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ZL3AI > APRDIG 01.11.06 05:41l 232 Lines 9119 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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To : APRDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. RE: APRS data entry device (scott_at_opentrac.org)
2. Re: Too many digi's ? (tom burkhart)
3. Re: Too many digi's ? (Dale Blanchard)
4. Re: Where to from here for APRS ? (Jim Duncan)
5. Official pronunciation of APRS? (Alan P. Biddle)
6. Re: Where to from here for APRS ? (William McKeehan)
7. Re: Where to from here for APRS ? (Ray Wells)
8. Re: Where to from here for APRS ? (Richard Amirault)
9. central.aprs2.net (Mark Miller)
10. Re: central.aprs2.net (VE7GDH)
11. RE: Where to from here for APRS ? (Cap Pennell)
12. RE: Official pronunciation of APRS? (Cap Pennell)
13. RE: Official pronunciation of APRS? (Charles Doughtie)
14. Re: Where to from here for APRS ? (A.J. Farmer (AJ3U))
15. RE: Official pronunciation of APRS? (scott_at_opentrac.org)
16. RE: Where to from here for APRS ? (scott_at_opentrac.org)
17. Re: Official pronunciation of APRS? (Stephen H. Smith)
18. Re: Official pronunciation of APRS? (Ben Lindner)
19. *** APRS TNC Test CD Now Available *** (Stephen H. Smith)
20. APRSTV Episode 6 is now available (John Habbinga)
21. Re: Official pronunciation of APRS? (Steve Dimse)
22. Re: Official pronunciation of APRS? (James Smith)
23. Re: Where to from here for APRS ? (Brian B. Riley)
24. Re: Where to from here for APRS ? (Joe Della Barba)
25. RE: APRSTV Episode 6 is now available (scott_at_opentrac.org)
26. Re: Where to from here for APRS ? (David W. Barrow III)
27. Re: Where to from here for APRS ? (Joe Della Barba)
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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 11:47:46 -0800
From: <scott_at_opentrac.org>
Subject: RE: [aprssig] APRS data entry device
>Anyone interested in scanning bar codes should know about the Cue Cat
>barcode reader. Originally intended as a privacy invading tool by big
>business and given away for 'free', they are cheap and have been
>declawed (made safe).
I've got a couple kicking around. They work, more or less, but they have a
lot of trouble reading some smaller barcodes. Not counting shipping, I
paid $5 for the Symbol scanner I'm using, and it's way, way better than a
Cue Cat. Keep in mind that lots of PCs don't even come with serial ports
these days, so for most people serial barcode scanners are worthless. They
happen to be perfect for APRS, though. Watch eBay and you'll probably be
able to find one cheap.
Scott
N1VG
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 18:13:28 -0500
From: tom burkhart <tburkhar_at_gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] Too many digi's ?
Does anyone have a source for the 8.2 roms? Kantronics no longer makes
them available.
Tom
Robert Bruninga wrote:
>I just updated the recommendations for the old KPC3 8.2 ROMS
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 15:36:15 -0800
From: Dale Blanchard <wa7ixk_at_earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] Too many digi's ?
tom burkhart wrote:
>Does anyone have a source for the 8.2 roms? Kantronics no longer makes
>them available.
>
>Tom
I have a TNC with 8.2 in it it. Never used it yet.
I thought the 8.3 was a upgrade and better.
Looks like they could be cloned if they are not available.
Dale
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 17:44:18 -0600
From: Jim Duncan <jdbandman_at_earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] Where to from here for APRS ?
APRS will die a slow death within 10 year if we don't do something about
getting away from 1200 baud. Many areas are close to packet saturation.
In the first 10 years, while the network was still being built up, a
universal frequency was the desired standard and a great idea. Now that
most major metropolitan areas have major coverage and APRS has generally
become widely used I believe that it is time to go multi-frequency (IF we
continue to rely on TWENTY FIVE YEAR OLD STANDARDS for speed and
bandwidth!).
It is my opinion that major metropolitan areas should adopt their own
specific frequency for "in network" use. Each area should also include a
dual-port digi which receives on 144.39 MHz and repeats inward to the
local frequency (i.e. 144.35, just an example frequency choice). A
visiting operator could continue to operate on the national frequency,
be seen and local operators could interact with the visitor by reverse
gateway pathing. Further, the universal frequency digi/gate in each area
should routinely broadcast a blanket bulletin identifying the local area
and giving the local frequency thereby enabling mobile/visiting
operators the ability to locate the local frequency.
Finally, and I've been saying this since 1999, it is well beyond the time
to start rolling out higher-speed options (9600, 57600, etc.) on UHF
(higher?) frequencies. This should be the path that local networks take
when looking at setting up a unique local frequency.
All I've really seen happening in APRS for the past five years is more
"bells and whistles" (which are nice, BTW) to existing software and network
considerations. Is anyone working on developing anything that directly
addresses the other considerations?
IMHO, APRS usage has peaked and I suspect that many other like me, lost
interest in APRS after so many years of "watching the grass grow." Now, in
my case my choice to step away from anything other than occassional mobile
use are based on other piratical circumstances but the fact remains that
there is only so long that a person will use a piece of software until the
novelty wears off.
Personally speaking, I have used APRS as a means (in the past) of keeping
band parents advised of my band's location on band trips, tracking school
busses, and using it for trip driving by my bus drivers as well as myself.
The fact remains that the GPS manufaturers long ago left us in the stone
age with talking devices, on-screen mapping, etc. Why bother with APRS if
you can invest $600-$800 in Tom-Tom (and similar) that doesn't require a) a
$1000 laptop, $200-$600 in ham radio equipment, another $100 for a GPS,
special mounts for laptops, etc., etc., etc.
I rarely use APRS now even mobile. I can use my existing truck mounted GPS
tied into other software which retrieves real-time weather radar and puts
me right onto the map. High speed wireless internet is still a bit pricey
for my taste but I could really care less where anyone else is when I'm out
storm chasing (except my usual chase partner, of course, which is probably
the only reason I still run an instance of APRS on the laptop).
When I got into APRS way back in January, 1993, I was pretty much burned
out on ham radio and APRS gave me a new focus and direction which
reinvigorated my interest in amateur radio. It was a great 10-year run and
I enjoyed getting to know others APRS people all over the country but it
just became less and less important to me in the grand scheme of things
(probably the result of marriage, a new home, returning to my lifelong
hobby of model railroading, and the rigors of two graduate degree
programs).
I would probably enjoy getting active in APRS again if there were new
frontiers to tackle but it seems that we are just staying in the same
place. New gadgets are nice but, as we all know, all gadgets are novelties,
too and like a kid at Christmas the new toys eventually get set aside as
the newness wear off.
I hope to see major developments in the coming years but the history of
amateur radio is that we tend to get stuck in ruts and change doesn't come
about quickly or easily. I hope that history isn't repeating itself with
APRS.
Jim Duncan, KU0G
Andrew Rich wrote:
>What do you think the future will hold for aprs ?
>
>1) Touch screen tablets with moving maps, GPS and radio built in ?
>
>ideas ?
--
73 de Jim, KU0G
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 00:16:08 -0000
From: "Alan P. Biddle" <APBIDDLE_at_MAILAPS.ORG>
Subject: [aprssig] Official pronunciation of APRS?
Is there one? I heard an interesting discussion on the local repeater over
whether to say "A P R S" or to say "Apers," rhymes with vapors. It got
spirited.
Alan
WA4SCA
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:19:55 -0500 (EST)
From: "William McKeehan" <mckeehan_at_mckeehan.homeip.net>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] Where to from here for APRS ?
I agree that APRS will eventually die, but for different reasons.
To me, one of APRS strengths is it's single frequency. It is nice to go
into a new area, turn on the APRS station and watch it "learn" who and what
is around you. I'm starting to play with traditional packet and find this
missing feature very frustrating.
I suspect that APRS will be replaced by some "superior" technology. It may
be commercial solutions (i.e., GPS enabled cell phones are growing in
popularity) or something in the amateur world like D-Star.
Just my 2 cents.
--
William McKeehan
KI4HDU
Internet: mckeehan_at_mckeehan.homeip.net
http://mckeehan.homeip.net
Do not go where the path may lead,
go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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