Simplex listing?

[UncleYoda]

Is there any way this site's repeater section (not forum) can allow listing neighborhood watch simplex frequencies?  I don't have any repeaters and never expect to.  Us non-repeater owners might be better able to build a community of users if there was a way to be listed where people will be looking.  The same function that does repeater access requests could be relabelled Contact (or something similar).  [I'm sure I'll get attacked for even suggesting it, but y'all haven't run me off yet.]

[SteveShannon]

37 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

Is there any way this site's repeater section (not forum) can allow listing neighborhood watch simplex frequencies?  I don't have any repeaters and never expect to.  Us non-repeater owners might be better able to build a community of users if there was a way to be listed where people will be looking.  The same function that does repeater access requests could be relabelled Contact (or something similar).  [I'm sure I'll get attacked for even suggesting it, but y'all haven't run me off yet.]

Start a club and publish the details in the club information. 

[UncleYoda]

I checked into Clubs when you suggested it before.  My impression without doing it, just viewing them, is it won't work well.  From what I can tell, most people only use the repeater lookup, not the forum or clubs.  I know from the forum, very few locals are active here (can't tell who is lurking).

[SteveShannon]

35 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

I checked into Clubs when you suggested it before.  My impression without doing it, just viewing them, is it won't work well.  From what I can tell, most people only use the repeater lookup, not the forum or clubs.  I know from the forum, very few locals are active here (can't tell who is lurking).

What if the Neighborhood Watch Groups were a type of club and the clubs were added to the map?

[SteveShannon]

For that matter, if Rich would be okay with the idea, why not simply create a repeater on the map, but with the actual information for your simplex Neighborhood Watch Net?

[WRUE951]

woiuldnt it be easier to include your simplex info in your monthly neighborhood watch flyer..  Outside of your little community, who cares about whats going on there?    Just asking for Johny.   Jonny wants to know  

[UncleYoda]

9 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

why not simply create a repeater on the map

Even if it were determined to be OK, there is no field/value to indicate that it's simplex so that won't work.  It could be added in the description, but IMO that wouldn't be obvious enough.

[SteveShannon]

Just now, UncleYoda said:

Even if it were determined to be OK, there is no field/value to indicate that it's simplex so that won't work.  It could be added in the description, but IMO that wouldn't be obvious enough.

If the input and output frequency are the same it should be obvious.

[UncleYoda]

52 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

monthly neighborhood watch flyer.

Flyers (and signs) are a possibility but only when a grid-down crisis starts.  There's also a down side to flyers or signs: bad people can read too (well, some).  I would have a one page notice ready but be careful who gets it.

[UncleYoda]

8 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

If the input and output frequency are the same it should be obvious.

But there's only one frequency - output - listed.

[amaff]

Neighborhood watch discord group. WhatsApp group. Group text message. Teams chat. E-mail list. There's so many ways to skin this cat.

6 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

Flyers (and signs) are a possibility but only when a grid-down crisis starts.  

What's this even mean? Why wouldn't fliers or signs work when the rest of society is working?

[SteveShannon]

Truly, the only solution that makes sense is to establish a local organization so they can prepare.  If you wait for the need to present itself you’re never going to catch up.  That’s like trying to teach a drowning person how to swim.

As far as the concern that bad people can read, wouldn’t you want them to?  Maybe they’ll go somewhere else.

13 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

Flyers (and signs) are a possibility but only when a grid-down crisis starts.  There's also a down side to flyers or signs: bad people can read too (well, some).  I would have a one page notice ready but be careful who gets it.

 

[GreggInFL]

Our neighborhood (HOA) sent an email announcing the frequency to be used. Simple, if you can compile an email list.

[WRUE951]

8 minutes ago, GreggInFL said:

Our neighborhood (HOA) sent an email announcing the frequency to be used. Simple, if you can compile an email list.

But it's so much easier to tell everyone to log into MyGMRS, Do a city search, than do a I.D. search than scroll into a map than launch another page to find your channel freq than.............

[UncleYoda]

3 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

establish a local organization so they can prepare.

Did that years ago, not very productive.  Have moved since then and will act/plan based on my experience.

Quote

bad people can read, wouldn’t you want them to?

This isn't for a regular neighborhood crime watch.  In grid down, apocalyptic scenarios, no I wouldn't want any info getting out.  Desperate people or those just looking to attack and plunder as much as they can will not be easily deterred.

[amaff]

13 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

In grid down, apocalyptic scenarios, no I wouldn't want any info getting out.  

Right. But for the other 99.9999999% of the time.......

I understand planning for that edge of an edge of an edge case. But I don't get letting it limit how we act in all the rest of situations which are exponentially more likely to actually occur.

Heck, in a "grid down, apocalyptic scenario," no one's checking MyGMRS.com to see what their local comms strategy needs to be. Which brings us back to the beginning of what are you actually trying to accomplish. Which still isn't clear.

[UncleYoda]

amaff et al.:  My purpose in posting here is not to explain and justify my plans to you.  Y'all are outside the need to know loop.

[GreggInFL]

Put up a sign -- now, not when the bad guys are out and about. Announce a net for once a week/month. Everyone who participates gets invited to a BBQ. Word will get out.

[amaff]

48 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

amaff et al.:  My purpose in posting here is not to explain and justify my plans to you.  Y'all are outside the need to know loop.

I mean, fair, but you're hear asking questions about how to do a thing, and folks are trying to help, but the "why" matters in coming up with a useful "how."

That said:

1 hour ago, UncleYoda said:

Did that years ago, not very productive.  

Yeah I'm starting to see why 

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, UncleYoda said:

This isn't for a regular neighborhood crime watch.  In grid down, apocalyptic scenarios, no I wouldn't want any info getting out.  Desperate people or those just looking to attack and plunder as much as they can will not be easily deterred.

 

16 hours ago, UncleYoda said:

Is there any way this site's repeater section (not forum) can allow listing neighborhood watch simplex frequencies?  I don't have any repeaters and never expect to.  Us non-repeater owners might be better able to build a community of users if there was a way to be listed where people will be looking.  The same function that does repeater access requests could be relabelled Contact (or something similar).  [I'm sure I'll get attacked for even suggesting it, but y'all haven't run me off yet.]

I don’t think you can have it both ways:

1. To create a listing on a nationwide map that’s useful for build a community of users using simplex GMRS frequencies,

and

2. Useful for grid down apocalyptic scenarios where you don’t want any information getting out. 
 

But if you can figure out what that would look like, your best bet would be to talk to Rich @rdunajewski and see if he can make the changes you want. There’s no reason he couldn’t add fields to the database to support that. 

[UncleYoda]

7 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

There’s no reason he couldn’t add fields to the database to support that.

There's one reason: he doesn't want to!

 

You keep mentioning map - I've never even looked at a map here.  I read the listings.  I'm not sure I'd want people who can't get the data from a list  (those same people who want a map online, can't/won't use a printed map).  And I don't know if there is a conflict like you describe.  I checked and the location doesn't have to be your house (nearby intersection or convenience store or park or post office, etc. will do as long as it's relatively close).  If there's a better way, where people will find it, I'm open to hearing about it.  I don't use typical social media, and don't have email or phone #s for neighbors yet.  The only early contacts I'd want to make would be people who have radios and are looking for ways to use them. such as searching for repeaters.

 

My feeling on all this GMRS repeater craze is that repeaters, and distance, are getting too much emphasis for this service.  It's more useful to me to have nearby contacts.  I have HAM for longer range repeater contacts.  GMRS, to me, is for people closer who aren't hams, including FRS users (adults).  Throw in the rule (for now) that GMRS base stations aren't allowed to use repeaters and most of the repeater craze evaporates.  Also, of the ones near me 5 have gone away (no big loss since I can't talk from home).  If more people would just try putting up a decent antenna on a pole or roof (15-20ft up), there would be less fuss about repeaters.

[SteveShannon]

7 minutes ago, UncleYoda said:

There's one reason: he doesn't want to!

 

You keep mentioning map - I've never even looked at a map here.  I read the listings.  I'm not sure I'd want people who can't get the data from a list  (those same people who want a map online, can't/won't use a printed map).  And I don't know if there is a conflict like you describe.  I checked and the location doesn't have to be your house (nearby intersection or convenience store or park or post office, etc. will do as long as it's relatively close).  If there's a better way, where people will find it, I'm open to hearing about it.  I don't use typical social media, and don't have email or phone #s for neighbors yet.  The only early contacts I'd want to make would be people who have radios and are looking for ways to use them. such as searching for repeaters.

 

My feeling on all this GMRS repeater craze is that repeaters, and distance, are getting too much emphasis for this service.  It's more useful to me to have nearby contacts.  I have HAM for longer range repeater contacts.  GMRS, to me, is for people closer who aren't hams, including FRS users (adults).  Throw in the rule (for now) that GMRS base stations aren't allowed to use repeaters and most of the repeater craze evaporates.  Also, of the ones near me 5 have gone away (no big loss since I can't talk from home).  If more people would just try putting up a decent antenna on a pole or roof (15-20ft up), there would be less fuss about repeaters.

The online map and the repeater listings are just two different ways of looking at the same data. I go to the map first because it’s easy for me to see what is nearby, but I’m sure that other people start by entering search terms and selecting search conditions. I don’t think that means one group is smarter than the other. If it’s entered in the database it can be mapped. It might not be the right place. 
When I said I don’t think you can have it both ways I meant two things: First, publishing the information in an internet database by definition means you can’t keep the information from getting out. 
Second, an internet database might not be a reliable means to disseminate information in the event of a “grid down apocalyptic scenario”.

But if you’ve contacted Rich and he doesn’t want to extend the database to serve your wants this is really a moot point anyway. 
I’ll follow along to see what you come up with but I’m all out of ideas for you to reject.