[TMRA] Website Revamp Preview

[Joe Thielen]

Hello all.  I'm in the process of working on a revamp of the website, in
particular the home page, and I'm interested in any feedback any of you
would like to provide.   The TMRA website has grown over the years, and at
some point you've got to stop and take a fresh look at it and re-group.
This is what I'm attempting to do (in addition to adding functionality to
it).

If you're interested, check out the preview page at:

http://www.tmrahamradio.org/index_new.htm

The major change here is immediately at the top.  On our existing site some
of the "links" were hard-coded into the TMRA logo/picture at the top.
However, since the website is growing, new stuff had to be added via regular
text links underneath the logo/picture.  I've now removed any links from the
logo/picture and placed them directly below it.  I've also grouped the
links.  I'm curious to see what comments you may have on the grouping
(positive OR negative).

In addition, I've added the repeater frequencies underneath the navigation
links.  I know that when I visit another clubs page, one of the first things
I am probably looking for are the repeater freqs.

Another major new addition to the home page is the "MEETINGS / EVENTS /
NETS" section.  Basically, my intention here is to answer the question of
"what do/can club members DO?".  Here I try to answer that in the form of
our main meetings, TMRA events, and on-air nets.  I'm sure I've missed some
things here.   I still need to get a graphic for the "MEETINGS / EVENTS /
NETS" text so it meshes with the rest of the page, it's on my TODO list.


Aside from the home page, one other new addition is a new page called
"On-Air Aids".  You can find this via the link in the "Resources" line of
the new home page navigation links, or you can go directly to it via this
link:

http://www.tmrahamradio.org/onair_aids.htm

The intent of this page is to provide, in one place, several tools that may
prove useful while operating on the air.  I find that even though the math
to convert Eastern Standard Time (or EDT) to UTC is just not that hard, I
get confused, so I end up looking it up just to make sure I've got it
right.  So here on this page is the current UTC time.  In addition, there
are two maps that I check out frequently.  The first is a map created for
VHF propagation which is automatedly produced by using data from the APRS
Internet backbone.  Very neat.   The last item currently on the page is the
Maximum Usable Frequency world map.  I'm not even going to try and explain
this one, because if I try I'll probably get it incorrect.  If you're
interested in HF propagation, click on this image.  It will take you to a
page which helps explain some of the concepts involved.  I find it very
helpful to have this map provided visually, especially when you're actually
on the air while looking at it.  After doing this for a period of time
(days/weeks), you start to "see" what's going on.


Anyhow, I'm interested in any feedback you're willing to provide.  Positive
or negative.  I may not reply, but I will certainly read anything provided.