[aprssig] Re: PHG in APRS and Xastir?

[Jason Winningham]

On May 11, 2006, at 10:13 AM, Robert Bruninga wrote:

>>> I hope that that button defaults to the
>>> condition that includes this PHG data in his packet unless
>>> the  owner specifically takes action to disable it?

[snick]
> How does transmitting it "guarantee" bad data?

Bob, you are requesting that PHG data be transmitted by default, so 
basically you're asking the software developer to make assumptions 
about every station that may use the software.

No software developer knows what my PHG is at compile time. In order 
for the software to put a MEANINGFUL value in the PHG field, the 
software (developer) MUST KNOW what my PHG is.  This is absurd!

You ask for PHG to be on by default, yet there is NO WAY for the 
developer to know if the default value is CORRECT.

The default value for PHG should be to disable PHG transmission, unless 
the OPERATOR supplies values for PHG.  To do anything else would be 
transmitting garbage.



Or do you want the software developer to refuse to allow the operator 
to transmit until the operator supplies some PHG values?


If you FORCE operators to supply PHG, or if the developer turns on PHG 
by default (which you requested), then all stations will have a PHG, 
but few of them will have correct values - they'll click "OK" and take 
defaults until they are allowed to get on the air.


If the coverage area of the station (which is what you're really after, 
not PHG) is so important, why isn't there some protocol for an APRS 
station to share that information?

-Jason
kg4wsv