[HCARC] Repeater Usage

[Terry Hipskind]

All

We have gone from a single complaint about packet activity on our repeater all the way to “the Red Cross is pulling our communications”.  This rumor made it all the way to the Austin Red Cross.  Of course they are wondering what the heck is going on with our club.  I have spent a good part of today squelching rumors and smoothing feathers. 

Here are the facts surrounding this fiasco:  A brief packet test was conducted – A complaint was issued through the wrong channel – All computer driven additions to the repeater were terminated – Rumors flew.

EchoLink is once again temporarily working.  I say temporarily because it has not been working right since it was first installed.  Although you will be able to connect with your computer, most iPhone users will still get a Connection Error.  In addition EchoLink requires dedicated source and destination ports.  Because we do not have our own internet access we are tying into the Red Cross server.  Something within this server’s setup is occasionally reissuing these ports causing EchoLink to drop.  Fred was working with Anthony of the Red Cross to resolve this issue, but Anthony is no longer with the firm.  I am now working with Anthony’s replacement – hopefully he will quickly solve this problem.  So until this is fixed, if EchoLinkis down, don’t jump to conclusions, call me because the sytem needs to be reset.

IRLP 7779 node is not gone but is currently on 146.52 simplex.  Remember to terminate with 73.

RMS will not be back up on 2M.  This was a test for emergency communications.  Fredericksburg is the limit of our repeater and even there I had to use an LPA.  2M is useless for covering all of the counties in the Hill Country Chapter.  RMS will go to HF.

The club has elected officers and an executive committee to handle any concerns the club may have.  If concerns do not go this group of committed people, they can not solve problems.   As President of this club, I expect all concerns to come through me - especially concerns that have the potential of throwing a bad light on this club.

Terry Hipskind  W0HIP