[aprssig] 20th century radio (was: APRS MileMark data base)

[Pentti Gronlund]

Robert Bruninga writes:

> It wasn't maxwell, it is HRO, AES, Yeasu, Kenwood, Icom,
> Kantronics, MFJ, and all the other sources for ham radio for the
> general ham.  Remember, we are arguing from two different
> perspectives.  Im arguing what existing operators do at local
> events, now, today.  You are arguing for new technology for the
> future..

Bob, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE (like James Brown):

Use your power to convince your friends at Kenwood (or at a
manufacturer of your choice) to make the next evolution of
this close to $1000 box (at the European dealers) at least 
a bit modern, with some small improvements like:

-a keyboard  
-a decent video display (320 x 200 will do)
-a built-in navigator

You see, in some parts of the world, we have a plentiful supply of
mobile telephone operators with a good spectrum of services. Nobody
wants to pay a fortune for a box that is a mediocre dualbander with
a four-line text display combined with a pre-early-90's user inter-
face for a short-message service.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE...

> I am saying that existing ham radio operators are not using APRS
> nor digital to even 10% of the current capability and what can
> we do about that?  You are arguing that giving them better
> technology will solve that problem.  I disagree.

You may be right, and again, you may be wrong. In my opinion all
this arguing with no work towards technological advance will return 
us all to the stone age of traditional AX.25 packet radio with the
LLLIDS and even uglier things.

> Back to the original thread...  I think it would be hard to tell
> all the local governments that using Mile-marks for locations
> along major interstates is old out-dated technology.  Because
> most of them are spending millions of dollars to maintain and
> update their milemarkers now every TENTH of a mile because of
> their tremendous value to location information for first
> responders.  It ain't high tech, but it works.  And 100% of
> every human with at least one eye can use it, not just those
> with GPS...

Ehhh...what exactly are these mile marks? We have streets and
street numbers here in EU.

Bob, I think you have a too narrow perspective with these mile
markers and other odd proposals of yours. I've never been to 
_North_ America either, it would be good for both of us to do
a little of travelling instead of dry specification work :)

Benjamin OH3BK
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