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

[Steve Noskowicz]

While you can edit on the APRS radios, you must admit that the Man Machine Interface (MMI) is much simpler and more awkward than the smart phones.

The other end, and more difficult part, of the problem is of "encoding" the Q/Z signals.  Decoding them is a look up.  You are alerted to the fact that you have to decode one because you got one - you "see" the Qxxx or Zxxx.

To encode one in the first place, you need to know that one exists for your given situation.  The knowledge of this has a "half life" and even with exercises you'll be pafing theough the spec to see if there's a code for "I've fallen and I can't get up."  (ZUH)
.

In the service it is just like with hams.  We used some all the time and those are the ones we remember.
The only one I remember even using in Navy was ZUJ and we even used that on teletype. (but I was maintenance, not operations.  They probably used more of 'em)

-- 
 73, Steve, K9DCI   USN (Vet) MOT (Ret) Ham (Yet)
--
I served during the cold war, so you can be served a cold one.
More Details, Features and Downloads at:
  http://k9dci.home.comcast.net/


--- On Mon, 4/25/11, Bob Bruninga <bruninga at usna.edu> wrote:

> From: Bob Bruninga <bruninga at usna.edu>
> Subject: Re: [aprssig] APRS Messages and Operating Codes (Q & Z)
> To: "'TAPR APRS Mailing List'" <aprssig at tapr.org>
> Date: Monday, April 25, 2011, 10:25 AM
> >> ...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:
> > CELL PHONES HAVE VISUAL FEEDBACK  ON THE
> DISPLAY.
> > CELLPHONES BUFFER KEYPRESSES THAT ARE EDITABLE 
> BEFORE  SEND.
> 
> So do all the APRS radios.
> 
> >> 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.
> 
> You can do that too in all APRS radio keypads.  The
> ABCD keys are the
> editing keys that can go forward, back, delete and
> send.  Also the joystick
> on the D7 and D72 can also be used for editing back and
> forth.
> 
> > Composing messages in the blind via huge numbers of 
> > keypresses on crummy rubbery keypads with no tactile 
> > or visual feedback is just absurdly impractical. 
> 
> The misinformed complaints above are part of the
> problem.  They poison the
> proper use of APRS for anything other than dumb
> tracking.  Texting via the
> EIGHT models of APRS radios is pretty easy if one just
> tries it.
> 
> Bob, Wb4APR
> 
> 
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