Re: [IRCA] A new list...

[saulamdx <saulamdx@xxxxxxxxx>]

What Scott has done is set up a list for DXers
expressly dedicated to broadcast industry topics such
as IBOC which affect our hobby.

This new list does NOT diminish the relevance of IBOC
to DXers. IBOC threatens to kill or at best seriously
hinder AM and FM DXing, and DXers should indeed follow
what's happening and participate in the debate. What
the new list does is establish a place for DXers to
discuss these kinds of issues, where the focus is ONLY
on these issues.

It means I can direct all e-mail from that list to a
specific folder in my e-mail, or to a specific Yahoo
of Gmail address, so that I can easily archive
contributions I want to save.

It also streamlines my hobby-related e-mail, so that
when I am on a DXpedition and only have dial-up access
(people on DXpeditions can also access e-mail on
PDAs), I can quickly check so see if anyone is getting
any DX, and very quickly see only those messages
pertaining to actual on-the-set DX. 

The new list is a much-welcomed tool that stands to
help DXers actually DO something about IBOC. There's
also no point in subjecting Dxers who do not want to
talk about IBOC to a discussion about IBOC (and the
broadcast industry in general). This new list is where
that conversation is happening, where the real
hard-core are hanging out. 

I must admit I like the decision to keep things civil.
Better to win than to get angry. I would fully support
the moderators of the IRCA, NRC and WTFDA AM lists in
steering any *discussion* about IBOC and the industry
to the new list (though I would expect to see actual
DX reports mentioning the presence or lack of IBOC on
the DX lists, minus any opinionating or resulting
discussion). If anything, the creation of this new
lists makes it easier to remain a member of the
regular DX lists, because ... well... for all these
reasons. (It would seem to me quite acceptable to
notify the DX lists from time to time about this (new)
list. That could be done, say, by reporting that WOWO
is using IBOC at night, when it shoulodn't be, and for
more info come join the discussion at the (new) list.

Scott has upped the sophistication ante of DXer
response to IBOC, IMO.

Saul Chernos


-- Barry McLarnon <bdm@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> On Friday 25 November 2005 12:34, Scott Fybush
> wrote:
> > ...is probably the last thing we all need right
> now. But there seems to
> > be a sense that the existing DX lists aren't
> really the right place to
> > be having some of the discussions that are going
> on there. Lynn has made
> > it clear that the IRCA list is meant to be, as the
> name clearly states,
> > "hard core DX." The same is generally true, if I'm
> not mistaken, for
> > ABDX and the NRC AM list.
> 
> Call me a skeptic, but I agree that it's the last
> thing we all need right 
> now.
> 
> I've had access to the Internet for about 20 years,
> and I've been on 
> numerous mailing lists in that time.  I've seen this
> process repeated many 
> times, usually with the same result.  A
> controversial topic breaks out, 
> traffic on the list spikes, the discussion gets a
> little heated, and some 
> of the list regulars start complaining and
> threatening to leave.  Then 
> someone proposes a solution: create a new list where
> folks can have at it 
> on said controversial topic, and leave the original
> list in peace.  
> Trouble is, the new list doesn't get off the ground.
>  For a variety of 
> reasons, it never achieves critical mass - people
> don't get around to 
> subscribing, or they don't post there because they
> figure there isn't 
> enough audience for their pearls of wisdom, etc.,
> etc.  Or even worse, 
> they can't figure out which of the many available
> lists is most 
> appropriate for a given topic, so they end up
> cross-posting to a bunch of 
> them.  Then those who have tried to keep up with the
> fragmentation by 
> subscribing to multiple lists end up getting tons of
> duplicate postings.
> 
> I'd rather see fewer lists rather than more -
> ideally, just two that focus 
> on AM DX: one for tips, and one for discussions of
> anything that is 
> relevant to AM DXing.  We do have the DXTIP list,
> which works quite 
> nicely, but unfortunately, many AM DXers don't use
> it.  You would think 
> that we could all agree on one list purely for tips,
> but the participation 
> rate doesn't seem to be what it could be.  The NRC
> AM list has been the 
> closest thing to a general list for discussions of
> all things relevant to 
> AM DX, but it is now a lame duck and will be going
> away.  The IRCA list 
> seemed to be the logical successor, but it seems
> that the club doesn't 
> want it to take on that role.
> 
> To avoid discussion of IBOC on an AM DX list is,
> frankly, bizarre.  Whether 
> you are an active DXer or just a casual listener,
> IBOC should be of the 
> utmost concern to you.  It represents a sea change
> in radio broadcasting, 
> and you need to keep informed about it.  Moreover,
> AM IBOC in particular 
> is on the bubble right now.  There is an increasing
> realization on the 
> part of broadcasters, not to mention the FCC, that
> the interference 
> problems, and their impact on analog AM operations,
> may be much more than 
> they bargained for.  There are rumblings in the
> industry that maybe it's 
> time to take a step back and look at other
> alternatives.  Listeners can 
> and should be a part of this process, by letting
> stations being interfered 
> with know how their service is being impacted.  Most
> listeners won't have 
> much clue as to what is going on, but DXers are more
> technically 
> knowledgeable, and they are networked - that's where
> the mailing lists 
> come in.
> 
> If IBOC discussions are shunted off to a special
> list, then I suspect that 
> most DXers won't go there, and they will remain
> ignorant about what's 
> going on.  As radio enthusiasts, they should have a
> say in the future of 
> the band, but they can't do that unless they stay
> informed about IBOC 
> happenings.
> 
> Since I don't expect either club will change its
> stance, I guess we have 
> little choice but to give the new list a chance, and
> see what happens.
> 
> Barry
> 
> ps: sorry about the cross-posting, but it comes with
> the territory...
> 
> -- 
> Barry McLarnon VE3JF  Ottawa, ON
> 
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