It looks like I am identifying the confusion (if not causing it ;). <br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Feb 19, 2011 at 12:31 PM, Lynn W. Deffenbaugh (Mr) <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ldeffenb@homeside.to" target="_blank">ldeffenb@homeside.to</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>On 2/19/2011 11:15 AM, Jim Alles wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
that, I don't see much point. It is not always recognized that the RECOMENDED WIDE1-1, WIDE2-2 is three hops.<br>
</blockquote>
<br></div>
Actually, in most parts of North America, I believe WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 is recommended for mobile operation, WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2 is only recommended if you know it to be necessary for your current RF coverage area.<br>
<br>
Lynn (D) - KJ4ERJ - Author of APRSISCE for Windows Mobile and Win32 <br><br></blockquote><div>Alright, I over-emphasised it.<br></div></div><br>from <a href="http://info.aprs.net/index.php?title=Paths" target="_blank">http://info.aprs.net/index.php?title=Paths</a>:<br>
<h2 style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span>Recommended Path Settings for: </span></h2>
<a style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);" name="12e401006fb95347_12e400b333fc1790_MOBILE_Stations_in_North_America_.28VHF.29"></a><h3 style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span></span> <span><i><b>MOBILE</b></i> Stations in North America (VHF) </span></h3>
<ul style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><li> WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 :Two hops in all directions with potential to use fill-in digis. Best path for mobile use in most all areas.
</li><li> WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2 :Three hops with potential to use fill-in
digis. Use only if truly needed while very far from any mountain digis
or cities.
</li></ul>WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2 is one of the two recommendations. Even though THIS document says it explicitly, not everyone recognizes that this will be three hops. What is worse, is that not everyone recognizes what problems three hops causes in dense (most) areas.<br>
<br>Then there is this: "Use only if truly needed while very far from any mountain digis
or cities." In northern PA, everyone is very far from any digi or city. Using three hops is not going to improve that situation. Only by improving your RF situation are you going to get out. Increase the altitude, antenna gain, transmitter power, stop moving; all might help - _But don't increase your hops!_<br>
<br>What is a mountain anyway? Compared to the west coast, PA only has hills.<br><br>What is a rural area?<br><br>from <a href="http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths/">http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths/</a> :<br><br>
<table height="226" border="0">
<tbody><tr>
<td height="18" bgcolor="#000000">
<p align="center"><font color="#ffffff" face="Verdana" size="4"><b>Today's recommended
universal path settings under the
"New Paradigm" are:</b></font></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="196" bgcolor="#ffff00">
<ul><li><font face="Courier"><b>WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2</b></font><font face="Verdana">
(<font size="2">Will produce three hops and will take advantage of home fill-in
digis. Use in rural areas with low APRS activity only.</font>)<br>
<br>
</font></li><li><font face="Courier"><b>WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1</b></font><font face="Verdana">
(<font size="2">Will produce two hops and will take advantage of home fill-in
digis. Use in busy urban and suburban areas.</font>) <b>
<font color="#ff0000">Recommended for the majority of operations!<br>
</font></b><br>
</font></li><li><font face="Courier"><b>WIDE2-2 </b></font><font face="Verdana"> (<font size="2">Shortest
path string. Produces two hops by directly using two high-level digis. Will
work almost anywhere but especially recommended in the American west where
high-level digipeaters are really high-level; i.e. on mountain tops
thousands and thousands of feet above users, and can easily be reached directly,
without the help of home stations.</font>) </font></li></ul>
</td></tr></tbody></table><br>WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2 may not be recommended, but it is the first one mentioned.<br><br>The best example I have seen so far:<br><br><a href="http://www.qsl.net/n8deu/Alabama_APRS/Guidelines/AL_Guidelines.htm">http://www.qsl.net/n8deu/Alabama_APRS/Guidelines/AL_Guidelines.htm</a><br>
<br>I think I am going to shut up and go edit a Wiki.<br><br>Regards,<br>Jim A.<br>
<a name="12e401006fb95347_12e400b333fc1790_FIXED_Stations_in_North_America_.28VHF.29"></a>