[aprssig] Digipeater setup for Dayton

[Bob Bruninga]

> [does] anyone set up a digipeater at Dayton, 
> or do we rely on the local digi's?

Proper operation of an event like Dayton would suggest that putting up a
digipeater would be the worst thing to do.  With over 300+ mobiles and
portables beaconing away all in simplex range of each other, a digipeater
would do nothing but drastically reduce the reliability of the channel by
half or more.

The proper way to handle a ham radio event with a massive influx of APRS
operations is to:

1) Have no digi at the focal point (Hamvention) (all signals are direct)

2) Have all digis going out 20 miles in all directions be ONE-HOP DIGIS
ONLY.  That is, they only respond to WIDE1-1 or WIDE2-2 and nothing else.
They digipeat once and do callsign substitution so the packet goes no
farther.

3) Strategic IGates are placed right at Hamvention so they hear everything
in simplex range.

4) Additional IGates are configured so that every surrounding digi going out
20 miles has an IGate to hear the one-hop packets.

5) Doing all the above, then the hundreds of APRS mobiles and portables do
not have to change anything.  They just drive into town with their normal
WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 settings.

No matter where you are, you will hear all your surrounding stations, and
that is the best APRS can do under those conditions.

Bob, WB4APR