[aprssig] Beta-quality APRS device statistics

[Stephen H. Smith]

Robert Bruninga wrote:
> I think I have to disagree with your conclusions... 
>
>   
>> the top 10 originators of APRS packets... are HARDWARE 
>> devices (trackers, Kenwood radios, etc), rather than 
>> computer programs, with the exception of UIview and 
>> "Open Source" (which I presume means Xastir)..  
>>
>> hardware... probably overwhelmingly transmit-only.
>>     
>
> Quite false.  Look at the numbers.  Two-way APRS radios dominate
> the hardware applications by far.
>
>   
1)   They are still HARDWARE devices, usually running autonomously of 
any fully-interactive APRS software.

2)   As I previously commented, IN REALITY, they are mostly being used 
as one-way devices.   



>> (In my experience, even the potentially two-way hardware 
>> devices like Kenwood radios, are used mainly as self-
>> contained plug-and-play transmit-only trackers.
>>     
>
> I disagree.  The value of APRS to the operator is what he can
> receive and see on his front panel, not what he transmitts
> blindly to a world who could care less.
>
>   

You can say that all you want, but in reality the vast majority *ARE* 
using it as a one-way  transmit-only  AVL system in the real world with 
the Internet being the user interface.       


>> Interactive messaging on these devices is just 
>> too clunky and distracting to use in a mobile 
>> environment.)
>>     
>
> I disagree completely if the radio is propelry set up.  Most
> people I run into have never set up their radios properly so
> that the APRS hot buttons are always active.  If they keep the
> APRS functionality burried down 3 layers in the menus, of course
> it is clunky.  But the most important setting is
> RADIO-DISPLAY-KEYFUNCTION 3, then every APRS function is on the
> front panel always and is only one hot key away.
>
>   

1)     In my experience, the majority of the ham population is so 
befuddled by the layers of menus and configuration options in  modern  
radios that they never figure out how to set them.   One radio club I 
attend actually has one monthly meeting each year devoted to 
"programming radios"; i.e. navigating menu options. 

2)     Even if the APRS buttons are placed front and center (which then 
makes the more routine radio functions like TX power, PL tones, etc a 
pain to get at), the first lines of the transmissions scroll off the 
bottom of the list so fast (at least around here)  that unless you look 
at the screen almost constantly, you miss most of this "travellers' 
info".    The only way I notice travellers' info is seeing icons and 
callsigns appearing and remaining on the mapping display on my laptop so 
that when I glance at the laptop 30 seconds or a couple of minutes 
later, the info is still in view.   

2)     Trying to compose a reply to a message with dozens or hundreds of 
pushes of buttons on a touch-tone mic while driving is absurd.   [I do 
occasionally respond to messages on the mobile laptop where I have a 
proper full keyboard.  Especially on 30M HF while I on the open road in 
the vast expanses of the interior west where the nearest other vehicle 
is a half-mile away. And yes, I think text messaging on cell phones is a 
stupid exercise in keyboard masochism too - I never respond to one 
unless I have my phone tethered to my laptop with something resembling a 
real keyboard.]


>> In other words, like it or not, APRS *has* become 
>> primarily an AVL system. 
>>     
>
> Which is a dead end.  And offers little value to the owner or
> operator or traveler.  
I didn't say it was good or bad.  I just said It's the *REALITY OF  WHAT 
IS HAPPENING*.   Apparently it *DOES* have value to the owner since 
people are expending considerable time, effort and money equipping 
vehicles, aircraft, boats, motorcycles, etc with dumb transmit-only 
trackers like the VHS Microtrak All-In-One,  so that their 
family/friends/buddies whatever can see where they are on the Internet. 

>   
>> One class of stations that would seem to "fall through 
>> the cracks" in this analysis is Kenwood radios connected 
>> to mapping GPSes like the AVmap, or Tracker 2s connected 
>> to Garmin Nuvis that would appear to be only trackers, 
>> but ARE capable of full mapping displays or even 
>> interactive messaging.
>>     
>
> And the locations of these LOCALINFO objects such as the
> travelers voice repeater and echolink nodes WILL SHOW up on
> these maps too!  Its right there on the screen.
>
>   
I DIDN'T SAY or IMPLY OBJECTS WOULDN'T SHOW ON THESE MAPS.  

That is beside the point.  I was commenting on the statistical dilemma 
of not knowing whether a  Kenwood 7xx radio or a Tracker 2 was 
functionally a transmit-only tracker, or had fully-interactive 
mapping/messaging functionally equivalent to a mobile laptop.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

--

Stephen H. Smith    wa8lmf (at) aol.com
EchoLink Node:      WA8LMF  or 14400    [Think bottom of the 2M band]
Skype:        WA8LMF
Home Page:          http://wa8lmf.net

NEW!    *** HF APRS over PSK63 ***
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"APRS 101"  Explanation of APRS Path Selection & Digipeating
  http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths



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