[aprssig] ARRL Web Site Propagating Out-Of-Data APRS Into

[scott at opentrac.org]

Didn't someone offer a domain (was it aprs.net?) as a single repository for
official APRS information?  I'd really like to see that developed.  No
offense to Bob, but the USNA site is hard to sort through, looks like a
personal website because of the ~ style URL, and I think some people still
have trouble getting there - at least to the .mil site that shows up first
in Google.
 
There really needs to be a single, well-maintained, easy-to-digest source
for up-to-date APRS info.  Try this sometime: Imagine you know nothing about
APRS, then go to Google and see how long it takes you to actually figure out
what it's all about today.  The top two links get you DOS screen shots and
ugly Java maps - nothing to even hint at what's available in modern clients,
or online through OpenAPRS.  In the top three links, the best description
you get is "APRS is a shareware program
<http://www.cave.org/aprs/aprswhat.html>  that takes advantage of the
availibility of inexpensive GPS receivers to display the locations of moving
stations on your PC. By connecting your PC computer to any radio network via
an innexpensive ($130) radio data modem, then all stations can see the mo
vements of all other stations..." which is misleading and incomplete.
 
Yeah, I know it means a lot of work to build and maintain.  I don't have
time to do it myself - I have a hard enough time keeping my own information
up to date.  But I've made money from APRS, and I don't mind contributing
money back to the cause.  I'm willing to chip in to pay for professional web
design and copy editing if that's what it takes.  In fact, I've got my
sister, N6TME, doing some research on that now (at very reasonable family
rates =).  She's a professional tech writer, and is coming into this with no
real prior knowledge of APRS, which gives her a perspective similar to most
new or prospective APRS users.
 
I'm also willing to provide hosting if necessary.  If anyone's interested in
taking on the visual design, or knows someone who's good at that, let me
know.
 
Scott
N1VG


  _____  

From: aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org [mailto:aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org]
On Behalf Of Herb Gerhardt
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 9:32 AM
To: TAPR APRS Mailing List
Subject: RE: [aprssig] ARRL Web Site Propagating Out-Of-Data APRS Into


That is one of the unfortunate things about the internet and published books
and manuals.
 
Since we switched last year to the new Paradigm of APRS, there are lots of
published books, manuals and web sites that are no longer correct!  It will
take time to fix all that but some of it will never get fixed and will
mislead some of the new folks for years to come.
 
IT IS OUR JOB TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT.  When you see a new station on your
screen, check it to make sure they are using the correct path.  I do that in
my area and it not only fixes their problem in a hurry, but it also gives
the new user an opportunity to meet one of the old timers who is willing to
help get them going in the right direction.  Remember the stations using the
old paths will only show up on your screen if they are in simplex range of
your station, so not only can you help them fix their problem, but you might
also make a new friend!  If you don't jump in and help them out, they will
probably get discouraged real fast and we will probably loose them from our
hobby.  Everyone needs to see things work when they first try out a new
thing.
 
So, lets all do our job and help steer new APRS users in the right
direction.
 
Thanks,
 
Herb, KB7UVC
NW APRS Group, West Sound Coordinator
Our WEB Site:  http://www.nwaprs.info <http://www.nwaprs.info/> 

  

-----Original Message-----
From: aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org
[mailto:aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org]On Behalf Of Stephen H. Smith
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 9:25 PM
To: TAPR APRS Mailing List
Subject: [aprssig] ARRL Web Site Propagating Out-Of-Data APRS Into


I just stumbled across this URL:
    http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/aprs/pos-reporting.html


It is still advising newbies to use "RELAY,WIDE,WIDE" and advocating
operating on 145.79 ! !  Not to mention the link to the now-obsolete .MIL
domain version of Bob's website.

It also has this astonishing statement:
 
 "A GATE station has a very wide coverage area (500 miles or more)." after
listing the distinction between RELAY and WIDE,  implying that GATES are
some kind of superstation on two meters.





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