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On 9/25/2011 9:28 AM, Bob Bruninga wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:201109251328.020438@mp6.usna.edu" type="cite"><br>
<pre wrap="">All & symbols are Gates, so it makes sense to have a G on it and then to indicate what type with the overlay.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
"All" is a bit stretched and apparently isn't really the case, at
least from <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.aprs.net/vm/DOS/SYMBOLS.HTM">http://www.aprs.net/vm/DOS/SYMBOLS.HTM</a> (Last Modification
February 16, 2001):<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<table border="2" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="5" width="500">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Symbol</td>
<td> PRIMARY SYMBOL TABLE (/) </td>
<td> ALTERNATE WX TABLE (\)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>! </td>
<td> Police, Sheriff </td>
<td> EMERGENCY (!) </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>" </td>
<td> reserved (had been rain) </td>
<td> reserved</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td># </td>
<td> DIGI (white center) </td>
<td> NUMBERED STAR (green)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>$ </td>
<td> PHONE </td>
<td> Bank or ATM (green box) </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>% </td>
<td> DX CLUSTER</td>
<td>
<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>& </td>
<td> HF GATEway </td>
<td> NUMBERED DIAMOND</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>' </td>
<td> AIRCRAFT (small) </td>
<td> Crash site</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>( </td>
<td> CLOUDY </td>
<td> CLOUDY</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</blockquote>
<br>
And I've seen other references that describe \& as a "Numbered
Diamond". There are specific mentions of I and R overlays in an
older version of symbolsX (<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.aprs.org/aprs11/symbolsX.txt">http://www.aprs.org/aprs11/symbolsX.txt</a> -
Revised 25 Mar 2008) that says:<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre>\& OG# OVERLAY GATE I=2way, R=1way</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
But that's only for two specific overlays (I and R) being Gates.
And even the current definition
(<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.aprs.org/symbols/symbolsX.txt">http://www.aprs.org/symbols/symbolsX.txt</a> revised 19 Sep 2011)
really only says I, R, T, and 2 overlays are implied "Gates"<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre> \& OG# I=Igte R=RX T=1hopTX 2=2hopTX</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
We talk about expanding the symbol set, and allowing more specific
overlay definitions, there's GOT to be other uses of a Numbered
Diamond than just Gates. Even the "gold standard" symbol set at
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/APRS_symbols.htm">http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/APRS_symbols.htm</a> shows a plain black diamond
at the \& entry. And for those of us trying to support and
implement this stuff, we can only work from what is written down,
not what may be implied, intended, or even though of. We can only
work from the specific words.<br>
<br>
Now that I notice, the newest overlay-specific specification from
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.aprs.org/symbols/symbols-new.txt">http://www.aprs.org/symbols/symbols-new.txt</a> is inconsistent about
defining the non-overlayed alternates for some symbols, in
particular the non-overlayed alternate \& is missing from (and
should say \& Numbered Diamond (the original definition) IMHO):<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre>GATEWAYS: #&
/& = HF Gateway <= the original primary table definition
I& = Igate Generic (please use more specific overlay)
R& = Receive only IGate (do not send msgs back to RF)
T& = TX igate with path set to 1 hop only)
2& = TX igate with path set to 2 hops (not generally good idea)</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
Just because the most common use was with a G overlay, I personally
think it was a mistake for Kenwood to make their default base symbol
appear as if it had a G Overlay when (hopefully, anyway) the actual
overlay character would be displayed right beside the graphic.<br>
<br>
Lynn (D) - KJ4ERJ - Expressing my opinions (and frustrations) here,
so please don't flame too harshly<br>
<br>
<br>
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