[aprssig] New n-N Paradigm FACTS

[Robert Bruninga]

This is the real truth about the New n-N Paradigm.
WITH NUMBERS!

The New n-N Paradigm  is *not* a crusade against WIDEn-N,
just large values of N.  In fact, half of the crusade is to get
rid of dupe-generating W,W and W,W,W paths (and R,W
and R,W,W) and getting those users to switch to WIDE2-2 
(or SS2-2) in busy areas or eastern states..

Here are the numbers based on 1200 packets over 1 hour near 
Baltimore MD representing 110 separate callsigns.  In our area
only about half the digipeaters support n-N.  So this may not
be at all representative out west, but it is representative of the
Eastern Seaboard which we must fix.

%users   %pkts   path used
  7%          3%       RELAY or WIDE only
35%        27%      RELAY,WIDE or WIDE,WIDE
26%        50%      RELAY,WIDE,WIDE or WIDE,WIDE,WIDE
14%          5%      WIDE2-2
24%         10%     WIDE3-3
  3%           7%     WIDE4-4

Notice that one fourth of the users are responsible for HALF
of all packets.  They are using the very inefficient W,W,W
or R,W,W path.  We must get away from this kind of path
in APRS.  

What is immportant above is the ratio of packets to the
number of users of a given path.  The paths with the
smallest ratio of packets per user is, of course, more efficient.  
Re-arranging the table from most efficient to least is revealing:

%Users  %pckts  Factor  Path
14%          5%      2.8    WIDE2-2
24%         10%     2.4   WIDE3-3
  7%           3%    2.3    WIDE
35%         27%    1.2    WIDE,WIDE
26%         50%     0.5   WIDE,WIDE,WIDE
  3%           7%     0.4    WIDE4-4

Notice the factor column.  W2-2 is almost 3 times more efficient
than W,W.  W3-3 is 5 times more efficient than W,W,W!

Now compare the New n-N Paradigm receommendation of
W2-2 to the most common east coast W,W,W and the factor 
is a SIX TIMES REDUCTION in volume of packets.  Imagine how 
much more reliable our network can be if it efficiency improved 
by a factor of SIX!

Lets DO IT.  Use WIDE2-2 in WIDEn-N areas and SS2-2 in
states moving to the SSn-N scheme.

Lets move out on the New n-N Paradigm NOW.

de WB4APR, Bob