[OZAPRS] Why doesn't Northern Tasmania gate VK3 callsigns?

[Ray Wells]

Hi All,

Please consider.

Given that all Igates are provided by individuals, at their own expense, 
are we (the travelling amateur) not expecting too much when we expect 
remarkable coverage without contributing financially to the set up and 
ongoing operation of these facilities?

As a BBS sysop for over a decade, and a current VHF, HF and Satellite 
Igate, I think I can speak for most providers of such facilities when I 
say that we enjoy providing a service and we don't expect financial 
compensation. However, users of those facilities should realise that we 
also have lives outside amateur radio and, sometimes, circumstances 
prevent provision of the service we provide. If most sysops are like me 
they hate the service being out of service, but such is often beyond our 
control.

I can't speak for VK7 but in my corner of VK2 I was aprs for a long 
time, being the northern-most aprs station in this state. My local digi, 
vk2rmc-1 (which I licenced and completely funded because that was the 
only way to see a digi established) now has that honour. There was 
nobody else around here with whom to converse when I established my 
gateway. The nearest aprs station was 350km away in Newcastle. Although 
aprs is starting to spread its wings, there is still nobody else around 
here with whom to converse.

Not all states are as fortunate as VK3 when it comes to coordinating 
amateur radio infrastructure, including repeaters and aprs. I envy you guys.

Let's all take a step backwards on this one and encourage aprs 
development, but let's not flame what individuals are trying to do with 
possibly limited resources and maybe a less than supportive spouse who 
prefers food and clothes over aprs.

Ray vk2tv

Jim Hiley wrote:
> Ron and others,
>
> If it wasn't for this mailing list, I would not have known that we 
> (Tassie) had let the travelling amateurs down.
>
> I have set up a temporary Igate RF to Internet only to fill the gap 
> until 7DC get back on air.
> My Internet is rather unreliable Satellite, but I do have good 
> reception of the local digis.
> The delay in satellite Internet might result in VK3 stations beating 
> me to the servers on occasions.
>
> If there had been an announcement regarding the impending shutdowns, 
> we could have saved the embarrassment.
>
> I only use APRS when travelling and am very grateful for the coverage 
> in VK3, VK5 and bits of VK6 over the last few years.
>
> I am pleased to be able to return the favour.
>
> Jim  VK7JH
>
> At 14:42 14/02/2010, you wrote:
>   
>> It seems my first question has been answered. But not the second.
>> It seems a number of things has happened all at once.  VK7DIK goes on
>> holidays..shuts down his Igate.  Vk7DC moves house and shuts his Igate.
>> So we have no active Igates in Northern Tasmania when Marls and I go on
>> Holidays to Tas.
>> I also run an Igate here in Mildura, but I asked Norm VK3XCI if he would
>> take over the duty of providing the Igate while I was away.
>> I'm really disappointed at the lack of coordination and forethought.
>>
>> So how about fixing the problem?
>>
>> I'll be back in 12 months..does that give you long enough?
>>
>> Regards,
>> Ron
>>
>>
>>     
>
> Jim Hiley VK7JH
> jim at c-com.com.au
>
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