[Dstar] Comment from a D-Star Rptr Project person

[Mark Kyle]

Hi Robert

 

I tried to bite my tongue a lot more than you have but I think you said it
for all of us who are working hard at getting these systems up and running.
For those guys sitting on the sidelines fiddling with their radios and
microphones waiting waiting for the use of these Dstar thingys probably have
no real idea what is involved in getting one up and running reliably. Horst
does have a valid comment about the deal that WIA did with Icom but I don't
think most in the clubs and to be honest most involved at that level
realized just how much money and time and effort goes into maintaining a
properly installed and running modern repeater site. All the old crap laying
around in club members sheds will just not cut the mustard now at  any major
repeater site and you absolutely have to have the correct high spec
equipment there to keep your gear and of course all the other gear apart
from the interference created now. Add to this a system that is run by a lot
of software that really is still in early development and is being updated
regularly as bugs are found and taken care of.

Unless you have been involved in getting a reliable high speed internet link
out of a repeater site which is usually many kilometers from any exchange
that will allow a ADSL 2 quality internet link you have no idea how hard or
costly it is..this is why they are NOT already at these sites as it is a
major exercise to get this one but very important part going reliably. I can
tell you just how costly and how much work goes into this part of the
operation from first hand experience not to mention all the diplexing
equipment and LDF5-50 coax and connectors.not all this old moisture laden
coax laying around sheds it really must be new stuff all sealed properly. I
shudder to think just how much I have spent over this last 6 months getting
all my stuff going and infrastructure installed and tested. Lucky I am the
boss here because if I had a accountant working here he would commit me to a
asylum.

This is the price you pay to be on the cutting edge of technology. Even
though Dstar has been in development for quite a while it really is still in
its infancy but these new digital modes is the way of the future due to
bandwidth crowding and restrictions. Icom's commercial version of Dstar is
IDAS and it is being taken up by Kenwood and even GME as the standard for
the future. This system works well just as Dstar does as a standard repeater
but once you try to talk to the outside world let alone across the whole
world and soon to be in space and a possibility of a repeater on the moon in
the not too far distant future it takes on a whole different face. IDAS does
not have the functionality of Dstar yet and this is because We amateurs are
doing the pioneering work once again. Amateur radio used to be in the
forefront of new modes and development and over the past 20 years has been
on the back foot. With Dstar we are on the cutting edge again and pushing
the envelope on what is being done. 

There will always be whingers around but thank god they are usually in the
minority. I have nothing against constructive criticism at all and we will
always take it on board.but this sort of criticism is only taken on board
from the people who dish it out when they actually know the whole story. The
trouble is most of them are going off half cocked without knowing the full
facts they don't even take the time to ask someone who knows before
launching into their attacks but this is how a lot of people are now. I just
try to ignore them but their venom usually does bite into you especially
when everyone involved is doing the best they can with the resources
available.

 

As far as the attacks I have seen on Richard I must say I am disgusted and
it is totally unwarranted. Richard spends so many hours fielding all of our
questions and solves problems and uploads software remotely to all over
Australia.he deserves a medal for the amount of work he puts in behind the
scenes.. All of the smart arses around have NO IDEA what and how much he
does for the Dstar community Australia wide as well as his involvement
internationally and should hang their heads in shame especially when they
sit there and pontificate on their boundless knowledge on the Dstar subject
which in actual fact is the size of a pea compared to Ayres Rock. If it was
not for Richard we would NEVER be even where we are today which is not too
far off from getting reliability into these complex systems.

Please try to be constructive not destructive in your comments and please
ask questions and make some "informed" opinions by actually trying to get
your head around what is actually involved in what we are doing with Dstar
and how it actually works.

 

Regards

 

 

Mark Kyle

Kyle Communications Pty Ltd

25 Cameron Road

Burpengary

Qld 4505

Australia

Phone    : +61-7- 38887899

Fax          :  +61-7-38883899

Mobile   :+61 (0)408-724272

 

 

 

From: dstar-bounces at lists.wia.org.au [mailto:dstar-bounces at lists.wia.org.au]
On Behalf Of Robert McKnight
Sent: Thursday, 3 September 2009 1:51 PM
To: 'Dstar Digital Radio Mail List'
Subject: [Dstar] Comment from a D-Star Rptr Project person

 

Hi All (especially to my fellow often unfairly criticized D-Star repeater
project people),

 

Mark Kyle has just posted a polite email to those questioning the
commitment, roll-out, quality & functionality of the Australian D-Star
repeater systems.

Congrats to you Mark for being so nice to the many that have been so
sarcastic & critical of these systems over the past months in not meeting
their lofty expectations.

 

My take on these unwarranted, ignorant & self-centred comments is the
following...

 

Many of you have bitched & whined about buying your D-Star radio & not (in
your opinion), being supplied with the service that you feel you deserve &
are entitled to. 

All I have to say to you is - what a load of crap! 

 

All you have managed to do is:

1) Buy a radio 

2) Connect it to power & antenna

3) Decide that things aren't up to YOUR expectations

4) Then whinge, bitch, whine, blame & complain to anyone who will listen (or
are forced to)

 

Many of you have contributed ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to the many D-Star repeater
projects & installations, but you feel it is your God-given right to then
air your feelings in the most public way (eg: over the air & via emails)
while also "feeding" off each other with your stupid, ill-informed,
opinionated, smart-arse & sarcastic comments.

 

I've heard & seen you blame:

1) The WIA 

2) Icom

2) Richard VK3JFK

3) The wankers in Melbourne who don't care about the rest of Australia

4) The D-Star hierarchy (whoever they are)

5) The local D-Star repeater project people (because we're
useless/lazy/stupid/lack technical knowledge/beyond our ability/don't
care/don't contribute enough effort/etc).

 

Some of you are so funny (not) with your "e-waste" comments or how about
"Actually I've got the s-its too so me is spitting the dummy, being geared
up for Dstar close to 2 years, WIA member 11 years, donated some cash to the
local Dstar club project and my ID-1 purchased in good faith may as well be
in the ------- trash can."

 

Ignoring the lack of ability in typing a grammatically correct sentence, if
you really feel that way, why don't you actually chuck your radio in the
trash can?

Have you not heard that actions speak louder than words?

 

I couldn't care less about how long you've owned your radio or been a WIA
member. Those of us who are working on getting the D-Star repeaters (both
WIA & non-WIA) on the air & running 24 hours a day, who quietly work away in
the background, spending our own money, repeatedly driving to repeater
sites, organizing ACMA licensing, dealing with site access & legality
issues, up late at night trying to figure out connectivity issues, climbing
towers to install feed-lines & antennas, giving up our own family time,
making dozens of phone calls, etc etc etc are sick of hearing your crap.  

 

Most of you offer nothing but criticism & aim your unfair comments to people
who are doing all of this TOTALLY VOLUNTARILY & who don't forget, are also
your fellow Amateur "brothers".   

 

If you feel you can do better than us, the WIA, Richard or whomever, why
don't you put your money where your mouth is & go to the effort of putting a
D-Star repeater & gateway on the air & connected to the internet..then many
months later, when you've outlaid considerable money/time/frustration/effort
& it's still not on the air, maybe you will start to understand how rude &
unfair your comments have been.

 

And those that have tried to blame Richard VK3JFK for his lack of
commitment, effort or ability should hang your collective heads in shame.

You may have opposing opinions & think he should do things differently (like
the D-Star dashboard crap), but to suggest it's his fault in some way or he
has some sort of political motivations, is downright rude & shameful. 

 

Yes, you are entitled to an opinion (as we all are), but perhaps you should
be a bit more considerate of your fellow volunteer Amateurs & also get
yourselves a bit more involved & informed, rather than sitting back in your
chair, firing-off your nasty, vitriolic, rude, sarcastic & mostly
ill-informed opinions to all & sundry. They serve no purpose but to put a
smug smile on your face & perhaps make you feel better about your lack of
actual help & involvement, but in turn alienate & upset the very people who
are working their arses off trying to get these systems on the air for your
friggin' benefit.

 

Of course some of you will now feel compelled to fire-off strongly worded
replies to my comments, but may I suggest that only those who are guilty of
the above should feel that way & by replying you are only exposing your own
guilt.

 

Let's all work together, help each other, offer support, speak kindly of
each others efforts & get D-Star flying in this country. 

 

Yours in Amateur radio,

Rob McKnight - VK2MT

 

D-Star Project Officer (VK2RDS)

Repeater Chairperson (VK2RMP/VK2RUW/VK2RIS/VK2RBT)

& Vice President

Illawarra Amateur Radio Society inc

 

PS: I have included my email address if you wish to discuss any of the above
off the mail list.









This email may be confidential and/or privileged. Only the intended
recipient may access or use it. If you are not the intended recipient,
please delete this email and notify me promptly. We use Virus scanning
software but exclude all liability for viruses or similar in any attachment.


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.wia.org.au/pipermail/dstar/attachments/20090903/1fa7bf0f/attachment-0001.html