[aprssig] UTM grid (was: APRStt for SAR using...)

[Steve Daniels]

The idea of APRStt is to enable those that only have a DTMF capable radio to
be able to upload their position to APRS. If you have a tracker then you
don't need to worry about APRStt.
With APRStt you can call on local amateurs, a lot of whom may not be
interested in APRS but will have a DTMF capable radio.
You could of course have a stock of trackers to hand out when needed.

The UK uses GPS location (WGS84) but also OSGB36 for SAR. I had a need to
convert between the 2 and have the code to do it.

I do think keeping the number of DTMF key presses to a minimum would be a
good idea. And searches have an area to cover, so a box overlay specific to
the search would be an idea.

Ideally of course everyone would have a tracker.
And perhaps some enterprising person could create a cheap tracker, with a
button that creates an alert to other team members.

As is usual with me going off topic I guess

Steve Daniels
Amateur Radio Callsign G6UIM
Torbay Freecycle  Owner
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/torbay_freecycle
APRSISCE/32 Beta tester and WIKI editor http://aprsisce.wikidot.com
 

-----Original Message-----
From: aprssig-bounces at tapr.org [mailto:aprssig-bounces at tapr.org] On Behalf
Of Andrew P. 
Sent: 16 May 2013 22:21
To: aprssig at tapr.org 
Subject: Re: [aprssig] UTM grid (was: APRStt for SAR using...)

Of course, a good localized client can convert an international protocol
standard to a locally preferred display standard (as mentioned by Curt
regarding Xastir). So both should be viable.

But does it really make sense to have a user tapping in GPS coordinates in
some obscure (and error-prone) code that are going to be obsolete as soon as
they move? I agree with the gentleman who suggested trackers. In fact, why
can't we get a tracker with a screen like a conventional hiker's GPS, so it
can tell the field user where they are while simultaneously telling Incident
Command where that team is? Hopefully, such a device should be cheaper than
a Kenwood TH-D72 (since it does less); otherwise, what's the point?.
Rube-Goldberging awkward old hardware together and having to carry it along
isn't a good idea when clambering through rough terrain (any more than it is
a good idea when crawling through a smoke-filled burning building, like
firefighters have to do).

The only environment I could see where this would be useful is in places
where GPS doesn't work (such as the caving exercise done earlier this year).
And even then, touch-tones can't be digipeated; they have to be converted to
packet data first, which means all portable stations would have to be within
line-of-sight of the DTMF-to-APRS converter or voice repeater to it (which
doesn't work in the caving environment, to quote one example). That make
APRS text-messaging a more effective means (i.e., a TH-D72 with the GPS
turned off), because it can digipeat.

It sounds like what we really need is a more budget-conscious version of the
TH-D72. No tuning out-of-band, no SkyCommand, no 1000 memories. Just a basic
H-T with an LCD screen, GPS, and a mini-TNC (like the TinyTrak, but smaller
and integrated).

Just my $.02.

Andrew Pavlin, KA2DDO
author of YAAC (Yet Another APRS Client)
former volunteer firefighter
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: George Vastianos <gvastianos at yahoo.gr>
Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 20:44:46 
To: <aprssig at tapr.org>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] UTM grid (was: APRStt for SAR using...)


(+1) I agree 100%...any standard should be global

73 

sv8gxc 

--- ???? ???., 16/05/13, ?/? Steve Daniels <steve at daniels270.eclipse.co.uk>
??????:

???: Steve Daniels <steve at daniels270.eclipse.co.uk>
????: Re: [aprssig] UTM grid (was: APRStt for SAR using...)
????: "'TAPR APRS Mailing List'" <aprssig at tapr.org>
??????????: ??????, 16 ????? 2013, 22:36


USNG might be OK if you are in the USA, but APRS is Global, personally if
anything was to be implemented in client software, I would like it to be of
use outside of the USA, as well as within.

Steve Daniels
Amateur Radio Callsign G6UIM
Torbay Freecycle  Owner
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/torbay_freecycle
APRSISCE/32 Beta tester and WIKI editor http://aprsisce.wikidot.com
 

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