[aprssig] Deviation meters

[Ray Wells]

Ray McKnight wrote:

>YES! And you must find ways to disseminate that info
>To others, so travelers will know they exist.
>The one thing I *loved* about the USA repeater network
>Was the publication of a small, pocket-sized directory
>Every year you could carry in your car to quickly reference
>Repeater locations, sorted by state, town and frequency.
>  
>
I wrote an article on packet still being alive for our national AR 
magazine last year and that got published. I haven't tackled APRS yet 
because it's still all too new to me. Whilst I understand the basics, 
there are users in higher APRS density areas who are much better 
informed and skilled than me to write about APRS here in Oz. However, I 
can, and will, publicise the fact that the digi is up and running 
running, once it is.

There have been many attempts over the years to produce repeater guides 
for travellers but they all seem to fall out of date too easily. Adding 
to our problem here was the fact that until a few years ago the WIA 
(Wireless Institute of Australia) was comprised of state divisions, with 
the word division being so very appropriate. Each division thought their 
way of doing things was the best so we ended up with a terrible mess for 
interstate travellers. Even though we now have a truly national 
organisation, some states weren't prepared to transfer their assets to 
the national body and the problems of the first 90 years are being 
perpetuated to some extent.

As an example, 145.175MHz was chosen as the national APRS frequency for 
2m, except for vk3 (and maybe others I don't know about). One can only 
hope that in time all 2m APRS in VK will be on a common channel.

Ray vk2tv

>HEY - WHY ISN'T APRS INCLUDED???
>ARRL - DUH???
>
>BROADCAST APRS OBJECTS TO SHOW ASSETS!
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org [mailto:aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org]
>On Behalf Of Ray Wells
>Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 22:18
>To: TAPR APRS Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [aprssig] Deviation meters
>
>Ray McKnight wrote:
>
>  
>
>>>Like yourself, I have a service monitor, a Motorola R2400, but we're 
>>>amongst a lucky minority.
>>>
>>>I think that an oscilloscope is the most useful tool one can have for 
>>>making audio adjustments, and with software scopes available, such a 
>>>tool is within the reach of most. 
>>>
>>>Ray vk2tv
>>>   
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>The sad reality is that 90% of US Hams are not accessing APRS
>>Via RF, but the Innerdnet.  Yes, simple basic test equipment is
>>Useful for setting things like deviation.  Most Hamfests *used*
>>To have test benches set up to do stuff like that.
>>
>>In the US, the vast majority of APRS Hams are No-Code Technician's,
>>And the use of o-scopes and service monitors is well beyond their
>>Level of skill.  If they won't invest in a VHF radio/TNC, why bother
>>With test equipment?
>>
>>Sadly, 99.9% of Hams are more concerned with the number of minutes
>>In their cell phone plan, not their deviation on APRS.  Find a way 
>>To make their cell phone work better and they'll pay attention.
>>
>>This is why not a single solitary APRS message was sent from
>>Downtown New Orleans over the sole surviving Digi during the
>>Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  And that Digi was up at like
>>550ft!
>>
>>So as an Emergency Service, Amateur Radio might as well
>>Be a drum and smoke signals...
>>
>>
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>
>If I had not worked in the two-way radio repair industry for thirty 
>years, the last thirteen for myself, I probably would not have test 
>equipment. My eyes prevent me from doing commercial repairs anymore but 
>I kept one service monitor plus the CRO and other assorted small items 
>to allow me to repair and align my own amateur equipment.
>
>I have one user on VHF on my packet bbs, and that same user is also the 
>only other APRS user in these parts. However, I'm not going to let that 
>be a disincentive to me installing an APRS digi to cover part of the 
>most significant highway in this country - that's country, not county! 
>If the digi does nothing else it will be available for travellers 
>passing through. I'm also going to put in a 30m HFgate because there's a 
>shortage of those around VK.
>
>My hope is that by providing facilities, rather than joining the crumble 
>of AR, it may promote a bit more activity. Amateurs can't use facilities 
>if they don't exist. Futile? Maybe, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
>
>Ray vk2tv
>
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>  
>