[aprssig] Finding HF GATEs

[Steve Dimse]

On Jul 26, 2006, at 5:20 PM, Ben Jackson wrote:

> Is there an easy way to identify all the HF GATEs?  I'm watching an
> APRS-IS feed filtered for /& (described as "HF GATE") and \- ("HF  
> home")
> only a fraction seem to be on HF.  Lots of the /& appear to be
> IGates and a lot of the homes have paths making them look like they're
> on 2m.  I'm guessing that many people pick symbols based on the  
> pictures
> rather than the descriptions.

By definition, an IGate is on both HF and 2 meters. If a station  
simultaneously transmits a beacon on both HF and VHF, the VHF beacon  
will get sent in a quarter of the time, and therefore is much more  
likely to reach the APRS Internet System first. The second to reach  
the APRS IS is filtered. As is true with any propagation related  
question, the APRS IS is not an appropriate tool to answer the question.

Steve K4HG