| Welcome to the WB2HWW repeater Message Board website. Here you'll find info about the repeater, as well as ham radio in general. The repeater is located in Queens NY, on 440.700Mhz and 29.660Mhz. We are currently running 10m on 29.660/29.560 repeater Trustee Howard Levine WB2HWW. IRLP Node #7820 and Echolink Node WB2HWW-R #305371, provided by Keivan Keihani W2KTU. Visit us on IRLP reflector #9127. This repeater is an open machine for all amateur operators to use. For more repeater info, and to see a short video clip about the repeater watch the first video in the video section. If you have any questions about the repeater, you can call Howard WB2HWW at (718)591-3678 Vist Our Website @ http://www.WB2HWW.com |
Then, a thought occurred to me (dangerous, I know!). Not only does MotoTrbo allow for twin slots, but MotoTrbo supports talkgroups. Lots of talkgroups.
Think about it. The repeater is located in Queens, and will have a HUGE footprint. With the MotoTrbo repeater operating in digital mode, it's footprint has the potential to grow by at least 40% over analog.
Wouldn't it be interesting if the hams created neighborhood crime watch groups (or something along those lines) via talkgroups. This idea could fit in perfectly with the "non- pecuniary" demands of ham radio; it's not broadcasting, it's communications. More often than not, hams in general are always thinking about emergency communications on a larger level; what about the idea of getting back to the local level.
Talkgroups: they could be setup by a variety of methods.
TG by borough. TG by precinct. TG by Zip code. TG by radius. An Admin/Supervisor TG for each area. It could be made to fit anything. It is SCALABLE.
What I am getting at here is large. Think in panavision, not tunnelvision. How can this new technology be brought to bear within the ham spectrum of allowable comms. What can we do as a group to advance various ideas such as a crime watch, or any other situation that MotoTrbo would lend itself to other than just chatting.
Perhaps it's time to get back to some of the fundamentals of ham radio. We could show not only the ham community how we get things done "downtown", but how we can become a real asset to emergency responders in times of need. Ham radio emergency comms; leading the way through technology.
All of us as MotoTrbo operators have a real opportunity here. Not to just put together an international communications tool for fun, but a useful (emergency) communications tool for national or international emergency communications. Granted, in a severe weather situation, we may lose a portion of our communications lines (our two day severe rainstorm is a perfect example), but if ham radio operators are known for anything, it's how to get communications operational under the most adverse conditions. That is the core of what we do.
MotoTrbo and hams could..could just make amateur radio operations relevant again, in a newer and stronger way to the powers-that-
We must make the most of this new and fascinating opportunity; for ourselves, and for the greater ham community. We should create a close dialogue with N6DVA, trade thoughts,
concepts and fresh ideas to keep amateur radio at the forefront always.
We should already start to create a database of just how well and where the XPR 6559
portables can reach from bloc-to block, borough to borough, height of each person
transmitting, be it street level or the 27th floor. Keep copious notes on signal strength, quieting, whatever....
Indeed, until the repeater is ready, we should be transmitting on our MotoTrbo Simplex frequency all the time now, to really get a handle on just "what these babies can do!"
Let's work those 427 Hemi engines with their Hurst shifters in the radios, stomp on that gas peddle, burn that rubber, and spin those wheels, watch and make note of it's revs and horsepower!
Let 'er rip! Yowza!!!!
Adam
KG4PSN
Unofficial cheerleader of the Queens, NY
MotoTrbo Repeater Group