[aprssig] 18 Wheeler APRS pix?

Wed Jan 27 09:43:56 EST 2010

Concur with Garrett's comments.  I travel across country in a RV, several
times a year.  I have my call sign posted on the rear of my RV.  Many times
I've had a professional drier, contact me on 146.52 and we have stayed in
communications all day long (both going the same way).  They have a wealth
of knowledge about repeaters along the way.  Which ones do not mind them
dropping in for a few hours, while passing thru, and which ones don't like
them on their frequency.  They have been pleasant, and most have never been
on CB and don't even monitor it.  

I have quite often monitored CB to keep up on traffic conditions.  There are
a few "bad folks" on there, running lots of power, and very foul mouths. I
just turn it off for a few hours.  I've also talked to many regular drivers
on CB that are very pleasant.  Most just listen for Smokey reports or
accidents. 

Rusty K1GGS 

-----Original Message-----
From: aprssig-bounces at tapr.org [mailto:aprssig-bounces at tapr.org] On Behalf
Of Garrett Sloan
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 10:20 PM
To: 'TAPR APRS Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [aprssig] 18 Wheeler APRS pix?

I don't reply here often, mostly sit on the sidelines and absorb information
and ideas, but felt I'd like to add my $0.02...

I know a fair number of truckers & fleet drivers, and the kilowatt operators
idea I've never seen, I think it's a bad stereotype of the supposed "good
buddies" population which I've never experienced.

I started off at around 14 years old with a radioshack walkie talkie playing
with my friends, ran into a Bunny Hunt (fox hunt) one Saturday night and was
surprisingly found by a group of local CB/Amateur radio operators, I joined
the local radio group, tested and received my amateur radio operator status
a couple of years later, and still drive with both a CB and VHF/UHF radio on
at all times.
Honestly I have never personally run across a professional driver with the
"good ol Boy" attitude, when I have heard it its typically been a 14-16 year
old kid with a new toy CB who disappears quickly.

The amateur radio operators that are also drivers that I know are just that,
amateur radio operators that also happen to be drivers. They don't get into
the cab of their truck, loose 100 iq points, grab the mic and start calling
for anyone out there, most the professional drivers I know or have worked
with are:
A: Tracking phobic, the last thing they want is their company being able to
tell exactly where they are at any given time, to the point that they
sabotage the already vehicle equipped GPS system to hide their location.
B: communication obsessed, and they're some of the best people to talk with
on the radio. They spend all day in their truck travelling cross country and
enjoy a good conversation or contact, the addition of being able to get
local information and updates via APRS would be a welcome benefit to them,
probably more so than to local amateur operators that are familiar with the
area.

I think that bringing anyone with a desire to utilize the technology, and
that can actually make better use of the technology than most into the hobby
can only be a benefit, it can only add to the hobby and amount of
information available to all overall. Yes, there may be a small portion of
users that abuse the technology, but I think it would actually be a smaller
percentage of operators that are also drivers and value communication rather
than being tracked that decide to run deaf trackers than some operators that
only want to be able to go home and see where they've been for the day.

Again just my $0.02...
Garrett
VE6RKY

-----Original Message-----
From: aprssig-bounces at tapr.org [mailto:aprssig-bounces at tapr.org] On Behalf
Of Armour, Randy (ITS)
Sent: January 26, 2010 10:18 PM
To: TAPR APRS Mailing List
Subject: Re: [aprssig] 18 Wheeler APRS pix?

I am not a trucker, nor do I know a single person in the trucking
industry.  I am, however, disappointed to read that the opinion of some
of the most knowledgeable people on this list seems to  that because
someone chooses enter any specific profession that they are predisposed
to be a "bad" operator.  Implying that embracing the "CB Mentality" that
all truckers must have will somehow destroy APRS as we now know it
reminds me of the debate about how removing Morse code exam requirements
would destroy the integrity of amateur radio.  

I also agree with WB4APR's comment about reaching out to every possible
participant.  If amateur radio becomes so exclusive that only a small
number of people participate, there is a long line of folks that want
valuable spectrum.  Discouraging "hundreds, if not thousands" of
potential "good buddies" that can be "good operators" seems
counterproductive.  

Most people have an initial interest in APRS which is sparked by the
novelty of vehicle tracking, perhaps by a visit to an APRS-IS website
like FINDU.  So, "Gee Whiz -- FREE AVL" attracts many people to APRS.
WB4APR is constantly reminding us all that the original intent of APRS
is locally significant information. Truck drivers will rely on timely
access to this local information more so than most of us who have a
short commute and limited time to engage in amateur radio activities.
It seems to me that APRS is very suitable for people who spend many
hours on the road, constantly changing what is "local" to them.

I don't believe that the sorted history of 11 meter operation 30 years
ago will dictate the path of anyone wishing to participate in this hobby
today.

Randy - KI4LMR  

>You should seriously consider the consequences of this before you
>submit it.  Do we really want hundreds, if not thousands, of "good
>buddies" running APRS?  If history is any indication, there will
>result in 18-wheelers running kilowatt APRS stations with beacon rates
>of 10 secs and paths of 'WIDE7-7,WIDE7-7'.  I know of a few truckers
>who are hams and they run by the rules, but they will be in the
>minority if APRS catches on with the majority of regular truckers.
>The result will be constant QRM on 144.390 and single digit decode
>rates.

>I've got my flameproof undies on, so flame away.

>73 de
>-- 
>Bob Poortinga  K9SQL
>Bloomington, IN  US

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