[aprssig] Why Not "Gate in Vicinity"

[Lynn W. Deffenbaugh (Mr)]

On 12/28/2011 8:15 AM, Steve Dimse wrote:
> Other than being run mostly by professionals, that sounds a lot like the Internet itself, which I guess is just the appearance of a network as you define it. Or maybe professionals make a real network and volunteers just make appearances?

IMHO networks provide various levels of packet inspection and routing 
layers.  APRS-IS provides none of these, but is simply a transport that 
"appears" to be a network simply because it has a lot of nodes (more 
than 2).

Many people still believe that an APRS message destined for a specific 
station is actually "delivered" to an appropriate IGate for transmission 
to the intended recipient.  A network would do that, APRS-IS simply 
transports the packet to anyone/everyone whose filter indicates a desire 
to receive said packet.

I will grant that the "courtesy posit" that's under current discussion 
is greater-than-transport, but not really network-like behavior, but I 
still believe there's a vast difference between what a network is and 
what APRS-IS is, and using the wrong name on anything triggers 
preconceived notions in peoples' minds that may or may not be borne out 
in reality.

Lynn (D) - KJ4ERJ - Author of APRSISCE for Windows Mobile and Win32