[aprssig] IS-to-RF packet Weighting

[Bob Bruninga]

> It seems to me that too many suggestions around here start out with
> "how can we bastardize X that is designed to do Y and make it do Z
> instead/also?"

But that's really how most innovation and progress in Amateur Radio has
actually been made.  But despite that, your assumptions are wrong.  

The proposed RGATE suggestion is entirely within the original APRS-IS spec
dating back to Steve Dimse's and Sproul Bros 1997 design which only required
TCPIP* to be somewhere in the APRS-IS path.  

http://www.aprs.net/valid.html

It only says that the "TCPIP*" needs to be in a PATH field.  It does not say
that it must be the only one, which Pete now says his server system is
dependent on.  Apparently somewhere along the line he narrowed it to this
"one-and-only" requirement now in:  http://www.aprs-is.net/Connecting.aspx

I certainly do not want to break anything in the APRS-IS.  But I am confused
as to why this change was made and why all the server code is now vulnerable
to the original spec.

> Pete's already given an example (CQ server) of how 
> a _system_ can be _designed_ to do what you want.

No, the CQSRVR method requires sending GLOBAL messages to everyone on the
planet (similarly interested in seeing local IS mobiles) for the case of one
mobile who might be in one local area.  Its like nukeing the planet in case
someone nearby also has nuked the planet to see if they can hear each other
locally.

So my original proposal is not a "bastardizing of X".  It is using X as it
was originally designed.  Somewhere along the way, Pete implemented a change
which now restricts us from this growth potential.

Bob, WB4APR