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<DIV>Thanks for the comments, Keith.</DIV>
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<DIV>I am looking at this more from county-limited perspective, I guess. It just bothers me that with so many objects in the county, few serve as local digi's. I've always envisioned the means for anyone with a typical D7, VX8, or any other simple tracker to be a part of the system.</DIV>
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<DIV>I don't begrudge the many objects so much as I am dismayed at having so many with so few serving as functional digi's.</DIV>
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<DIV>Interesting about the paths. I tend to set my path in everything to WIDE1-1, WIDE2-2. I have used SSn paths but went back to WIDEn since I am so close to the state line. I'll recheck them all to insure no abusive paths.</DIV>
<DIV class=signature id=signature>--<BR>Len Revelle N9IJ <BR></DIV>
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<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">-------------- Original message -------------- <BR>From: "Keith VE7GDH" <ve7gdh@rac.ca> <BR><BR>> Len N9IJ wrote... <BR>> <BR>> > I live relatively close to Chicago, basically an urban county, with <BR>> > many hams. While learning a new APRS capable HT, I realized that, <BR>> > though there is a plethora of objects on the county map, few are <BR>> > providing more than a "here I am" announcement. I am in the process of <BR>> > putting a stand-alone WIDE1-1 up at home because, though there are <BR>> > several objects shown near-by, none are digi-peating. <BR>> <BR>> Objects are usually "here is something" rather than "here I am" but what <BR>> the object represents is really determined by the person that created <BR>> it. They also determine the path if any to be used. Many go out with no <BR>> path at all because they are intended f
or local use... e.g. repeater <BR>> objects that announce the location, frequency and tone if any and <BR>> callsign of the repeater. Very useful for visitors travelling in the <BR>> area, but no need to digipeat them out of the area where the repeater <BR>> can be used. You would really have to look at each object around you to <BR>> learn what its intention was and if it was not optimized. <BR>> <BR>> > We have a very active RACES operation that excells in SKYWARN <BR>> > functions. They own many radios, at least one TNC, three repeaters and <BR>> > are located at a site that employs four hams. Their only APRS activity <BR>> > is having their EOC icon and repeater info placed on the map as <BR>> > objects generated by a home station. <BR>> <BR>> That's a real shame. Groups like that could really benefit from making <BR>> good use of APRS. If you are a part of any of those groups, perhaps you <BR>> could educate them how
they could get a zillion percent more out of it <BR>> than they currently do with an EOC object... although there is nothing <BR>> wrong with having that object there all of the time so local hams and <BR>> visitors know where it is. <BR>> <BR>> > There are several APRS weather stations so we can monitor the 2-3 <BR>> > degree difference but essentially the same weather, between them. <BR>> <BR>> How many WX stations are "enough" really depends on their location, the <BR>> beacon rate and the paths they are using. During some disaster, having <BR>> many WX stations could be very useful for watching shifting wind <BR>> patterns. During "no disaster" times, less could be better. <BR>> <BR>> > Others appear on the map as home stations but are actually only <BR>> > objects being placed on the map via internet only operation. <BR>> <BR>> Hmmm... are they WX stations or objects? There's a big difference. If <BR>> they are on
TCPIP only, you won't even see them on RF unless someone is <BR>> gating them to RF. IGate operators should only be gating something out <BR>> to RF if it's really necessary. <BR>> <BR>> > My intent is not to slam any of the above, rather to question the <BR>> > benefit of having much of the map or spectrum real estate populated by <BR>> > objects that are not "really" there. <BR>> <BR>> There's nothing wrong with questioning, but to be honest, your comments <BR>> seem to be based with what you see on the map without really analyzing <BR>> exactly what it is you are looking at... and possibly whether it is even <BR>> on RF at all. You imply they are on RF because you are "learning a new <BR>> APRS capable HT" but you do also comment on WX stations (or did you mean <BR>> objects?) that are "only objects being placed on the map via internet". <BR>> <BR>> > There must be a bunch of ancient 2-meter radios, and old TNC's that <BR>
> > can become a WIDE1-1 and be put into service. <BR>> <BR>> I'm sure there are, but the most important decision in placing a digi is <BR>> determining if it's really needed. <BR>> <BR>> > Is it me, or is this faux-APRS operation become the norm in other <BR>> > areas? <BR>> <BR>> What do you mean by "faux-APRS"? I don't want to second guess your <BR>> meaning. <BR>> <BR>> I see that N9IJ is using UI-View with a path of WIDE2-2 but you seem to <BR>> be making an IGate direct most of the time. A "good" path depends on <BR>> your beacon rate, ALOHA circle and how busy the frequency is around you, <BR>> and the location of the adjacent digis. <BR>> <BR>> N9IJ-7 is using a four hop path of WIDE1-1,WIDE3-3. That would be <BR>> considered abusive in many areas. Guess that's the VX-8R that you are <BR>> trying out. I'll eventually be getting one.Give WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 a try. <BR>> I'm sure you will have good success with
it. <BR>> <BR>> N9IJ-10 is your Kantronics based digi. Is it beaconing every 10 mins <BR>> with no path, except once each hour with a one hop WIDE2-1 and once each <BR>> hour with a two hop WIDE2-2? <BR>> <BR>> N9IJ-9 was most recently beaconing with an abusive 4 hop path of <BR>> WIDE1-1,WIDE3-3. It looks like it was beaconing every minute or two and <BR>> indicted that you were listening on 144.390 with 100 Hz CTCSS. <BR>> <BR>> 73 es cul - Keith VE7GDH <BR>> -- <BR>> "I may be lost, but I know exactly where I am!" <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> _______________________________________________ <BR>> aprssig mailing list <BR>> aprssig@tapr.org <BR>> https://www.tapr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aprssig </BLOCKQUOTE></body></html>