[aprssig] VHF Rover symbol?

[Robert Bruninga]

Great words Ev.  APRS is a fantastic tool when one is out actually doing
something!

But many of those that DO things, haven’t caught on as to how APRS (like
146.52 is to voice) can do things for their events too.  Bob, WB4aPR



*From:* Ev Tupis [mailto:w2ev at yahoo.com]
*Sent:* Monday, June 29, 2015 5:37 PM
*To:* Robert Bruninga; aprssig at tapr.org; TAPR APRS Mailing List
*Subject:* Re: [aprssig] VHF Rover symbol?



Ouch. This one touched a nerve for me.  A brief reminder of the chain of
events...then your answer...



In the early days of APRS, I was (and still am) a VHF contester ... who saw
the value of APRS tracking to the VHF contesting community.  So I lobbied
for (and received your agreement) the addition of the "Rover" (Little
Puppy) map symbol.



To make my vision complete, I also lobbied for the use of the "RFONLY"
alias.  It was also agreed to and implemented.



About the same time, I lobbied for (and lost) a QSY to 147.585 instead of
144.39.  It would have allowed the greatest separation between Rover use of
144.2 SSB/CW and the new APRS frequency.  Onward...



The combination of the Rover Symbol and RFONLY made way for the use of APRS
technology on a *simplex* frequency.  147.585 was chosen anyway.  No
digipeating, no IGATE-ing.  No "assistance".  Rovers sat on high locations
and were encouraged to use 100-watt transmitters.  Perfectly aligned with
ARRL rules as they stood 20+ years ago.



Fun and excitement began to brew in the contesting community.  Right up to
the point where the ARRL's Dan Henderson (Contest Manager) and Tom Freye
(Chair of the committee it reports to) ignorantly said it violated ARRL
rules.  They later recanted after I challenged them, but not until after
the damage was done.



Is it used today?  Yes, somewhat.  Sadly, today's ARRL rules to include
digipeated APRS were poorly thought out and it (APRS) is of only limited
use to the VHF community.



Last chapter to this story...I recently rejoined the APRS list
*specifically* to lurk to see if there was any opportunity for me to
rekindle interest in the VHF contesting community via APRS.



Ev, W2EV

ex-WB2ELB, K2IV




------------------------------

*From:* Robert Bruninga via aprssig <aprssig at tapr.org>
*To:* aprssig at tapr.org
*Sent:* Monday, June 29, 2015 8:01 AM
*Subject:* [aprssig] VHF Rover symbol?



Does anyone use the ROVER (a dog) symbol for VHF Conteest Rovers?



That was my original intent, but it may not have caught on.



Bob




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