[mvarbb] Fwd: BRING AN END TO THE "RUMPKE REPEATER" CONCEPT

[Fred Stone W8LLY]

Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 10:54:30 -0400
From: "ARRL Web site" <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
Subject: BRING AN END TO THE "RUMPKE REPEATER" CONCEPT


Statement by the Ohio Section Manager

           BRING AN END TO THE "RUMPKE REPEATER" CONCEPT


In this message I will not be identifying any actual VHF-UHF repeaters.
  Nor the names of any repeater owners/trustees or any actual
frequencies involved. While I am familiar with the Cincinnati area,
this message may also be applicable other parts of Ohio.

Interference on local VHF-UHF repeaters continues to be a problem for
all of us since the mid-70s. Two decades ago in Cincinnati, a repeater
trustee (now a Silent Key) unofficially designated a two meter
frequency pair for those who wished to engage in illegal and/or
unethical ham radio operation. The theory was that if the "squirrels"
had a particular place to play  - other local repeaters would be left
alone. It seemed to have wide acceptance.

We called it the "Rumpke Repeater" named after a well-known waste
disposal company. Whether or not this was a successful strategy is up
for debate. It certainly was not sound amateur radio practice but for
the two decades, this has been widely accepted in Cincinnati.

Seven years ago something happened. Riley happened.

Mr. Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, began using his authority in the FCC
compliance division. His goal was to rid illegal and interfering
operations on all amateur radio frequencies - HF as well as local
repeaters. His success is well noted and welcomed relief by all
licensed radio operators.

Add to that was Ohio leading the nation in forming "Local Interference
Committees" for local repeater interference problems. These LICs
developed a relationship with the FCC and Riley's office. The Greater
Cincinnati LIC has been successful to the extent that fines have been
levied, FCC ham licenses pulled, and in a couple of instances, illegal
operators received jail time from various courts.

Something this far reaching is bound to have controversies. The "Rumpke
Repeater" concept tops the list. While a number of Cincinnati ham radio
operators continue to accept this, the FCC now has the resources and
dedication to stop this concept. So in Cincinnati an interesting and
unhealthy dynamic has occurred. There the trustee of a repeater, so
designated as "Rumpke" by many, wants that reputation to stop.

But the trustee also believes most area hams think this frequency pair
is a "local garbage dump." Members of the Greater Cincinnati LIC
believe the repeater trustee to be uncooperative and unwilling to
accept their assistance. The repeater owner says he does his best to
clean up the repeater but he is being singled out and harassed. Some
LIC members believe this trustee does not make many attempts to clean
up this repeater.

My sole purpose in writing this message is an attempt to get the
repeater owner and the LIC on the same page. Both wish the same result.


Everyone here is a volunteer. No one gets paid to do this work. Both
the repeater owner and the LIC members believe in good amateur radio
practice and the integrity of their ham radio licenses. If I did not
believe this, I would not state this.

Hopefully getting this controversy out in the open will change this
unhealthy dynamic.

Joe Phillips, K8QOE
Ohio Section Manager

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ARRL Ohio Section
Section Manager: Joseph J. Phillips, K8QOE
k8qoe at arrl.org
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