[Dstar] Registration

[Michael Carey]

Ah yes, you might buy an Icom D-Star rig for X number of dollars, but 
you do not otherwise pay for a radio communication service (apart from 
your licence fee and possibly WIA membership) that allows you to talk 
around the world with like minded people.
If you wanted a commercial two-way radio service with this capability 
you would have a multi-million dollar bill and then the ongoing costs on 
top of that... or you could just pick up a phone.
You gotta remember that this is amateur radio... VHF and UHF repeaters, 
IRLP nodes, APRS Igates, Echolink nodes are generally funded and 
maintained by individuals or small groups, they take time and money to 
maintain.
If you aren't happy with the way the VK3RWN gateway server crash 
recovery has progressed this last month, I'm sure Richard would love to 
have other people willing to lend a hand, learn the ins and outs of a 
D-Star gateway and donate their time when things go wrong.
I personally maintain a 2m repeater, a 70cm repeater, an IRLP node, an 
APRS Igate, two APRS digipeaters, a 70cm D-Star repeater and all the 
hardware needed to make these all things operate, plus I work 60+ hours 
a week at my job.
These services are all here in the Port Lincoln area, free for any 
visiting amateur radio operator to use at any time... but if they start 
to complain because the IRLP node is down and I take a few days to fix 
it... then they will gently be shown the door, this is my hobby, not my 
life.
Sorry for the rant...
Michael.
VK5ZEA


Michael.Boudreaux at emerson.com wrote:
> Hello David,
> Thanks for the info, but as a new user a few days old I could not know
> of events in the past.  I only found this group by accident (goggle
> search).  Also I suggest your last sentence is not quite correct as ICOM
> (commercial)  has plenty to gain from hardware sales.  Thanks again
> VK3XZ Mike
>
>