MICHIGAN AREA REPEATER COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
WEB SITE:
http://www.qsl.net/miarc e-mail:
miarc@yahoogroups.com
August 2003
|
Minutes March Meeting Traverse City, MI Minutes from MARC Meeting
June 1, 2003 Meeting called to order by President
Dennis Gaboury at 1:00 PM. A
Quorum was present. A motion was made and seconded that the Minutes from the
March meeting be approved as printed in the Newsletter, motion passed. Kelly
Karpp gave treasurer’s report, motion made by Dan N8QOP, seconded by Dan
N8WKM, no discussion followed, motion passed. It
was announced that Richard Ranta had filled the position of Secretary, and
Dave Johnson WD8DJB has filled the open position of Director. Old
Business: None New
Business: Bruce
N8UT made a motion, seconded by Kelly KB8RWG and after much discussion, the
following motion was made – and passed. I
hereby move that the MARC immediately begin to form a new working rule
document called the “Developmental Operating Guidelines” in accordance with
the unfulfilled legal requirements of Article IX, Section B, Paragraph 2 of
the MARC By-Laws, with the purpose of this document being to provide an
active transitional medium for the introduction of new ideas, new rules and
rule changes, application of new technologies, testing of proposed rule
changes and technology usages, various descriptions, and the refinement of
language for eventual inclusion as changes in the MARC By-Laws, Standards and
Procedures. It is inclusive in this motion that the structure and
administration of this document be accomplished by a permanent, standing
committee of Board appointed volunteers, three to seven in number, appointed
by agreement of the Board, and led by either a MARC Director or the MARC
Vice-President, and that those appointees must be technical
representatives or owners of operational repeaters coordinated by the MARC,
this requirement being necessary to insure that a solid technological base of
knowledge and understandings, specific to repeaters, is reflected in the
endeavors and products of the committee for inclusion in the Developmental
Operating Guidelines; and for the good of all Amateur Radio Service License
holders. There will be a three (3) year maximum and total time limit imposed
on any and all temporary products of the D.O.G.; at the end of which any
product must either be enacted as a change, or part of a change, to the
By-Laws, Standards, or Procedures, or dropped completely any from further
use. Discussion
followed on the 900 MHz band plan. Dan N8WKM to do some research for DOG
recommendations. |
A short note
from the Prez… First
of all, I would like to thank our Database Manager/Director Dave Johnson, for
the keeping the information up to date as the renewals come in for the TDS’s.
Also, I would like to thank Vice-President/Coordinator R. Bruce Winchell for
getting the back log of TDS’s brought up to date, and bring us back to a
current status. Both of these men put in many hours to keep the information
up to date, as well as being correct. When
you read the minutes, you will notice a new working rule document called the
“Developmental Operating Guidelines”, otherwise known as DOG. To fully
understand the purpose of DOG, please go to the following URL http://www.qsl.net/miarc/news/DevOpGuidelines.htm
here it will be explained why we formed DOG. One use of Dog will be looking
at the 900 MHz Band Plan, and bring it in line with the needs of our members. The
September 7th meeting will be held at the brand new facilities of
the Delta Twp. Fire Department. Directions can be found on our website http://www.qsl.net/miarc/meetings.html.
This will be our Annual meeting, and please enter the building by the south
door. At this meeting, we will electVice-President, Treasurer, and one
Director. A ballot is included in this newsletter. Nominations will be opened
up at the meeting. If you are unable to attend the meeting, the ballot must
be returned by USPS 24 hours prior to the Sunday meeting, to the Mt. Clemens
PO Box. Also,
we still are looking for a location for our December meeting in the
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek area. If you are interested in hosting a meeting,
please contact me so arrangements can be made. One
last thought; get involved and participate. 73, Dennis
W8DFG ___________________________________________________________ The
September meeting to be held in Lansing on the September 7th.
August 1st is the deadline for the Newsletter. With
no further business to conduct a motion was made by Kelly, seconded by Dan to
adjourn the meeting, motion passed. Minutes
taken by R. Bruce Winchell, Vice-President/Coordinator Typed by Dennis Gaboury, President |
Frequency
Coordination Request & Action
|
Req Date Call City Quad Freq
Result Reason
7/31/2000
KB8BIT Manistee NW 144
Denied 10pr no clear WI
1/15/2001 N8CJM West Branch NE 147.060
Coordinated
Prov.time extended
1/30/2001 KA8ZAU Holly SE 440 Coordinated Operational
12/15/2001 N8GY Brooklyn SW 444.050
Coordinated
Provisional
1/11/2002 W8MSU East Lansing
SE 440 Coordinated Finalized
1/22/2002 KA8ABM Lake City NW
440 Coord
Finalized Operational 3/12/2002 KF8UI Flint SE
224.480 Coord
Finalized Operational
4/18/2002 KF8KK Glen Arbor NW 52.92
Coord Finalized
Operational
6/23/2002 AA8ZV Kalkaska NW 147.300
Coord Finalized
Operational
10/21/2002 AA8B Detroit SE 444.950 Denied Nothing Available
1/23/2003 W8NS Clio NE
444.250
Coordinated
Moved-Recoordinated
2/5/2003
WD8EEQ Jackson SW 443.175
Re-Coordinated ERP Boost
2/5/2003
WD8EEQ Jackson SW 1286.500
Coordinated
Operational 2/5/2003 WD8EEQ Jackson SW
51.620
Coordinated
Operational
3/28/2003 W8YUC Rankin SE
442.300 Coordinated Operational
5/10/2003 AC8DX Gobles SW
147.200 Denied Pr not avail&too
close
5/21/2003 KG8CU South Boardman NW 52.840 Coord Finalized Operational
5/23/2003 KA8DDZ Rochester Hills SE
51.720 Denied Local Configuration
5/28/2003 KO8P Petoskey NW 147.340
Denied Local
Configuration
7/24/2003 KC8FUV White Cloud NW 144 Denied Nothing Available
7/31/2003 KC8MSE Fremont NW
144
Denied
Nothing Avail |
|
No Treasurers Report Was submitted by the newsletter
deadline. |
Database Manager / Webmaster’s Corner
Activity
during the past three months has been brisk at times. I spent most of my time on web site and
database changes. You can get a
chronological summary of web site changes by using the link on the MARC home
page. Just click the Last Update
MM/DD/YYYY link in the top left corner or go to
http://www.qsl.net/miarc/2003updatelog.html. I
will mention the title of two new links to perk your interest. Everything you
need to know about getting a coordination. and Why your bi-annual TDS report
is so important. can be found by following the Coordination Information link
on home page or by going to http//www.qsl.net/miarc/info_faq.html. I
processed 70 TDS's since the last newsletter was published in May. Important
marc-news@yahoogroups.com update: The
marc-news@yahoogroups.com email list had 162 bouncing email addresses that I
removed on July 31, 2003. If
you did not receive this newsletter via email from marc-news@yahoogroups.com
and you expected it, you will need to re-subscribe to the list to receive
future communications. To
re-subscribe send an email to: marc-news-subscribe@yahoogroups.com If
you would like to start receiving your newsletter and other occasional
important communications via marc-news you can subscribe by sending an email
to: marc-news-subscribe@yahoogroups.com |
You
can unsubscribe from the list by sending an email to: marc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Again
if you change your email address you will need to re-subscribe using your new
email address to receive emails from marc-news@yahoogroups.com. On
a similar topic: if you are contemplating, or you have made a recent Internet
provider change, please remember to send us your new email address. If you opted for email communications from
MARC and we don't get notification of a change our link to you is
broken. Speaking of which, MARC is
looking for updated email addresses from KG8XS. If
you want to know the status of your repeater refer to our web site repeater
directory: http://www.qsl.net/miarc/repeater_directory.html. If your entry is Red you have an overdue
TDS. Please
use the email TDS form at http://www.qsl.net/miarc/tdsform.html rather than
paper TDS forms if at all possible. It
will give you a copy of your submission that you can print for your records
and provides us a permanent record of your request. Thanks again to all that are keeping their
TDS's current. MARC relies on the
validity of our database and your current information helps us do our job. Dave
Johnson, WD8DJB |
|
Newsletter
Correction: The
May 2003 Newsletter incorrectly included comments of an "Illegal
Call" as part of the reason the new coordination request for K8JBA and N8GQ
were denied. The reason for denial should read "Denied Local Class"
as recorded in the now updated newsletter http://www.qsl.net/miarc/news/may2003.htm. The error was due to a data entry mistake while checking call signs against QRZ and an activity logging error during our attempt to work through the new coordination backlog. |
|
Coordinator’s Quarterly Report as of August 2, 2003 I
got slowed down a lot during this quarter. Business expansion, graduations,
deaths and severe condition near-deaths in the family left me with little
time to spend on MARC business. I'm still processing part of the backlog.
Still, I managed to make some progress. There are several requests from the
SE and SW quadrants that have become very time consuming. The reason for this
is that there are so many possibilities for pairs that are eligible INSIDE
Michigan. These take a long time to
process because each pair has to be run by the Adjacent State Coordinators,
one-at-a-time. The adjacent state coordinators have been most helpful and
understanding, but they only have so much time to spend on MARC requests. I
refuse to keep their desks full of MARC requests all the time. That would be
a gross imposition on their in-state activities. I have to space them out as
a common courtesy. When you are dealing with a possible 15-50 pairs per
request, and I have 20-30 requests in process, this takes a long time. If
your request is chronologically in line behind some of these working
requests, it puts you on the same long time-line. It does not mean you have
been forgotten. ALERT!!!
PROVISIONAL COORDINATIONS ARE NOT FINAL. REPORT YOUR STATUS OR LOSE IT! |
If
you have been sent a Provisional Coordination, be sure that you pay attention
to the expiration date on that document. There are a large number of
Provisionals that are about to expire. If you let it go past the expiration
date without (1) reporting that your repeater has been constructed and is on
the air, or (2) ask for an extension of construction time, We WILL return the
frequency to the available pool. This condition is clearly stated in the
Provisional Coordination Statement, and the Coordinator will NOT spend any
time chasing you down for the status of your repeater. We will send out ONE
email notice before the Provisional Coordination is rescinded. Don't send in
a report that a machine is on the air when it actually is not. We are
verifying operational status on each and every one of them before a Final
Coordination Statement is issued. We will no longer offer anyone the
opportunity to create a "paper repeater." R. Bruce Winchell-N8UT MARC Coordinator |
|
This is a reminder to all repeater Trustees, TDS’ are due
every two years. If you do not know the current status of the TDS on your
repeater please see http://www.qsl.net/miarc/repeater_directory.html
to see the status of your repeater. Also, if you would like a nice way to
find your HAAT data as well as create a coverage map for your repeater please
see http://www.cplus.org/rmw/english1.html
for information about Radio Mobile. The learning curve is high,
but well worth the effort. |
MARC Board of Directors
|
President |
Dennis Gaboury |
W8DFG |
P.O.
Box 463148 Mt.
Clemens, MI 48046 |
|
Vice
President |
Bruce Winchell |
N8UT |
5354
Baker Rd |
|
Secretary |
Richard Ranta |
K8JX |
812
Graceland NE |
|
Treasurer |
Kelly F. Karpp |
KB8RWG |
PO
Box 127 Oscoda,
MI 48750 |
|
Director |
Dave Johnosn
|
WD8DJB |
2266
E. Vermontville Hwy Charlotte,
MI 48813 |
|
Director |
Ron Gordon |
W8YUC |
7172
Sharp Rd. Swartz
Creek, MI 48473 |
|
Frequency
Coordinator |
Bruce Winchell |
N8UT |
5354
Baker Rd |
|
Database
Manager |
Dave Johnson |
WD8DJB |
2266
E. Vermontville Hwy Charlotte,
MI 48813 |
|
September Meeting Location: The Next meeting is September 7, 2003
meeting at 1pm. Note !!
This is not the same location as last years September meeting !! At the New Delta Township Fire
Station 811 N. Canal Rd. Lansing, MI Directions: Take I-96 to M-43 exit 93, go East to the
first traffic light at Canal Rd. Turn left (North) on Canal Rd, go 150' to
Administration Dr turn left (West), the new fire station will be on your
right. Take the first driveway on the right to
the West parking lot. Enter the
building at the South entrance on Administration Dr. The new fire station can be seen from the
intersection of M-43 / Saginaw and Canal.
Upcoming
Meetings: December 2003 Kalamazoo/Battle Creek – Location to be announced |
|
RESOLUTION
PASSED for Developmental Operating Guidelines (D.O.G.) : Condensed Summary The MARC has a historical record of being very slow to
respond to technological and social change. Why? The process of change has always
been one of changing the Ruling Documents, one word or phrase at a time, and
only by using the By-Laws-mandated 9-month process for any change to be
approved or disapproved. If something gets passed and does not work, it takes
another 9 months or more to get rid of it. The MARC has been choking on its
own legislative process. We have been missing a transitional medium wherein
new ideas and adjustments could be temporarily implemented and tested, and
where they could go through language refinement before being thrown into the
lengthy MARC approval process. Here is the text of the original motion made by N8UT and
passed unanimously at the June, 2003 meeting in Traverse City. There were a
couple of minor language changes approved which I do not have readily at hand
and I am up against a deadline for this publication. "I hereby move that the MARC immediately begin to
form a new working rule document called the "Developmental Operating
Guidelines" in accordance with the unfulfilled legal requirements of Article
IX, Section B, Paragraph 2 of the MARC By-Laws, with the purpose of this
document being to provide an active transitional medium for the introduction
of new ideas, new rules and rule changes, application of new technologies,
testing of proposed rule changes and technology usages, various descriptions,
and the refinement of language for eventual inclusion as changes in the MARC
By-Laws, Standards and Procedures. It is inclusive in this motion that the
structure and administration of this document be accomplished by a permanent,
standing committee of Board appointed volunteers, three to seven in number,
appointed by agreement of the Board, and led by either a MARC Director or the
MARC Vice-President, and that those appointees must be technical representatives
or owners of operational repeaters coordinated by the MARC, this requirement
being necessary to insure that a solid technological base of knowledge and
understandings, specific to repeaters, is reflected in the endeavors and
products of the committee for inclusion in the Developmental Operating
Guidelines; and for the good of all Amateur Radio Service License holders.
There will be a three (3) year maximum and total time limit imposed on any
and all temporary products of the D.O.G.; at the end of which
any product must either be enacted as a change, or part of a change, to the
By-Laws, Standards, or Procedures, or dropped completely any from further
use." |
The use of the DOG will in no way negate the power of
any member's vote. The final say for any change that will come from the DOG
as a proposed permanent change to the By-Laws, Standards and Procedures, will
still lie with the general membership in a Democratic vote. The use of the
DOG will in no way become an exclusionary block or hindrance to recommendations
and motions for change made by any Member in good standing, at any time. Member
Input Coordination of repeaters is more important today than
ever before. There are more repeaters on the air and more
hams that wish to put a repeater on the air than there ever has been in the past. Now more than ever it is important that
there be a central place to help keep track of coordinations and
provide some technical assistance in avoiding interference. The primary
function of any coordinating body is NOT to settle disputes, but is in fact to avoid them. The August meeting brings yet another election for which there are several positions open. These positions need
to be filled! Coordination of repeaters is more than one
person taking time and effort to decide what will and will not work. Unfortunately today people only want to be involved in
the ongoing efforts until their repeater is coordinated.
Efforts for coordination are not the right of a repeater owner or
any ham, they are a responsibility as much as keeping your equipment
operating within the specifications and guidelines. Those people who are
involved also depend on information that they have to make decisions. This
information comes to them in the form of requests and the TDS forms that are required. The coordination body for the State of Michigan is
MIARC. The job that is done by this body is a thankless task that is
necessary in order for all of us to enjoy operation of our repeaters. As technology
changes so must the way that the coordinating body makes decisions. The
implementation of the DOG is a way for all of us to improve the way things
are done. The MIARC board can only make decisions based on the
information that they have, whether it is from the TDS forms or input at meetings or via mail or email. It is your
responsibility to be involved to help MIARC make the best decisions possible. Dan Thompson N8WKM |
|
A Short Note
From the Editor. If
you would like your comments included in the newsletter please email them to dan@waycom.com. Obviously I can only include
what will fit into the newsletter. Please also note that the MARC also
maintains an email address for communication concerning MARC business as well
as a P.O Box for you to send USPS mail. The email address is miarc@yahoogroups.com and the USPS
address can be found on the label of this mailing. |
|
2003
Ballot Please return to: PO Box 463148 Mt. Clemens, MI 48046 Please
mark “Election” as well as your callsign, so we may verify eligibility on the
front of the envelope.
Name: __________________________ Callsign: __________________________ Signature: _______________________ Date: _____________________________ |