At 04:39 PM 6/5/2008, you wrote: >There is no reason that any of the other reflector channels couldn't >be used. I hope several of those channels develop the same level of >activity as REF001C. In IRLP after 8 years, there are still only >about 5 or 6 reflector channels that have steady activity out of >hundreds of available channels. The reason for this is that it >requires a threshold level of activity to attract the users to the >channel. Some systems have to connect on a regular basis, monitor the
This is true, and this applies to D-STAR as well, since from an operational point of view, it's just another conference room. :) >reflector and be there to respond to callers. If you look at the most >successful repeaters, you will find that they all have someone, often >more than one someone, who listens faithfully and responds if no one >else does. The successful IRLP reflector channels are all based >around a busy local system, such as the Las Vegas reflector, or the >WIN system, or WALA. Almost. we took a different approach on 9500 - aggregated several centres of activity to achieve critical mass, so you'll find 9500 active as well these days. There is a definite threshold, beyond which activity suddenly becomes high, and remains so for much of the day. It's nice to see that D-STAR has been able to get to the point where it can achieve critical mass on a reflector channel. >If your machine is a beneficent dictatorship, not a club, then you can >do what you think is right. It's good we are having this discussion >because no one channel's content is going to please everyone all the >time and the obvious solution is to have more than one channel. This is where the Dongle users can help too, since Dongle users are, by definition, independent and not reliant on the collective will of a club. They can hang out on reflector channels and help keep activity flowing, when the RF side is quiet. 73 de VK3JED http://vkradio.com
