<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
Paul Fenrich wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:4A5E4A2C.3010309@austin.rr.com" type="cite">I am
new to the APRS world. I have carried a tracker twice and I am
building one now (nearly complete). I have used them mainly for
special events where radio amateur communications were requested.
Bicycle rides and foot races. This year I was the "turtle" in the
MS150 ride from Houston to Austin. I thought how cool it would be to
have a couple of special icons to represent the hare and the turtle.
Two important points of an event. I looked through the Library of
icons and don't see one. I did notice there were several spaces
reserved for "future use". Is it possible to add them and how can it
be done?
<br>
<br>
Thanks,
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
<font face="Arial"><br>
<br>
Many APRS newcomers don't realize that you don't actually transmit
little pictures or bitmaps over the air. You only send a two-character
alpha-numeric control code over the air, that causes existing images
stored in the program at the other end to be selected and displayed. <br>
<br>
Details on the APRS symbol set and how they are encoded are here:<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="http://wa8lmf.net/APRS/APRS_symbols.htm"><http://wa8lmf.net/APRS/APRS_symbols.htm></a><br>
<br>
</font><font face="Arial">Most APRS software can't be readily updated
with new
symbols. The only ones that can be easily updated are UIview,
APRSplus (which is now essentially an orphan due to a dependency on an
obsolete
version of Street Atlas) and and the Linux-based Xastir. Not to
mention the symbol sets at findu, APRSfi, OpenAPRS and other web sites
-- and the symbol sets embedded in the firmware of Kenwood radios,
mapping GPSs and other hardware devices.<br>
</font><br>
<font face="Arial"><br>
Until you get EVERYONE to update their software (and with some programs
this is impossible), you can't be confident what the other person will
see (or if they will even see anything at all) -- if you use introduce
and use new symbols. <br>
<br>
Bottom line -- It's nearly hopeless. <br>
<br>
<br>
</font>
<hr size="2" width="100%"><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.net">http://wa8lmf.net</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>
<font face="Arial"><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</font><font face="Arial"></font><br>
<font face="Arial"><br>
<br>
</font>
</body>
</html>