[Ham-Mac] ARRL discrimination

Sat, 17 May 2003 09:40:15 -0500

Here  is my response to the ARRL note that they will likely not be 
supportin Mac in the LOTW software. You will note that I copied ARRL 
CEO Dave Sumner and ARRL President Jim Haynie.

From: Steve Muncy <[email protected]>
Date: Sat May 17, 2003  09:36:02 US/Central
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: ARRL discrimination

> Date: Sat, 17 May 2003 09:41:54 -0400
> From: "Patton, David  NT1N" <[email protected]>
> Subject: RE: LOTW
>
> Hopefully, whoever writes Macintosh logging software will incorporate 
> an interface with loTW.  ARRL will not likely be supplying a 
> stand-alone Macintosh program.
>
> 73, dave, NT1N
>

This is ridiculous. Why in the world would ARRL develop this kind of 
software and ignore equality among the major platforms. You will 
develop the software for Linux, and ignore the Mac OS?!?!? You must be 
kidding. Do you really want to send the message to your members 
"Windows and Linux Users preferred. Mac users not invited." If this is 
the attitude of ARRL, to provide truth in advertising  I urge you to 
put a notice on your membership application that Macintosh users will 
not receive the same benefits as other members.

As a life member of ARRL and a strong supporter and defender of ARRL, I 
am offended.

In my opinion, if ARRL is going to make software available, you should:

1) offer software that is independent of platform. Solutions exist that 
will compile software for the different platforms, or run independently 
on every platform (ever heard of Java?). If you are not aware of these 
solutions, then I am ashamed  that an organization that represents 
people interested in technology and communications isn't aware of it.

2) offer recommended solutions to developers and not develop the 
software yourself. Don't show a bias. Discriminate against EVERYONE.

As  a life member, I can't show  my dissatisfaction by failing to renew 
my membership. I can, however, let you know how deeply disappointed I 
am in the only organization that claims to represent all amateur radio 
operators. In this instance, you darn sure aren't representing me.

____________________________________________________
Steve Muncy, NI5V    < mailto:[email protected] >
Dallas, TX USA         < http://homepage.mac.com/smuncy/hamradio/ >
QRP-ARCI #10330  FISTS #7412  QCWA #30705  AMSAT #33939
ARRL Life Member