[aprssig] Lasting Compatibility of the D700a

[Robert Bruninga]

>... the only bad thing about the d700a is the 
> fact you cant flash it.   The way Garmin 
> does updates works VERY well...

Garmin's are personal devices that have no need to be compatible
with each other.  On the other hand, the stability of APRS as a
common protocol instead of a constantly moving target of bell's
and whistles has a certain value in maintining
on-air-compatibility.

As a communicaitons system, the intent of APRS was to make sure
that all recepients saw the same tactical info in the same
context.  Without consistency, a tower-of-babble results and
communications reliability is deminished in some cases instead
of enhanced.

In that sense, there is value in the fact that the radio cannot
be flashed and will always be compatible with all the other
tens' of thousands of D700's out there, without having to
download a new "version" every month or so for the life of the
radio.

Just the flip side.

Bob, WB4APR