[aprssig] SMART Networks

[Rick Green]

On Wed, 26 Mar 2008, Robert Bruninga wrote:

> I strongly resist ANY attempts to make an APRS "smart" network,
> because as a user, I am sure that I will disagree at some time
> or another with any given "smart rule" defined by some local
> SYSOP depending on what I need the network to do at any given
> situation which can be just about anything, all different.  Only
> the originator of an APRS packet is the one that knows for sure
> what he wants the packet to do...
>
   I find your hard-headedness on this issue somewhat amusing, since you 
seem to enjoy jumping on your soapbox to harangue the multitudes on the 
evils of using the *wrong* paths, especially overly-long paths, yet you're 
equally adamant to reserve your right to use an abusive path just so your 
mother can track your travels over the mountains and thru the woods into 
the next state on the way to Thanksgiving dinner.  Your 'let the user 
decide' stance sounds to me like the argument of the spammers who claim a 
'constitutional' right to their abuse as 'free speech'.

   Give us a break, Bob.  The way to manage the network is to let the digi 
node operators define a 'service area' geographically, then digi any 
packet originated in that area, and ignore all others.  That would reduce 
the operator to choosing one of two paths:  Direct, or 'via APRS', which 
would digi as far as congestion would allow, hopefully reaching an igate.

-- 
Rick Green, N8BJX

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little
temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
                                   -Benjamin Franklin