[aprssig] Danger Will Robinson!

[Cap Pennell]

Right.  I mean to say, I sure wish more hams would review their impact on
our VHF net, by watching the packets scroll by in a terminal window, more
often, for better courtesy to other hams.  Then the network would work
better for us all.  We'd see fewer WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2 digipaths when simply
WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 (or less) will adequately fill that station's true
audience's needs, and so on.  Trackers would loosen their SmartBeaconing
settings so they don't spew so many packets on (high elevation) twisty
mountain roads.  Digipeater sysops would routinely update their settings,
finally implement the NEW-N paradigm, or some perhaps convert to simple
fill-in digis to better assist the shared VHF network.  Weather stations
would abide by the APRSWXNET interval suggestions. 
I could go on with this idealistic VHF fantasy, but surely that's enough
carping for one email.  And besides, by now, not many are still listening
and decoding, even here on the internet.  <grin>
73, Cap

> -----Original Message-----
> From: aprssig-bounces at tapr.org [mailto:aprssig-bounces at tapr.org] On
> Behalf Of Steve Dimse
> Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 6:15 PM
> To: TAPR APRS Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [aprssig] Danger Will Robinson!
> 
> 
> On Jul 22, 2009, at 9:01 PM, Cap Pennell wrote:
> 
> > Yes, yes, I know.  But I believe the numbers of transient mobile hams
> > routinely reviewing their RF APRS displays for purposes of locating
> > nearby
> > Echolink stations which they will then utilize in unfamiliar
> > territory will
> > be just about the same number as that of APRS stations actually
> > transmitting
> > !x! or RFONLY (or using 9600baud for mobile APRS).  <grin>
> 
> !x! and RFONLY are ways for people to opt out of something. They cost
> nothing in terms of the limited resources of APRS both on RF and Inet.
> That makes them acceptable. On the other hand, using 10%+ of a limited
> resource for something few will use is wasteful, which is why I've
> come to be completely against this idea.
> 
> Steve K4HG