[aprssig] 6 meter APRS (KA nodes?)

[Stephen H. Smith]

Bob Bruninga wrote:
> On Second THought (about 6m)...
>
> Maybe we should make these digis be KA PACKET NODE capable too?
>
> Rationale:
>
>   

So the destiny of this network should be tied to a single product 
virtually extinct in the amateur market place, that is clearly at the 
end of it's commercial life???

KA-Nodes are a proprietary protocol only available in Kantronics TNCs.  
At approx USD $230, newcomers simply are not buying  KPC3s in any 
significant numbers any longer. They are opting for soundcard software 
TNCs or the new breed of lowcost KISS-only TNCs like the TNC-X, 
TinyTrak4, or Argent Tracker2 that sell for a fraction of the price.


Argent Tracker2                          USD      $85 Assembled
Byonics TinyTrak4                      USD      $65 Kit/$75 Assembled
Coastal Chipworks TNC-X        USD      $48 Kit/$78 Assembled

I can't see the KPC3+ remaining in production much longer........    (Or 
it will be repositioned as a specialty product for commercial telemetry 
markets and further priced out of the ham market place.)