[aprssig] Text Messaging Radios (a simple use)

[Bob Bruninga]

> If we're going to make a device that 
> has the connections to the radio to 
> receive DTMF and display it on an LCD, 
> why not just make it a text messaging 
> terminal and have it use APRS?

because only 5% or so of the amateur radio volunteers that provide the bulk of amateur radio support for public service events can SEND APRS messages. whereas almost 100% of the volunteers that show up with their old trusty HT can send DTMF text messaging.

SO yes, the device should do both, but the real value to the overall amateur radio community for public service data reporting is by far, making it a DTMF display first (and simplest) and adding APRS modems as a bonus.

Bob, Wb4APR
>Scott
>N1VG
>
>Wes Johnston, AI4PX wrote:
>> I could kinda see where I could program my DTMF memories in advance... 
>> memory 1 would be priority 1 traffic indication (with my callsign 
>> embedded), mem 2 would be priority 2, etc.  Then I'd just key up and 
>> send DTMF memory 1 if I had hi priority traffic.  Of course teh next 
>> question is how long does this DTMF sequence take?  1.6 seconds at most, 
>> right?  16 digit dtmf memory at a speed of 10 digits per second?  It 
>> would take a little longer than blurting out your 3 letter suffix by 
>> voice, but would convey more info...... however.... if I had real 
>> emergency traffic, I'd still butt in and call netcontrol on voice.  
>> Routine and hi priority traffic... I would not mind sitting by and 
>> letting netcontrol get around to me.
>>  
>> Someone mentioned the display time out.  How long does my code stay on 
>> the display of one of these radios?  What happens when it's overwritten 
>> by the next guy looking to pass traffic.  Seems to me that if we had a 
>> PIC, DTMF decoder and 20x4 LCD display, we could have a message logging 
>> tablet which would show 4 calls at once.... and you could scroll between 
>> them if too many came in at once.  Such a device could / would sort the 
>> calls by priority and allow netcontrol operator to erase them once he'd 
>> addressed that station.
>>  
>> Just my thoughts.
>> 
>> On Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 2:18 PM, Scott Miller <scott at opentrac.org 
>> <mailto:scott at opentrac.org>> wrote:
>> 
>>      > Yes, if this catches on, I am sure that Byonics, OpenTrack of
>>      > HAMHUD would find it useful to add the DTMF decoder to their
>>      > displays.  The real advantage is being able to include 100% of
>>      > every volunteer at your event in the ability to send simple text
>>      > data to net control.
>> 
>>     I'm still not following how this is going to be more useful than voice.
>>      Can someone shoot a quick video of this in use?
>> 
>>     Scott
>>     N1VG
>> 
>> 
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>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Wes
>> ---
>> Where there's silence, there is no Hope.
>> 
>> 
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