Hi all, I have been considering this thorny topic for some time as it was
obvious that it would be raised sooner or later. Personally I want to see
all that is written about LF, but being aware of the potential problem, I
had started to distribute some  postings to a 'limited circle'  to avoid
swamping the reflector. I am aware that this cuts off a number of people who
may also have been interested in the content.

I decided the most useful approach was to examine what we hope to achieve
with the reflector and personally what I have gained from it. Taking these
in the reverse order :-

I have no active LF stations within 70 to 100 miles of me. My first 12
months was fairly discouraging as few if any of the active stations used
Packet Radio. The exception being John G4GVC who gave me a lot of
encouagement and helpful suggestions. Progress was still slow. Then about 2
years ago I finally connected to the Internet and joined the reflector. This
proved to be a major step forward in my understanding, and enjoyment. Some
of my persistent questions raised the tired comment "we've been though all
this before" But many of the stalwarts were willing to spend time and
patience discussing ideas with me, and passing on the accumulated wisdom.
My knowledge and the performance of my station improved steadily, but better
still I had a ball. The atmosphere on LF reminded of the Radio Clubs I
belonged to when I first got my ticket over 40 years ago.  I would not like
to deprive anyone about to join our ranks of that opportunity and that
experience. This reflector has grown in strength and seems to have become a
world-wide centre for those interested in LF.

LF opens a whole world of different opportunities, and we must not prejudge
what any new or prospective member may become interested in. It is intended,
I believe, as a one-stop venue for the exchange of LF information of all
categories, by participants at all stages of knowledge and development. Its
greatest asset is its ability to bring new stations into the group and
encourage their activity. (example Rich OM2TW and Marc F6CNI, Brian CT1DRP
and many others ) when local conditions are not always favourable.

It is clear as the number of adherents increases and the breadth of the
technology used widens there will become more and more messages on the
system.  Splitting the reflector up into special interest groups is an
option, but from my experience of the relevance of some subject lines to the
message content, it might be even more confusing. It may be that some will
resort to posting everting to all the 'sub-groups' rather than try to define
which group is most relevant (as happends in a lot of the newsgroups). I
also think we will all loose out.  Propagation might interest a lot more
than just those trying to bridge the Atlantic. Aerial discussions can get
very  "hi-tech" but they probably interest us all in some part. So defining
watertight boundaries will be difficult. There are, however, one or two
things we can do to reduce the message load.

I suggest that we do not use the "Reply to All" button to send a personal
comment, just because its easier than finding the personal address.  When
using the reply button to post to the group we should be cautious about
repeating the whole message. I come across very frustrating messages on some
other groups that are 3 words long (IF you can find them!) but have about
10kbytes of multiple repeated messages. It is not difficult to edit these
down with the cursor and the delete key, before pressing the send button.

I suggest then we use the facility of filtering that I think Stewart
mentioned. This requires 3 or 4 well defined keywords...maybe in
capitals...that could be used in the subject field. This would allow anyone
not interested in say QRSS to avoid wasting time downloading message about
that topic. Also "button" replies would automatically carry the keyword, so
keeping the threads together. The advantage is it would still allow these
messages to be browsed by those with maybe only a peripheral interest,
whilst not requiring them to keep a subscription open to 3 or 4 groups.

I believe it is possible to have a help page specific to the reflector, if
so, this could be edited to ensure that the details were readily available
for new recruits, without them feeling they had to ask a 'silly question'.

Above all, and as with Amateur Radio in general, variety of interest is our
strength, and should not divide us.

I appologise for the length of the message but I feel it important we
consider the implications of splitting it up because, once done, it is a
one-way path.

Cheers de Alan G3NYK
[email protected]