is twisting your arm to do so.