[aprssig] Lasting Compatibility of the D700a

[Matt Werner]

Some of the Garmin updates (maybe half of what I've seen) are *bug
fixes* as well as bells and whistles.  The Kenwood doesn't deal with
compressed objects, correct?  It sure would have been nice to be able
to update one to comply with the published spec...

You talk about maintaining on-air-compatibility - that's something the
Kenwood lacks in some areas BECAUSE of it's lack of updates.  On top
of that, we're now left with a spec that is catering to a device that
can't be updated.  We're left with a system that will never evolve
with the times.

On 5/11/07, Robert Bruninga <bruninga at usna.edu> wrote:
> >... 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
>
>
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