Tony, Often a linked large system is seen as not a local system and many want to be part of a local system or group. Get to know who they are talking to.
On a large linked system this can happen, but most often is not identified as a single group, but a mass of Hams belonging to many groups. It would be like the ATVers, RTTY guys, APRS/Packet, DXers, etc being part of a system, but no one would actually belong to the group(s). They tend to go to where "their" group and interest are. Same with a club...the club members want to be with the club members. Single large covering repeaters do attract a group and type of people wanting to be in that group. It has to do with the users interest and personality. A wild bunch will attract wild Hams who joke around, but a calm talk about the dog and wife attract the retired type. Kinda the same in life...one associates with the types one is. Wide area repeaters are often seen as not being part of anything except maybe a group of repeater builders. Not always, but often is the case. Users don't feel they have a stake in the system and the closest most Hams get to a repeater is their own rig and how to program the frequency and tone in memory. 73, ron, n9ee/r >From: "Tony L." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Date: 2007/11/21 Wed AM 09:59:29 CST >To: [email protected] >Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Usage of Linked Repeater Systems vs. Stand Alone >Repeaters > >Our club operates a RF full-time linked repeater system in metro New >York City, currently comprised of four (4) repeaters. We've observed >that the addition of a new repeater into the system doesn't always >equate to added usage. In fact, we've noticed that many of the linked >systems in metro NYC typically aren't as busy as local area stand alone >systems. > >We're puzzled as to why people seem to shy away from most, but not all, >of the very wide coverage area systems. The busiest repeaters in our >area seem to be the "no frills" stand alones. Are voice IDs, courtesy >tones, and coverage footprints beyond a 25-mile radius just more than >people can handle nowadays? > >Comments anyone? > > Ron Wright, N9EE 727-376-6575 MICRO COMPUTER CONCEPTS Owner 146.64 repeater Tampa Bay, FL No tone, all are welcome.
