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Robert Bruninga wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:1CBBFB889778486A880F33300671AECE@ewlab.usna.edu" type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Bob, I would say that allowing the
1 way trackers on the network was
the downfall and caused #2. Now that
the door is open how to stop the cattle?
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
Easy,
1) Get on the air. Talk to your fellow APRS ops. Let APRS show
you when they are available. Keyboard. Chat... Re-discover
ham radio.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
Around here (greater metro Los Angeles area) the overwhelming amount of
APRS operation is mobile. They are simply not going to be exchanging
text messages, even if they DO have a two-way station. <br>
<br>
[Indeed mobile text messaging in CA is now explicitly illegal as of
Jan 2009, after the hand-held voice cellphone ban of a year or two
ago resulted in an upsurge of text messaging as an alternative.] <br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:1CBBFB889778486A880F33300671AECE@ewlab.usna.edu" type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
2) Put really good and useful LOCAL information out on the local
APRS channel for all those 2-way users and mobiles and visitors
so that the tracker owner will feel he is missing out on all
this real-time info, and will at least add ab audio receiver so
he can hear a call or APRStt announcements and messages.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
Since he can't receive, how is the tracker owner supposed to know what
he is missing?<br>
<br>
Once again, let me point out that I have been beaconing my Echolink
node in Pasadena as an APRS object in one of the busiest APRS
"markets" in the country (greater Los Angeles, CA area). I have had
exactly ONE user access it as a result of APRS announcements. <br>
<br>
(The others found it through the Echolink website "currrently active"
listings, or from my talking it up at local ham club meetings.) <br>
<br>
Further, I have been using UI-Events to announce the monthly meetings
of four different local ham club meetings in the San Gabriel Valley
(the 20 miles or so east of downtown Los Angeles) for about 8 months
now. (I beacon each bulletin once every 29 minutes, starting at 3:00
PM the day before the meeting until about half-way through the meeting
the next evening . The idea is to get two shots at the afternoon
"drive time" rush hour "audience" before a given meeting.) <br>
<br>
So far, not one person has appeared at any of these meetings as a
result. <br>
<br>
Note that this is in an area where a population of at least <b>4
million</b> is within the footprint of the N6EX-3 digipeater I use to
send these announcements. <br>
<br>
<hr size="2" width="100%"><br>
<br>
I think one has to face the fact that, like it or not, everyday APRS
operation <b>HAS</b> been "hijacked" into primarily an AVL
(Automatic Vehicle Location) system........ <br>
<br>
<br>
<hr size="2" width="100%"><br>
<br>
--<br>
<br>
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com <br>
EchoLink Node: WA8LMF or 14400 [Think bottom of the 2M band]<br>
Skype: WA8LMF<br>
Home Page: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.com">http://wa8lmf.com</a> --OR-- <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net">http://wa8lmf.net</a><br>
<br>
World Digipeater Map<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net/APRSmaps">http://wa8lmf.net/APRSmaps</a><br>
<br>
JavAPRS Filter Port 14580 Guide <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/JAVaprsFilters.htm">http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/JAVaprsFilters.htm</a><br>
<br>
"APRS 101" Explanation of APRS Path Selection & Digipeating <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths">http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths</a> <br>
<br>
Updated "Rev H" APRS <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net/aprs">http://wa8lmf.net/aprs</a><br>
Symbols Set for UI-View, <br>
UIpoint and APRSplus:<br>
<br>
<br>
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