FAST-TRACK of uk.rec.gps

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FAST TRACK ANNOUNCEMENT uk.rec.gps
=======================

In the procedures established for maintaining the uk.* hierarchy
<http://www.usenet.org.uk/guidelines.html> there are provisions, where
there is a consensus and the proposal is straightforward and
non-controversial, to proceed by the "fast-track" method, so as to avoid
the necessity for holding a full vote.

I have now received a request to fast-track the following proposal:

create unmoderated newsgroup uk.rec.gps

This proposal will be activated no earlier than five days from the posting
of this notice (i.e. not before April 15th), unless there are
objections (of which six or more, or any one which seems to the Committee
to be well founded, shall suffice to halt the process).

Objections should be emailed directly to Control at
<>.

Objections will be resolved by the committee ()

============================================================================

Changes from previous RFD:

None.

Changes from RFD1 and RFD2:

The first RFD only implied that other systems would be On Topic.
Specific reference to the EU Galileo, and the Russian GLONASS systems,
added for second and third RFDs. Also reference to radio navigation
systems added.

The clause in RFD1 specifically allowing technical and professional
posts to be specifically On Topic has been removed in both RFD2 and RFD3.

The section of the charter on Geocaches has been rewritten from RFD2

Newsgroup line:
uk.rec.gps Global Positioning Systems and radio navigation systems


RATIONALE: uk.rec.gps

GPS receivers are used in many recreational activities, walking,
sailing, climbing, cycling, Geocaching, etc where it is useful to know
where you are, and which direction to travel, speed etc. etc. in the
middle of a moor, lake, sea, city or even motorway. Also in such
recreations as rocketry for altitude verification, tracking etc.

Geocaching is a relatively new recreation, where a cache of objects of
little value are placed in a waterproof box at stated coordinates
where others can find them by GPS. The new "Right to Roam"
legislation together with improvement in accuracy and falling prices
may well catalyze other GPS based recreations.

Some GPS recreations as in
http://www.pointersolutions.com/eng/metsastys_koiragps.htm are
unlikely to become popular in the UK.

There are various alt.* GPS groups with the usual alt.* USA bias and
propagation problems, also sci.geo.satellite-nav for the scientific
community. Also several gps newsgroups for other nations. It is
suggested that a uk newsgroup would be advantageous to discuss uk
specific subjects, such as OS mapping, laws, regulations etc. The
name "gps" is almost universally used in the UK, it has been chosen
against the alternative "satellite navigation" for this reason.

It is expected that uk.rec.gps will have general GPS threads, in the
same way as uk.food+drink.misc, and other uk.* groups will have
threads specific to their own charters. As an example the "GPS
versus map and compass" debate will probably continue on
uk.rec.walking for the foreseeable future. It is hoped that
uk.rec.gps may become a repository for uk.* expertise on GPS.

CHARTER: uk.rec.gps

This newsgroup is for the discussion of all aspects of the UK use of
the US Department of Defense Global Positioning System, the EU
Galileo, the Russian GLONASS systems, and any other satellite
positioning/navigation systems which may be developed. Also any
improvements, or extensions to the above. Also radio navigation
systems. GPS threads also occur on other uk.* newsgroups where they
may be On Topic.

Advertising

Advertising is forbidden, with these exceptions:

Suppliers of goods and services relevant to GPS in the UK
may post an invitation to visit their web site or request details.
It should be of four lines or fewer and not posted more than once
every 3 months. The subject line should begin "ADVERT: ",
except for vacancy adverts, when it should begin "JOB: ".

Advertisements of Geocaches are allowed,
the Subject: field should be of the form
GEOCACHE: gps position. a short description of its position.

Binaries & Formatting

Encoded binaries (e.g. pictures, compressed files, etc.) are
forbidden. Such material belongs on a web or FTP site to which
a pointer may be posted. Cryptographic signatures (e.g. PGP)
may be used where authentication is important and should be as
short as possible.

Posts must be readable as plain text. HTML, RTF and similarly
formatted messages are prohibited. To see how to make some
common newsreaders comply with this, read
<http://www.usenet.org.uk/ukpost.html>.


Warning. Anyone posting contrary to this charter may be reported to
their "postmaster" and/or Service Provider.

END CHARTER

Proponent:
Dave Fawthrop <>

- --
Chris Croughton ---------------------------------------------------------------
Control
Voice/Fax: +44 1296 331055 Email:
Snail: 155 Long Meadow, Aylesbury, Bucks HP21 7EB

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CHARTER: uk.rec.gps

I cannot see how this can possible belong in the uk.rec hierarchy with
the charter as given above. It seems to me that uk.sci.gps or
uk.tech.gps would be the right name. Either that, or alter the
charter to reflect the recreational use of GPS.

It certainly seems that some discussion would be in order.

 

I classify it as spam

 

test

 

It's been discussed at incredible length in u.n.n.c if you want to join
in.....

 

Perhaps someone could post a summary of the discussion, and why
discussion of a predominantly scientific nature belongs in the uk.rec
sub hierarchy.

 

This discussion is supposed to be exclusively on u.n.n.c go there for
more info.

 

What discussion? There is no discussion here - it's going on where it
belongs in unnc. I'm certainly not going to post a precis here as that is
counter productive to the way group creation is supposed to work.

As to why it is here - the urw group and others listed is one where gps is
discussed and used and hence the relevant announcements for CFV, RFD and
fast tracks are rightly posted here with the requisite requests for further
discussion pointed to unnc - followup group set. Apologies to all for
missing that the first time.

 

On Sat, 09 Apr 2005 21:23:31 +0100, C L Imber

| >CHARTER: uk.rec.gps
| >
| >This newsgroup is for the discussion of all aspects of the UK use of
| >the US Department of Defense Global Positioning System, the EU
| >Galileo, the Russian GLONASS systems, and any other satellite
| >positioning/navigation systems which may be developed. Also any
| >improvements, or extensions to the above. Also radio navigation
| >systems. GPS threads also occur on other uk.* newsgroups where they
| >may be On Topic.
|
| I cannot see how this can possible belong in the uk.rec hierarchy with
| the charter as given above. It seems to me that uk.sci.gps or
| uk.tech.gps would be the right name. Either that, or alter the
| charter to reflect the recreational use of GPS.
|
| It certainly seems that some discussion would be in order.

This has already been discussed ad nauseam on unnc for RFD1, RFD2 and RFD3.
The discussion of RFD3 was surprisingly short and revealed a majority in
favour of a "fast track".

Full discussions are as always archived on groups.google.

 

All the more reason for a summary to be posted for those entering the
affray.

 

I don't see why it'd be counter productive to keep interested parties
informed.

 

Object to the fast track if you are not happy, but do it in the right
place, u.n.n.c

 

What discussion? There is no discussion here - it's going on where it

It's counter productive to post the discussion here, because there would
then be 2 discussions going on on the same subject, in different places,
instead of having all the views aired in the same discussion. Interested
parties can go and look at the discussion on u.n.n.c.

 

Actually, to object to the fast track, you mail
control(at)usenet.org.uk.

 

I just subscribed and unsubscribed to/from unnc. I don't see anybody
getting a quick overview of the discussion without some help.

 

Quite a few people want the group.

Some people think the subject is adequately discussed in existing
groups.

Some people think it is badly named and should a tech hierarchy.

A previous vote was voided because UKVoting felt that actions of the
proponent undermined the integrity of the vote.

The group will be created by fast track unless the committee receives
- six objections of any nature.
- one objection which the committee finds 'well founded'.
in which case it will go to a vote.

I've feeling C L Imber already knows this... ;-)

 

Some people think that there should be a rec and a tech group

Some people think that an adequate tech group already exists outside
the uk. hierarchy. Especially as there is nothing specifically uk.
about the tech side of GPS.

Some people may in fact be one person

Very good! I thought I must have missed something.

So other than the fast track and the usual abuse nothing much has
changed since the last RFD, including Dave Fawthrop?

 

SimonJ wrote on Sun, 10 Apr 2005 08:17:17 +0000 (UTC)....

It's especially counterproductive to continue the discussion here, since
at least one major UK ISP (mine!) quite reasonably won't let its
customers cross-post to six groups at once unless follow-ups are set to
reduce the number. So inevitably the discussion will get fragmented as
some people have to drop some of the groups, and each person chooses a
different sub-set.

It follows that designating one group for such discussions is eminently
sensible. Follow-up set to unnc.

 

And I suspect the majority of peopple don't give a shit either way since
it won't affect anybody except the single-minded GPS-geeks who would
want such a dedicated newsgroup.

Credit to those who maintain the hierarchies, but in this case it's just
silly.

Pete

 

and what exactly is u.n.n.c ?!?!