[aprssig] New IGate Operator

[Craig Kirkpatrick]

Jim and others,
I uploaded a short presentation to Dropbox regarding setting up a new IGate.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1szuxswpef7qm7g/IGate%20Presentation%20copy.pdf?dl=0

I tried to put together what I consider to be the best practices when setting up and IGate.  I also happen to use the Microsat hardware and I like it.

Regarding the presentation, I delivered it at the Northwest APRS gathering in early September 2016.  I consider it the first draft and I’m open to suggestions from anyone how to make it more complete or even include corrections if they amount to more than just someone’s strong opinion.  It was videotaped but I never found where the video was uploaded.  I really should take the time to write in the speaker notes so it is a more useful document.  One thing I plan to add to the presentation is a thought or two about what transceiver can work okay in an Igate.  My thought is that the transceiver only needs to be able to reliably reach a good digipeater and then you can get away with a cheap radio like I chose.

I choose to only gate messages from IS to RF.  For the first few month online I seemed to be the only one in my valley using APRS messaging but now it seems that many more folks have found it useful and my IGate gates about 300 messages per month from IS to RF.

Keep having fun with APRS,
Craig KI7CRA

> On Jan 4, 2017, at 9:11 PM, Jim Conrad <jjc at oceanviewcom.com> wrote:
> 
> Lee,
> 
> Since getting the IGATE online a few weeks ago I have been monitoring the RF congestion. My IGATE has not considerably impacted the area throughput. The WX3in1 generates a fair amount of statistics to track usage and issues. It appears that I am the only IGATE in the area looking at the paths and I don't have great coverage since my antenna is only at 20ft. Most of my gating (RF to IS) is via better coverage DIGIs in the area. As an example in the last 12 hours my IGATE has gated 1521 RF to APRS-IS packets but only 30 APRS-IS to RF.
> 
> I have seen the TCPIP devices rapidly report positions you mention (think one of the offenders was some type of IPhone app) looking at the raw packets that APRS Direct logs. One of the reasons I changed my IS to RF filter down to 2 max packets per 1 min, 4 per 2 min and 6 per 3 min to prevent a flood to/congestion of the RF side.
> 
> If you are interested in reading about the WX3in1 it's made by a company in Poland called Microsat. Sold in the US by HRO and RPC. Links below provide info, Microsat has a facebook page and a webpage for support. Currently there page indicates that there are 867 active WX3in1's on the air in the world. Device and the accessories etc are very impressive and not that expensive considering the capability. The units construction quality is excellent. Default settings with minor changes (callsign, network etc) make getting the station online rather quickly. Been involved in APRS for a while but never as an IGATE or DIGI so I am learning quite a bit as I go.
> 
> http://microsat.com.pl/product_info.php?products_id=100&language=en <http://microsat.com.pl/product_info.php?products_id=100&language=en> 
> 
> http://microsat.com.pl/forum/ <http://microsat.com.pl/forum/>
> 
> ..Jim - N4WFP
> 
> At 09:27 PM 1/3/2017, Lee Bengston wrote:
>> Actually he referred to providing a picture for RF stations as opposed to a picture of RF.  I can see the benefit with respect to messaging. Someone on RF could see someone on a phone, and send them a message.
>> 
>> There was a bug in AprsDroid a while back (now fixed as far as I know) that resulted in stations sending positions very rapidly, so there is the risk of gating an Android device running an old version.
>> 
>> IMO it all depends on RF traffic in a local area. If it's very low, it should be OK to RF gate the phones, especially with rate limiting functionality in the Igate. How low is low - yeah, it's subjective. Whether the device in question can do it is really a question for the maker of that device - does it have its own mailing list?
>> 
>> Now for non-APRS RF resources that may benefit by being announced on APRS, which what you may be headed toward, look at Bob's info here:Â http://www.aprs.org/localinfo.html <http://www.aprs.org/localinfo.html>
>> 
>> 
>> I have to admit I haven't looked at that yet; thanks for sharing.  Off to take a look.
>> 
>> Lee - K5DATÂ 
>> 
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