[aprssig] Re: APRS Status Quo

[Robert Bruninga]

>>> "Curt, WE7U" <archer at eskimo.com> 2/18/05 1:29:40 PM >>>
>> So think  about it.   You have a real problem with how to
>> get from "here" to "there" [with your ideas for new, yet-to-
>> be-developed TNC's at all digis in the country].
>>In the meantime.  Switch to  the New n-N paradigm and 
>> you dont even have to leave your shack...
>
>Strange comment.  I have no idea what you're getting at with that
>last bit.

OOps, sorry, it sounds like a slur... but what it meant was that
all of the New n-N paradigm process can be done NOW, TODAY
by just changing a few digi parameters via remote sysop.  No trip to
the mountain.  Just 5 minutes of operations from the shack...

>So because you can't see a migration path yourself, 
>that's enough reason to throw out the idea altogether 
>and not work towards better networks in the future?

Never said that AT ALL.  What Frustrates me is that you
guys all complain about how confusing this is for the
users.  Yet, then we have come up with a GREAT
SIMPLIFICATION in the New n-N Paraddigm which can
easily double or triple reliability and performance of the
existing network, yet you keep throwing up obfuscation and
counter productive (future) ideas that the most people
who are only partly paying attemtion to this thread, read as
just adding more confusion.  And you are saying it in 
the context of the New n-N paradigm!!!  Which means
-you- are holding us back!!!  Not me holding you back 
from future whiz-bang complex solutions to the simple
problem.

It is not me holding back progress AT ALL!  I am 
all for any new ideas, but they MUST BE DIFFERENTIATED
from what we are doing NOW.  The New n-N Paradigm is 
something we can do NOW TODAY!  Yet your quibbling about
doing things better in the future with all new TNC's requiring
a mass changeout of ALL digipeaters in the country is just 
absolute BS and counterproductive to the task AT HAND.

Which is better settings for the EXISTING DIGIS..
DARN IT.

You design a better TNC, get it installed throughtout
Maryland and call me when you are ready...  I will 
more than happily switch over.  But in the meantime
stop obfuscating the topic at  hand which is getting
the EXISTING DIGIPEATERS SET PROPERLY.

ARGH!@#$

Bob, WB4APR




We've been running WIDE2-2 as a recommendation in the western
Washington area for quite a while now.  We also have a few digi_ned
digi's in the area and do some advanced experiments with them from
time to time.  We also have a few UHF digi's that are tied into the
VHF system, and an alternate low-power 2m frequency that's tied in
the same way.  I'd say we're not at the lower rungs of the ladder
when it comes to APRS methodologies...

With respect to getting from here to there:

*) We've added OpenTrac decode support to Xastir.
*) We'll be adding more SAR support to Xastir, plus we have added
   another developer that is also an active SAR person.
*) We've added checks for long paths into Xastir that annoy the user
   immensely until they change their paths to socially acceptable
   ones.  Better for the network.
*) We've converted our messaging and object/item transmit intervals
   to the exponentional decay algorithm.  Better for the network.
*) I'm sure we've done other changes to Xastir in the last few years
   to become better network neighbors.  Can't think of them all 'cuz
   we're constanly changing it and I can only manage to keep a small
   set of the recent achievements/bug-fixes in my head.  CVS keeps
   track of that stuff anyway so that I don't have to!
*) I'm working on hardware for APRS (did I mention I'm a hardware
   guy too?) which most likely will support OpenTrac as well
   eventually.  I see OpenTrac as a useful adjunct to SAR
   operations, particularly if some of Scott's advanced networking
   ideas can be put into practice.  I'll do my best to help that
   along.

If new ideas are brought forth for APRS networking in our area which
need client support, I'll be willing to tweak Xastir in order to
support experimentation.

So, progress is not dead, but it is slowed down by the attitudes of
those that say:  The APRS network is working, has always been
working, and will continue to work as-is.  Come on, support progress
and it'll support you!

If I'd have taken to heart all of the negative comments I heard when
I brought up new ideas for Xastir, I'd be off doing something else
by now, not APRS.  Instead, I've implemented a good portion of them
anyway and the program and the users are better off for it.

I get weary of all the squashing of ideas that goes on around here.
Henk, Scott, and MANY others here have done incredible things for
APRS through their unique ideas and hard work.  Let's support them,
not silence them.  People like that are the future of ham radio.

--
Curt, WE7U.   APRS Client Comparisons: http://www.eskimo.com/~archer 
"Lotto:    A tax on people who are bad at math." -- unknown
"Windows:  Microsoft's tax on computer illiterates." -- WE7U
"The world DOES revolve around me:  I picked the coordinate system!"