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Robert Bruninga wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:F567FB657B3E488D9ABD3E98C8F64C32@ewlab.usna.edu"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I think I have to disagree with your conclusions...
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">the top 10 originators of APRS packets... are HARDWARE
devices (trackers, Kenwood radios, etc), rather than
computer programs, with the exception of UIview and
"Open Source" (which I presume means Xastir)..
hardware... probably overwhelmingly transmit-only.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
Quite false. Look at the numbers. Two-way APRS radios dominate
the hardware applications by far.
</pre>
</blockquote>
1) They are still HARDWARE devices, usually running autonomously of
any fully-interactive APRS software.<br>
<br>
2) As I previously commented, IN REALITY, they are mostly being used
as one-way devices. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:F567FB657B3E488D9ABD3E98C8F64C32@ewlab.usna.edu"
type="cite">
<pre wrap=""></pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">(In my experience, even the potentially two-way hardware
devices like Kenwood radios, are used mainly as self-
contained plug-and-play transmit-only trackers.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
I disagree. The value of APRS to the operator is what he can
receive and see on his front panel, not what he transmitts
blindly to a world who could care less.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
You can say that all you want, but in reality the vast majority *ARE*
using it as a one-way transmit-only AVL system in the real world with
the Internet being the user interface. <br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:F567FB657B3E488D9ABD3E98C8F64C32@ewlab.usna.edu"
type="cite">
<pre wrap=""></pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Interactive messaging on these devices is just
too clunky and distracting to use in a mobile
environment.)
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
I disagree completely if the radio is propelry set up. Most
people I run into have never set up their radios properly so
that the APRS hot buttons are always active. If they keep the
APRS functionality burried down 3 layers in the menus, of course
it is clunky. But the most important setting is
RADIO-DISPLAY-KEYFUNCTION 3, then every APRS function is on the
front panel always and is only one hot key away.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
1) In my experience, the majority of the ham population is so
befuddled by the layers of menus and configuration options in modern
radios that they never figure out how to set them. One radio club I
attend actually has one monthly meeting each year devoted to
"programming radios"; i.e. navigating menu options. <br>
<br>
2) Even if the APRS buttons are placed front and center (which then
makes the more routine radio functions like TX power, PL tones, etc a
pain to get at), the first lines of the transmissions scroll off the
bottom of the list so fast (at least around here) that unless you look
at the screen almost constantly, you miss most of this "travellers'
info". The only way I notice travellers' info is seeing icons and
callsigns appearing and remaining on the mapping display on my laptop
so that when I glance at the laptop 30 seconds or a couple of minutes
later, the info is still in view. <br>
<br>
2) Trying to compose a reply to a message with dozens or hundreds
of pushes of buttons on a touch-tone mic while driving is absurd. [I
do occasionally respond to messages on the mobile laptop where I have a
proper full keyboard. Especially on 30M HF while I on the open road in
the vast expanses of the interior west where the nearest other vehicle
is a half-mile away. And yes, I think text messaging on cell phones is
a stupid exercise in keyboard masochism too - I never respond to one
unless I have my phone tethered to my laptop with something resembling
a real keyboard.] <br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:F567FB657B3E488D9ABD3E98C8F64C32@ewlab.usna.edu"
type="cite">
<pre wrap=""></pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">In other words, like it or not, APRS *has* become
primarily an AVL system.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
Which is a dead end. And offers little value to the owner or
operator or traveler. </pre>
</blockquote>
I didn't say it was good or bad. I just said It's the *REALITY OF
WHAT IS HAPPENING*. Apparently it *DOES* have value to the owner
since people are expending considerable time, effort and money
equipping vehicles, aircraft, boats, motorcycles, etc with dumb
transmit-only trackers like the VHS Microtrak All-In-One, so that
their family/friends/buddies whatever can see where they are on the
Internet. <br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:F567FB657B3E488D9ABD3E98C8F64C32@ewlab.usna.edu"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">One class of stations that would seem to "fall through
the cracks" in this analysis is Kenwood radios connected
to mapping GPSes like the AVmap, or Tracker 2s connected
to Garmin Nuvis that would appear to be only trackers,
but ARE capable of full mapping displays or even
interactive messaging.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
And the locations of these LOCALINFO objects such as the
travelers voice repeater and echolink nodes WILL SHOW up on
these maps too! Its right there on the screen.
</pre>
</blockquote>
I DIDN'T SAY or IMPLY OBJECTS WOULDN'T SHOW ON THESE MAPS. <br>
<br>
That is beside the point. I was commenting on the statistical dilemma
of not knowing whether a Kenwood 7xx radio or a Tracker 2 was
functionally a transmit-only tracker, or had fully-interactive
mapping/messaging functionally equivalent to a mobile laptop. <br>
<br>
<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>
NEW! *** HF APRS over PSK63 ***<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net/APRS_PSK63/index.htm">http://wa8lmf.net/APRS_PSK63/index.htm</a><br>
<br>
Universal HF/VHF/UHF Antenna Mounting System<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net/mobile/UniversalAntMountSystem.htm">http://wa8lmf.net/mobile/UniversalAntMountSystem.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>
<br>
<br>
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