In this blog I am not seeking to justify a comment I made on GB7NR’s Facebook Page, but to clarify it.
This is the comment I made where the author of the GB7NR reported the existence of a new DMR Network the “adn.systems” that had allegedly 32 International servers.
“There are presently 84 UK repeaters on the BrandMeister network that has 47/48 worldwide servers, and 71 UK repeaters on the IPCS2 UK network, with some of these repeaters on both networks. By adding a further network to further divide a community that is already split seems rather counter-productive. The comments made upon the main website depicted here to seemingly disparage the major networks are quite unjustified, as the significant majority of repeater keepers seem happy with the status quo, however divided it seems. As a service provider with GB7HT on both UK major networks, I feel that individuals that want to make and control their own devices and servers, overlook the capabilities that already exist. I for one will not be moving my repeater.”
When I examined this ADN servers dashboard, I saw that there were only two UK repeaters at the time of my investigation. I have to add that the author of the post had already created another network known as the FreeDMR network where there are 10 UK repeaters connected linked to the IPSC2-UK servers..
I first of all distance myself from Amateur radio at this point and say that as a communicator, I would wish my communications to be simple and straightforward. This would mean I could go to a single point of contact and then make a choice to where to take the communication thereafter. Coming back to Amateur Radio and the need for control and experimentation, this is somewhat complicated for a number of reasons. Firstly that the pastime has many aspects, with the two most important of those being Construction and Communication. But amateurs are people and people have opinions, that consequently drive division, in both these aspects.
The most difficult of the reasons for division to understand is jealousy in one form or another; My Way or the Highway; or a more simple explanation “I make my own rules!” I know this sounds extreme, but in my main occupation (from I have long since retired) I have observed that this is a still reason for many crimes and misdeameanours. I do not say that the introduction yet another network is due to jealousy or for any other reason. I leave you to make your own mind up by reading the commentary as to the reasons for the creation of adn.systems on their own web site.
So you see why I am negative to the proposal.
In the case of DMR, there are generally necessary rules that are in place for the protection of the networks, but within those rules there is adequate room for manouvre.
In the case of IPSC2-UK (3 Major Servers interlinked + FreeDMR) the network is restricted to users who decide to connect to it, and communication outside of the network is restricted to international talkgroups.
In the case of BrandMeister (48 Servers worldwide – FastForwarded) each user has a choice of connection. Some servers have individual restrictivity precluding extra-country users from entering a particular server, which makes little sense to me, as it defeats the purpose of an international network. In technical ways, a talkgroup could be accessed worldwide, no matter what server the call is made, but some server managers have blocked this function.
So it is perhaps for this reason and some similar reasons that they cannot do what they want, that some individuals have devised a further network to entice users into a new way of doing things, in my view further complicating and dividing the already diluted community using this particular mode.
Quite frankly, the repeater that I own and manage is underused, despite its connectivity to both the UK Major Networks. To futher complicate the existing talkgroup-rewrite rules, and thus potentially blocking the existing timeslots, I shall retain the status quo. You can locate details of the repeater elsewhere in the pages here on my site.
Why am I dismissive of further diversification?
Have you all noticed the trends in public life?
Firstly there was one national lottery, that had spectacular prize funds. Following the success of this financial venture, other companies jumped upon the same business model. What happened? The prize funds in the National Lottery dropped in value, as the income became reduced, as the public sought to attempt to change their fortunes with these other ventures.
Then there was the way the second hand car market developed several cases of the same business model like Cinch, Webuyanycar, Auto-Trader, Car Wow, Motorway, and Cazoo, each attempting to take a slice of the same potential market, with the latter company reported in today’s news as going into administration. I wonder why?
Already most Amateur Radio Users seems to have noticed the decline in use of repeaters in General. I note that this is not only repeaters but in FM in general. It is a trend probably brought about by the ease of use of other technology, and the retiscence of mobile use due to driving legislation. Despite the 145 Alive events, this has hardly significantly increased the usage of the VHF and UHF bands.
I have installed a rudimentary FM network, apparently the only one of its kind in the UK, that despite offering assistance to repopulate the bands with its use, the take-up is very low. I cannot explain why this is so, as most amateurs have such equipment available. Is it lacking available time for projects, or at worst lack of incentive to create something that could benefit not only the user but the immediate community?
I confess that my radio time has been reduced, but my project time has been fulfilled, with the intention of helping others. But in some small quarters even this has been rejected, possibly because of the jealousy. Perhaps I’m reading too much into that circumstance.
Experimentation.
I am always for the needs of the experimenter. But in the case of DMR it is very clear that the significant majority of UK repeater keepers are happy with the status quo no matter which side of the fence they sit. As a service provider, I have sat on the fence, as I have mentioned. I just find it a little daft that users might feel obliged now, to have to search for activity elsewhere when if they picked up the microphone occasionally they could generate it on the existing networks. Why have one calling channel when you can have three or four at three or four times the effort?