[aprssig] SATgates ? (again)

[steve at dimse.com]

> On Jan 27, 2016, at 6:06 AM, John Wiseman <john.wiseman at cantab.net> wrote:
> 
> Steve,
> 
> Although delaying directly heard packets for 10 seconds sounds a viable
> approach, I'm not sure you could guarantee that a packet will be
> retransmitted by the satellite and propagated to all Igates within 10
> seconds.

Actually, I think you can pretty much guarantee it except in the case of malfunctions in the APRS IS. Understand it isn't that the digi'ed packet has to get to other IGates, it has to get to the APRS IS, and specifically to findU, aprs.fi, and other databases first. In the absence of a malfunctioning station somewhere (see recent thread here) the latency in the APRS IS is generally under a second.

Also, to be clear, the IGate software need not do any comparing for this to work. It simply holds any directly heard packet (no used vias in the path) for 10 seconds. Even if it hears the digi'ed packet itself, the digi'ed packet will have a used digi in the path and will not be held. It gets send immediately from the IGate to the hub it is connected to. When it releases the direct packet that it is holding that first hub will filter it. If another IGate hears the digi'ed packet it sends it with no delay, and so there is 10 seconds for it to travel the APRS IS and reach all the databases before the first IGate releases the direct packet. 

The APRS IS functions with remarkable reliability. And if it is functioning correctly the 10 second delay will work. Are there situations that could still result in a direct packet getting into findU before the digipeated one? Yes, but very rarely and only in the case of malfunctions.

This scheme will allow all the direct packets to be heard, the extra 10 second delay is no problem, and will let the digipeated packets have preference the vast majority of the time. This is a far better solution than a filter of direct packets with a list of blessed stations. It is easy to implement and does not need maintenance as new satellites come online.

Steve K4HG