[aprssig] Objects vs real stations..

[Len N9IJ]

Thanks for the comments, Keith.

I am looking at this more from county-limited perspective, I guess. It just bothers me that with so many objects in the county, few serve as local digi's. I've always envisioned the means for anyone with a typical D7, VX8, or any other simple tracker to be a part of the system.

I don't begrudge the many objects so much as I am dismayed at having so many with so few serving as functional digi's.

Interesting about the paths. I tend to set my path in everything to WIDE1-1, WIDE2-2. I have used SSn paths but went back to WIDEn since I am so close to the state line. I'll recheck them all to insure no abusive paths.
--
Len Revelle N9IJ 


-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Keith VE7GDH" <ve7gdh at rac.ca> 

> Len N9IJ wrote... 
> 
> > I live relatively close to Chicago, basically an urban county, with 
> > many hams. While learning a new APRS capable HT, I realized that, 
> > though there is a plethora of objects on the county map, few are 
> > providing more than a "here I am" announcement. I am in the process of 
> > putting a stand-alone WIDE1-1 up at home because, though there are 
> > several objects shown near-by, none are digi-peating. 
> 
> Objects are usually "here is something" rather than "here I am" but what 
> the object represents is really determined by the person that created 
> it. They also determine the path if any to be used. Many go out with no 
> path at all because they are intended for local use... e.g. repeater 
> objects that announce the location, frequency and tone if any and 
> callsign of the repeater. Very useful for visitors travelling in the 
> area, but no need to digipeat them out of the area where the repeater 
> can be used. You would really have to look at each object around you to 
> learn what its intention was and if it was not optimized. 
> 
> > We have a very active RACES operation that excells in SKYWARN 
> > functions. They own many radios, at least one TNC, three repeaters and 
> > are located at a site that employs four hams. Their only APRS activity 
> > is having their EOC icon and repeater info placed on the map as 
> > objects generated by a home station. 
> 
> That's a real shame. Groups like that could really benefit from making 
> good use of APRS. If you are a part of any of those groups, perhaps you 
> could educate them how they could get a zillion percent more out of it 
> than they currently do with an EOC object... although there is nothing 
> wrong with having that object there all of the time so local hams and 
> visitors know where it is. 
> 
> > There are several APRS weather stations so we can monitor the 2-3 
> > degree difference but essentially the same weather, between them. 
> 
> How many WX stations are "enough" really depends on their location, the 
> beacon rate and the paths they are using. During some disaster, having 
> many WX stations could be very useful for watching shifting wind 
> patterns. During "no disaster" times, less could be better. 
> 
> > Others appear on the map as home stations but are actually only 
> > objects being placed on the map via internet only operation. 
> 
> Hmmm... are they WX stations or objects? There's a big difference. If 
> they are on TCPIP only, you won't even see them on RF unless someone is 
> gating them to RF. IGate operators should only be gating something out 
> to RF if it's really necessary. 
> 
> > My intent is not to slam any of the above, rather to question the 
> > benefit of having much of the map or spectrum real estate populated by 
> > objects that are not "really" there. 
> 
> There's nothing wrong with questioning, but to be honest, your comments 
> seem to be based with what you see on the map without really analyzing 
> exactly what it is you are looking at... and possibly whether it is even 
> on RF at all. You imply they are on RF because you are "learning a new 
> APRS capable HT" but you do also comment on WX stations (or did you mean 
> objects?) that are "only objects being placed on the map via internet". 
> 
> > There must be a bunch of ancient 2-meter radios, and old TNC's that 
> > can become a WIDE1-1 and be put into service. 
> 
> I'm sure there are, but the most important decision in placing a digi is 
> determining if it's really needed. 
> 
> > Is it me, or is this faux-APRS operation become the norm in other 
> > areas? 
> 
> What do you mean by "faux-APRS"? I don't want to second guess your 
> meaning. 
> 
> I see that N9IJ is using UI-View with a path of WIDE2-2 but you seem to 
> be making an IGate direct most of the time. A "good" path depends on 
> your beacon rate, ALOHA circle and how busy the frequency is around you, 
> and the location of the adjacent digis. 
> 
> N9IJ-7 is using a four hop path of WIDE1-1,WIDE3-3. That would be 
> considered abusive in many areas. Guess that's the VX-8R that you are 
> trying out. I'll eventually be getting one.Give WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 a try. 
> I'm sure you will have good success with it. 
> 
> N9IJ-10 is your Kantronics based digi. Is it beaconing every 10 mins 
> with no path, except once each hour with a one hop WIDE2-1 and once each 
> hour with a two hop WIDE2-2? 
> 
> N9IJ-9 was most recently beaconing with an abusive 4 hop path of 
> WIDE1-1,WIDE3-3. It looks like it was beaconing every minute or two and 
> indicted that you were listening on 144.390 with 100 Hz CTCSS. 
> 
> 73 es cul - Keith VE7GDH 
> -- 
> "I may be lost, but I know exactly where I am!" 
> 
> 
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