[aprssig] APRS Messages and Operating Codes (Q & Z)

[Stephen H. Smith]

On 4/25/2011 6:55 AM, Bob Bruninga wrote:
>
> You betcha.  The problem is getting old fuds to consider using a keypad to
> do text messaging.  Kids eat it up and have no problem with it.

Once again:

o     CELL PHONES HAVE VISUAL FEEDBACK  ON THE DISPLAY.

o     CELLPHONES BUFFER KEYPRESSES THAT ARE EDITABLE  BEFORE  SEND.

> But many of
> our best old fud volunteer hams just can't get over the hump of using their
> fingers to communicate... (on a keypad)...
>
>

On cellphones, you can SEE the results of dozens or hundreds of keypresses in 
the display and backspace if needed to correct them,   before you hit send.

Composing messages in the blind via huge numbers of keypresses on crummy 
rubbery keypads with no tactile or visual feedback is just absurdly 
impractical. I.e. did I just push the 5 (JKL) key four times, or was it five 
times to rotate through 5-j-k-l-J-K-L trying to enter an upper case "K", when I 
can't SEE the results?


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

--

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

=====  Vista & Win7 Install Issues for UI-View and Precision Mapping =====
     http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/UIview_Notes.htm#VistaWin7

*** HF APRS over PSK63 ***
    http://wa8lmf.net/APRS_PSK63/index.htm

"APRS 101"  Explanation of APRS Path Selection & Digipeating
   http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths