[aprssig] APRS - They don't get it (over on qrz.com)

[Robert Bruninga]

> ... One poster claims APRS is packet radio stripped 
> of it's most useful features...

For what it is worth, I actually can see to some degree why so
many  people think APRS is of little value, because it is
frustrating to me too. Over the last many years, APRS seems to
be presented to others as nothing but a vehicle tracking system
(TRANSMITTING positions).  SO that is what people see.

That was never the focus of APRS!  It was supposed to be just
the opposite!  It is supposed to be about *situational
awareness* and information exchange, RECEIVING information about
all aspects of HAM radio going on about you.  Tune into APRS,
and you should be the most informed possible about everything
going on right now in your immediate area...

I am really trying to get APRS back to that baseline.  That is
why I worked so hard about getting Frequency into the packets,
so now you can SEE what frequency someone is on, so you can
contact them.  The D710 will do this for us.  I am also pushing
to get IRLP, EchoLink and Winlink objects on your local displays
so you are always informed what is around you no matter where
you are.

There is plenty of room for these LOCAL packets if we get people
to cut back on all the out-of-area-SPAM.  Why do I need to see a
BRAG object about a repeater that is 150 miles and a whole state
away from me?  These objects should be only transmitted local
direct.  Only where they can be used...
Tell those folks over on that discussion to visit this page and
see a part of where APRS is supposed to be:

http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/localinfo.html

But all the servers are now down due to a storm damage, so
google it and see if there is an archive copy available until
this system gets back up.

Bob, WB4APR