[aprssig] Missing Digipeater

[wa7skg]

We have a prominent digipeater in our area (W7SRA) that has excellent 
coverage and most of the stations I hear are relayed through it. 
According to my logs and looking at aprs.fi, it was last active on 1/26 
at 2218L. The aprs.fi log does show one beacon on 2/6 at 0122L, but no 
other activity as best as I can tell.

Since it went down, I now receive almost no information from anyone but 
one station a mile from me I hear direct and an occasional transient mobile.

I believe my equipment is working properly and I believe the aprs.fi 
website is also functioning and reporting properly. I have tried 
contacting the sysop who basically said as far as he is concerned the 
digipeater is functioning properly and he will entertain no further 
communication on the subject. I received that info indirectly, as no one 
will tell me who the actual sysop is so I may contact him directly.

I guess my question is, am I interpreting the information on aprs.fi 
correctly? Other than aprs.fi and my own base station (my mobile station 
is not operational at this time), are there any other ways to determine 
if a digipeater is functioning? If it is functioning properly, why does 
it not show up on aprs.fi?

BTW, I am still very new to APRS and trying to figure all this out.

Thanks for any comments or suggestions.

Michael WA7SKG