[aprssig] APRS FIeld Day 2006 Press Release

[Robert Bruninga]

We really need to get the word out about APRS 
FIeld Day this year.  Fortunately, GOOGLE can 
now find the "APRS Field Day 2006" web page and
so it is time to start spreading the word through
all available HAM channels:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

8 May 2006

APRS FIELD DAY 2006

This year at Field Day, portable and fixed stations
all across the USA are encouraged to demonstrate
the true portability and ad-hoc responsiveness of
the APRS system for come-as-you are needs.

To meet the spirit of the ARRL Field Day Rules,
APRS operations will not use any of the existing
infrastructure, but will attempt to relay from
station to station and via portable temporary
digipeaters using the generic long haul path
of TEMPn-N (spoken as TEMP en dash en).
   
Further, operations will be conducted off the national 
APRS frequency and on the general 2 meter digital 
channel which is 145.01, if available, in most areas.

On the day of Field Day, all amateur radio operators
with any fixed home or portable packet capability
are encouraged to set up their stations as temproary
digipeaters on that (or other agreed regional frequency) 
using the settings on the APRS Field Day 2006 web page.  
You can find that page by google search for 
"APRS Field Day 2006."

Particularly, all mobile TM-D700 radios can easily be
configured to support TEMPn-N digipeating not only
for Field Day, but also permanently so that these
mobiles can re-constitute an APRS network at any
time, anywhere.  See the "how-to" instructions on the
web page.

Katrina and other disasters show the importance of
being able to locate operators and stations using APRS
and to do so using an ad-hoc packet  network without 
reliance on the existing infrastructure.

If you have any APRS experience, bring it to Field Day
this year, hone your skills and make contact!

de WB4APR, Bob Bruninga