[aprssig] Balloon Paths again and again...

[Jason KG4WSV]

On Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 11:25 AM, Robert Bruninga <bruninga at usna.edu> wrote:
> EVERYONE MEMORIZE THIS!
>
>  For BALOONS!
>  1) Use a path of WIDE2-2.
>  2) Never use WIDE1-1.

Blanket statements are always wrong.

We typically fly into rugged terrain and sparsely populated areas.  We
want to make sure we get as many packets as possible near the time of
landing, so that we can recover the payload.  If it happens that a
WIDE1-1 fill-in digi is the only thing in the area, I want to make
sure that it will digipeat that packet.

As Curt pointed out, smart trackers can change profiles based on a
variety of factors, including altitude.  We fly opentracker family
devices, with a typical (for this area) mobile path of WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2
or 1-1,2-1 until we get to altitude, where we switch to direct-only.

If you really want to help the network, advise folks to fly smart
devices, not dumb ones.

-Jason
kg4wsv