[HamWAN PSDR] VOTE: Gold to Buck PtP Link Hardware Request

Fri Jun 5 19:57:35 PDT 2020

John,

Kenny is correct that Rob has the most complete list. I thank him for his efforts to wrangle the master projects as part of the board. However we are a rather fluid organization. We cover a very large portion of the state via quite a few sites, rather than the single repeater most orgs would compare to. Most of the network was also grown VERY opportunistically. One of us gets approval to install some gear and we often jump to get it installed in a week or two. So yes, we do need some improvement in planning overall, and I thank Rob for his efforts and the improvements made so far, but there will remain “unplanned” projects.

Kenny is also correct that currently, and for several years now, the org limiting factors are not money, but time. We try to spend the money wisely and have and do turn down funding ideas/sites that we don’t think add value, but pretty much when a good opportunity comes along we are in good position to jump on it.

Your note regarding Rob getting Blyn on the planning list is very much in this vein. It will entirely be a matter of volunteer time.

As noted we try to be wise with the funds very generously donated to the org, and choose to fund projects that genuinely add value, and are careful especially to avoid recurring costs, so we can maximize the hardware in the field. Last I checked a couple weeks ago we have about 16k in the bank, but that’s also a high point as we come out of winter, and will go down a bit as the work season is opening up. Full cell sites can cost 3-5k, partial sites commensurately less. 

Kenny also notes correctly that there certainly are instances where orgs or individuals are invested in getting linked, and fund things themselves. In this case we still try to value our volunteer time, but the money is obviously no longer a concern. 

So, as we have described above, if you feel like you have skills to help the org, tower climbing, project planning, technical writing (documentation), or network/systems engineering, please do reach out.

Thanks, and feel free if there’s any other questions,
Nigel

> On Jun 5, 2020, at 18:59, Kenny Richards <richark at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
>> On Fri, Jun 5, 2020 at 6:41 PM John C. Miller <kx7jm at jmit.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Warning: I am not a board member and certainly don't speak for the group as a whole. Personal opinions...
>>  
>> I ask because in January of this year I had inquired about the status of north-facing sectors on Blyn, and was told this by Rob Salsgiver:
>> 
>> "John, Your timing is good.  We are beginning to discuss projects and sites for the upcoming year and Blyn is definitely on the radar. "
>> 
>> This led me to assume (perhaps wrongly) that there was some sort of central planning process undertaken by the PSDR board that informed the deployment of limited resources toward expansion of the PSDR "patch" of HamWAN.  
> 
> One of the lists I mentioned is maintained by Rob and it may be the most complete, but I'd hesitate to consider it the only one. As it turns out the limited resources of the group isn't money at the moment, but people's time. 
>  
>> 
>> And I suppose this leads to a corollary question: How are the funds that are donated to PSDR allocated to the various PSDR projects that different groups have on their lists? 
> 
> Different groups ask for funding, just like I did. Assuming the request is valid and the individuals have the necessary resources (which is still pretty complicated), the requests tend to be approved based on my experience. Not all deployments are funded directly by HamWAN though and don't go through this process. As an example I personally funded all the equipment for Buck and 'donated' it too HamWAN. So there was no request for that installation. 
>  
>> I'm appreciative of all the volunteer hours of effort and resources that go into operating and growing PSDR / HamWAN, *wherever* they may be focused.  These all invariably serve to enhance the value and usefulness of the PSDR network overall.
> 
> I know this will probably rub some people the wrong way, but since the limited resource is people's time, the people doing the work tend to have a wide discretion on what projects happen. All of us will have different motivations for a particular project.  
>  
> Thanks
> Kenny
> 
> 
> 
>  
>> 
>> John C. Miller
>> john at jmit.com
>> (530)873-9005
>> 
>> 
>> ---- On Fri, 05 Jun 2020 17:53:59 -0700 Kenny Richards <richark at gmail.com> wrote ----
>> 
>> John,
>> 
>> I know of several different lists, but a single master one hasn't ever been maintained. Many of the projects are 'owned' by small groups and we stay out of each others way. (ie. Lookout was something Rob and I drove last summer, Bart has taken on Rattlesnake this year, Doug owned the CPark upgrade and I hope to finish the Buck install with the trip to Gold, etc.)
>> 
>> Thanks
>> Kenny
>> 
>> On Fri, Jun 5, 2020 at 6:51 AM John C. Miller <kx7jm at jmit.com> wrote:
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> PSDR mailing list
>> PSDR at hamwan.org
>> http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
>> 
>> Great!
>> 
>> Do we have a proposed list of other HamWAN expansion activities?
>> 
>> Thanks.
>> 
>> John kx7jm
>> 
>> 
>> ---- On Thu, 04 Jun 2020 23:19:29 -0700 Kenny Richards <richark at gmail.com> wrote ----
>> 
>> NOTE: I was informed that requests to spend money need to be posted to the PSDR reflector, as well as the BoD/NetOps per the bylaws. The board was favor of the purchase, but I'm reposting for wider input or concerns.
>> 
>> Thanks
>> Kenny
>> 
>> ----Original Request-----
>> 
>> BoD,
>> 
>> I would like authorization to purchase the required hardware to complete the second PtP link for the Buck Mnt site, specifically the Gold Mnt side. When we did the Buck installation, a second PtP dish was put in place and pointed at Gold. (Using one of the sectors to align)  The plan was to get the Gold side installed last summer, but the Lookout installation took priority. Now that we have access to Gold again, I'd like to finish the project. (currently Buck is fed by a link to CPark installed when that site was overhauled last summer)
>> 
>> The dish/radio I had set aside for this was used for the recent Rattlesnake installation, so I need to purchase another. Using the figures Bart quoted, the following will need to be purchased. I believe I have enough ToughCable in the garage for the project. Rob has already acquired the pieces to create a mount.
>> 
>> Existing Inventory Estimate: RB921UAGS-5SHPacD-NM modem
>> 1
>> $150
>> $150
>> Existing Inventory Estimate: mANT30 2ft microwave dish
>> 1
>> $120
>> $120
>> Existing Inventory Estimate: Sleeve30 2ft microwave dish isolation kit
>> 1
>> $100
>> $100
>> 
>> 
>> Thanks
>> Kenny
>> _______________________________________________
>> PSDR mailing list
>> PSDR at hamwan.org
>> http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> PSDR mailing list
>> PSDR at hamwan.org
>> http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
>> 
>> 
>> 
> _______________________________________________
> PSDR mailing list
> PSDR at hamwan.org
> http://mail.hamwan.net/mailman/listinfo/psdr
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