[aprssig] What sort of events have you been using APRS with?

[Mark Earle]

I wasn't directly involved this year, but:

MS-150 Bike ride from Houston to Austin over 2 days/ 200 miles. I recall at 
least 4 ambulances, the lead, and the sag tracked. There may have been a 
motorcycle D700 as well, there has been in the past. All emergencies along 
the route are called in via Amateur or cell or however, to a central 
dispatch manned with various folks who's real job is PSA answering. They 
use the APRS to see which resource is nearest the accident scene. There 
were over 10,000 (!) riders this year.

Cell phone networks get overloaded so there is heavy reliance on amateur 
radio voice ops on V and UHF along the route. A linked system that covers 
the ride route is used, along with various VHF repeaters.

Motorala (Argent? or whatever their new name is) Marathon. Runs through a 
large part of Austin. A non-144.39 net for APRS is established. Lead, Tech, 
and Buses are tracked (about 15-20 trackers). There are two APRS channels 
set up, and the trackers use time-slot and beacon, as I recall, at 1 or two 
minute intervals. The channel(s) are busy but it works fine.

Everything is also gated to to the APRS-IS so that folks can monitor the 
progress of the event. The runner's position, and where the transport buses 
are, is important and dynamic.







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