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

Fri Mar 31 07:55:33 EST 2006

Ron, 

    I think this is a great idea, myself.  All the really good information that is being discussed could be permanently stored on the Wiki where others could draw upon it.  

    73, 

                                                                    Fred, WB4AEJ     
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ron McCoy 
  To: 'TAPR APRS Mailing List' 
  Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 6:36 AM
  Subject: RE: [aprssig] ARRL Web Site Propagating Out-Of-Data APRS Into

  This sounds like the perfect application for a Wiki. Scott, if you hosted an APRS Wiki, that would be great. It could be seeded with information gathered from around the net and each one of us could add/edit content in our own favorite areas.

  For that matter, this could be done with an article(s) in Wikipedia, no hosting required. I just checked and there’s already a short article there. Why don’t we just flesh that out?

  Ron KI4KKD

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org [mailto:aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org] On Behalf Of scott at opentrac.org
  Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 12:57 PM
  To: 'TAPR APRS Mailing List'
  Subject: RE: [aprssig] ARRL Web Site Propagating Out-Of-Data APRS Into

  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 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

      -----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.

  --
  No virus found in this incoming message.
  Checked by AVG Free Edition.
  Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.3/296 - Release Date: 3/29/2006

  --
  No virus found in this outgoing message.
  Checked by AVG Free Edition.
  Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.3/296 - Release Date: 3/29/2006

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  _______________________________________________
  aprssig mailing list
  aprssig at lists.tapr.org
  https://lists.tapr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aprssig
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.tapr.org/pipermail/aprssig_lists.tapr.org/attachments/20060331/06e796b8/attachment.html>