RE Is There Any Activity on NXDN?
Paul Toth-NB9X
[SOAPBOX ON]
I tend to look at things a little differently given my background in commercial broadcasting.
We think of Ham Radio as a “hobby” which, of course, it is. But there is more to it than just that. Ham Radio is the original “social media”. Ham Radio is also “entertainment”. And for some people, Ham Radio is an extension of their professional life.
We started the Net on Wednesday nights in an effort to stimulate activity on NXDN. Give people a compelling reason to show up and they will. The Net regularly attracts a relatively small number of operators. But there are a number of area Hams who have NXDN radios who I have seldom or never heard on the Net. I wonder why that is. Is it because they have other responsibilities? Are they out of town? Is 8 PM set aside for “family time”? Is it because their lives simply do not revolve around Ham Radio, muchless NXDN Ham Radio? Maybe it is all of the above?
There is also the marketing and psychology of NXDN for Hams. Neither ICOM or Kenwood market NXDN to the Ham community. In fact, they have both run the other direction. Because you can’t buy NXDN radios from your favorite “Ham Radio” store (it is a Land Mobile Radio product), I suspect many Hams won’t give it the time of day. And then here in Florida, you also have the “retirement factor”. Face it, a large portion of the Ham community here (and I am in this age group) is over age 65 and content with what they have.
Add to all of this the literal “food fight” that is ongoing with digital two-way radio. Too many choices, so little time!
NI4CE started down the road with NXDN nine years ago. Why? Four reasons: 1 – Coverage rivals WBFM. 2 – It is easy and affordable to network. 3 – NXDN is supported by more than one manufacturer. 4 – It is the only digital mode that meets the FCC’s 6.25 KHz published goal for digital two-way radio. DMR doesn’t meet it. P25 (either flavor) doesn’t meet it. If I had my druthers, I would skip Narrow Band Analog and go right to NXDN as the new standard for VHF (2 meter) and UHF (70 cm) Ham Radio, period!
If you want to hear more activity on NXDN, the buck starts with all of us. Pick up the mic. Press the PTT button and start communicating. Ham Radio and NXDN Ham Radio is an active participation effort.
73 de Paul-NB9X
[SOAPBOX OFF]
Bryan Fields
>
> If you want to hear more activity on NXDN, the buck starts with all of us.
> Pick up the mic. Press the PTT button and start communicating. Ham Radio
> and NXDN Ham Radio is an active participation effort.
I just had a QSO on St Pete with KM4LTG. based on the status page,
http://flicom.nxcore.org/ I think there may be a network issue as we're not
hearing anything come out the other NI4CE NXDN repeaters.
Is it possible there is a network issue?
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Bryan Fields
727-409-1194 - Voice
http://bryanfields.net
Paul Toth-NB9X
I have sent a note to the NXCore administrator and have asked him to look into why St. Pete is neither hearing or being heard by the rest of the repeaters on TG 1200. I did a check and Riverview, Verna and Pasco are hearing each other and a repeater I have on the network here in my office.
73 de Paul-NB9X
Check-in to the TampaBay Area NXDN Net every Wednesday evening at 800 PM on TG1200!
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