[aprssig] APRS on Field Day 2007

[William McKeehan]

The way I read the rules, all you have to do to get the 100 bonus points is
simply "demonstrate" APRS. In my mind, this can be done on any frequency with
any number of stations.

I do think that what you have encouraged people to do in the past has been
worthwhile. Last year, we had a few  different clubs that setup APRS on a
frequency other than 144.39 to see if we could communicate between ourselves.
Our fall-back plan (and where we went after we played) was to go back to
144.39. To me, the best portion of the demonstration was showing everything
that is being done on 144.39.
-- 
William McKeehan

On Thu, June 7, 2007 7:38 pm, Robert Bruninga wrote:
>> ... last Field Day the ARRL posted special
>> instructions for APRS....  I remember that FD
>> stations were to operate on a different
>> frequency using no I-Gates.
>
> Unfortunately, the ARRL has never really understood APRS.  I
> think you are referring to my attmpts over the years to
> encourage APRS operators to demonstrate the
> real-time-come-as-you-are ability of APRS to build a network in
> the field.  But I have given up on that.  The ARRL still does
> not understand APRS in the context of come-as-you-are emergency
> operations, and so this year, lets try something different!!!
>
> See my 2006 APRS FD suggestions for comparison:
>
> http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/aprs/fd2006.html
>
> Then see my 2007 page at the end... Here are the 2007 rules:
>
> QUOTE
> 7.3.10. Non-Traditional Mode Demos: ... 100 points ... for
> setting up a demonstration of a non-traditional mode... such as
> APRS...
>
> 7.3.10.2. A complete portable packet system may be
> included...[which] must include a temporary, portable node...
> separate from the existing packet infrastructure of your area.
> Simply setting up a packet station does not qualify as a
> demonstration mode.
> UNQUOTE
>
> I'm not sure that the ARRL has ever understood APRS.  Notice
> that 7.3.10.2 speaks of "packet" as additional to the listing of
> APRS in para 7.3.10.  Also APRS does not use "nodes" which are
> distinct level-4 packet devices for conventional connected
> packet, therefore rule 7.3.10.2 applies to conventional
> message-traffic packet and does *NOT* apply to APRS.
>
> If the ARRL after 15 years of APRS still does not recognize APRS
> enough to even understand the difference between APRS and
> "packet nodes", then I give up on trying to interpret their
> rules in their favor.
>
> THEREFORE, the 2007 FD rules for APRS are interpreted as
> follows:
>
> 1) APRS will not be used as a digital mode for QSO points.
> Hence it is suitable as a special modes demonstration worth 100
> points.
>
> 2) APRS does not use "repeaters", and does not even use
> digipeaters for QSO points, so the prohibition against
> "repeaters" does not apply.
>
> 3) APRS is a demo station and not a participant in a level-4
> packet node system so the requirements for message-packet
> systems of para 7.3.10.2 do not apply.
>
> 4) APRS will be operated on 144.39 in the USA as a demonstration
> station on RF ONLY. 100 demo Points will be awarded for an
> operating APRS station that can capture at least 20 surrounding
> APRS network participants and can exchange a two way-message
> with at least three other manned stations.
>
> Here is the 2007 APRS field day WEB page:
>
> http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/aprs/fd2006.html
>
> Notice that ALL Kenwood D700 mobiles should be activated as
> TEMPn-N digipeaters.  This will make a nice way to link into
> 144.39 if needed and to see what we can do with this "permanent"
> TEMPn-n alternate network capability...
>
> Did I miss anything?
> Bob, WB4APR
>
>
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