[aprssig] is there a way to query a signal report from the digipeater?

[Stephen H. Smith]

On 8/24/2015 1:32 PM, Fernan Bolando via aprssig wrote:
> Hi all
>
> I am not sure if this has been asked before. Going through the archives did not turn up anything.
>
> I was wondering if it was possible to query a digipeater to give me a signal report? I have been trying a few antenna configuration lately and was wondering if APRS can help me characterize my station performance.
>
> regards
> fernan VE4FEB
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>

Not in a standard configuration of a digipeater, since the standard setup would 
have only AUDIO connections between the radio and the TNC. The TNC would not be 
privy to any signal strength indications present in the radio receiver.

That is not to say that possibly somewhere out there a digi operator hasn't 
connected one of the analog telemetry inputs of a TinyTrack 4, KPC3 or Tracker 
2 to the radio's RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) circuits.  This 
would normally require hacking into the radio to pick up this signal, which is 
the same one that drives the S-meter or bar graph on the radio's front panel.

Since the digi's transmit power is exactly the same, no matter who is being 
digipeated through it, you should be able to compare your antennas' performance 
on RECEIVE, by observing your OWN radio's S-meter or bargraph while while the 
digipeater is transmitting.

_____________________________________________________

--

Stephen H. Smith    wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype:        WA8LMF
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