[PBARC] Repeater Council Meeting

[WOLF, EARNEST G]

All -

The big item of discussion at the repeater council meeting at the LR Hamfest Saturday was the reduction of spacing between repeaters from the standard 120 miles to 100 miles.  This discussion eventually led to a proposal that all new coordinations use 100 miles of separation and REQUIRE the use of a tone.  I don't know that it went so far as to whether the council would assign the tone or not.

The thought for this change is to open up more frequencies for use.  The number of frequencies it would make available was not available because the one person who would know was getting married.  Interesting that we voted on something (and as it turned out passed something) that may have minimal on opening up pairs.

There was some discussion about whether the repeater council should mandate the use of tones or not.  In my opinion, Glenn King, suggestion was the best - frequencies are given assuming that you will be using a tone - not requiring it.  However, his never got brought up.

I personally voted against the proposal but I'm not against tones. I'm more against being told what I must put on my repeater to solve a problem that may not exist at my location.  I'm of the opinion that tones should be a tool solve a problem and not be forced repeater owners. If there is an interference problem (whether it be another repeater or from another source) and the repeater owner wants to put on a tone - then go for it.  The age old argument that all modern radios have the tone board in them was brought up but I could walk out into the flea market and find an HR-2B and other older radios that are being made useless by this proposal.  

The proposal passed 7-6.  The gentlemen that proposed the motion expressed concerns about the slim margin of victory but wouldn't recall his motion for the apparent lack of support.

Being a new repeater owner, I will be reading more on the constitution and by-laws of the Arkansas Repeater Council (ARC) because when I asked if a quorum was present, the answer I got was that all it takes is an officer and a few board members to make a quorum.  Interesting.  It sounds as if a "board" meeting could set policy and the membership may not have a say or even know about it.  

The affects of this decision on our repeaters, right now, is none as it only affects new coordinations.  But I wonder if we have to move any of our machines for any reason and have to "re-coordinate", if we will fall under these new guidelines?  We need to thank those that have made our current sites available to use and cross our fingers that we don't have to move.

We need to make sure that the club pays it's dues to the ARC.  We need to make sure that these meetings are attended by someone from the club and that they carry a proxy statement so they can vote as the club wants.  We have to be diligent on these issues and make sure our opinions are heard.



Glenn