Steve Kromer of AGLCA posted a message many or most of you have received through the AGLCA forum. The following is my reply to him with a few observations. * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** D C "Mac" Macdonald ** * Grand Lake & OKC - OK * ** AGLCA (#217) & USPS ** * * (no current boat) * * ** USAF & FAA, Retired ** ** Amateur Radio K2GKK ** * * k2gkk@hotmail.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * From: k2gkk@hotmail.com To: steve.kromer@me.com; k2gkk@hotmail.com Subject: RE: Looper Locator discontinued? - Forum Notification - Looper Locator Support (5-3508-562038) Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:03:14 -0500 Greetings, Steve. You have probably "broken the code" on light usage of Looper Locator. How many AGLCA members are actually ON the loop at any given time? Maybe ~ 100? Was this feature as cumbersome as the forum? Obviously the cost per user of running the feature is exorbitant and deserves cancellation. Has any cost analysis been done of OTHER features? Perhaps other savings could be gained and applied to the cost of membership. * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** D C "Mac" Macdonald ** * Grand Lake & OKC - OK * ** AGLCA (#217) & USPS ** * * (no current boat) * * ** USAF & FAA, Retired ** ** Amateur Radio K2GKK ** * * k2gkk@hotmail.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > Topic: Looper Locator discontinued? - Looper Locator Support > Reply To Author: Steve Kromer Steve.kromer@me.com > Reply To Group: > http://webapps.kfrservices.com/aglca_forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3508&p=12217&e=12217 > _____________________________________________________________________ > Message: > > I just realized I did not answer Mitch's question directly, so here goes. > Yes Looper Locator is being discontinued, for financial reasons. The > version of Google Earth that it runs on is being discontinued in April > 2013. The cost to upgrade to the most current version is $11,000 give or > take. Since there are only about 100 members who use Looper Locator on a > regular basis we decided that we could not afford to upgrade. > > Looper Locator never got the acceptance we had hoped. The members who use > it seem to really like it but it never got wide acceptance. In addition, > if we were to start from scratch at this point we would make looper locator > an app. > _____________________________________________________________________ > > To reply via email simply click the Reply button in your email program. > Note, emails should be stripped of their original message (control-a, > delete) and the existing Subject, including the forum identifiers cannot be > changed. > > If you no longer wish to watch this forum, either click the "Unsubscribe > forum" link found in the forum above, or click the following link: > > http://webapps.kfrservices.com/aglca_forum/viewforum.php?uid=1573&f=5&unwatch=forum

I am one that used the Looper Locator regularly....daily that is while we are on the Loop. Mac, your observation is exactly correct -there are usually less than 100 boats Looping in any given year. Its reasonable to assume that this is the max number of boats that might be using Looper Locator (theoretically). I downloaded the new app for Droid. While it allows me to see where other Loopers are that post their positions in Looper Locator, we have not been told a thing about what function will replace Looper Locator. AGCLA communication on this matter is pretty bad. Will the new app be modified to accept position input? What will happen to the user data in Looper Locator wen it is discontinued? I do not think its prudent to add another cost to the membership of AGCLA. I think its too high to begin with, and THEN you still have to buy the flag if you are looping. In contrast, MTOA membership PROVIDES you with a flag (and lots of other stuff) upon membership. Of course, NOW (after joining AGCLA) I understand the difference between AGCLA, MTOA, and the Defever group I belong to. AGCLA is a profit making company not a non-profit like the others. Hence their wise decision to close Looper Locator. R. -----Original Message----- From: great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com [mailto:great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com] On Behalf Of D C *Mac* Macdonald Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2012 1:51 PM To: Great Loop List Subject: GL: FW: Looper Locator discontinued? - Forum Notification Steve Kromer of AGLCA posted a message many or most of you have received through the AGLCA forum. The following is my reply to him with a few observations. * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** D C "Mac" Macdonald ** Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:03:14 -0500 > Steve Kromer wrote: > > I just realized I did not answer Mitch's question directly, so here goes. > Yes Looper Locator is being discontinued, for financial reasons. The > version of Google Earth that it runs on is being discontinued in April > 2013. The cost to upgrade to the most current version is $11,000 give > or take. Since there are only about 100 members who use Looper Locator > on a regular basis we decided that we could not afford to upgrade. > > Looper Locator never got the acceptance we had hoped. The members who > use it seem to really like it but it never got wide acceptance. In > addition, if we were to start from scratch at this point we would make > looper locator an app.