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ZL3AI > APRDIG 01.11.06 05:43l 274 Lines 9952 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: [APRSSIG] Vol 28 #30, 2/4
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From: ZL3AI@ZL2BAU.#87.NZL.OC
To : APRDIG@WW
Message: 7
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 11:37:30 +1100
From: Ray Wells <vk2tv_at_exemail.com.au>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] Where to from here for APRS ?
I disagree that APRS will die.
Rather, I'm suggesting that just like packet in the 1980's to the early
1990's, APRS will increase in popularity, then decline, and eventually
find it's own level of users. Right now we're seeing an upsurge due to the
novelty factor, but it's only a matter of time and users will be saying,
"been there, done that" and move onto the latest technology, whatever that
might be, leaving the diehards behind on quiet channels.
If packet is anything to go by, users complained about channel congestion
but few (relatively speaking) opted to move up to higher speeds to improve
the situation.
1200bps may well be 20+ years old but it will probably be around in another
20 years because amateurs either can't or won't modify equipment to make it
work at higher speeds, or can't or won't expend money on higher speed
equipment when their 1200bps gear works "just fine".
Just the thoughts of someone who's been in packet since almost day one.
Ray vk2tv
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Message: 8
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 20:00:54 -0500
From: "Richard Amirault" <ramirault_at_verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] Where to from here for APRS ?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Duncan"
Subject: Re: [aprssig] Where to from here for APRS ?
(snip)
>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.
(snip)
Not everyone feels the same way about life as you. From what you've said
you seem to get bored with most things unless you are challenged in some
way. That's fine.. but, again, not everyone feels that way. I've been
into APRS since there were only two programs APRSDos and the Mac version
.... AND I STILL RUN APRSDos as my only software.
APRS is a tool, like a hammer or a saw. Yes, you can make improvements in
the tool, but only so much. Frankly, 99% of the time APRS is not doing what
it is designed to do... "Real time emergency communications" (hope I got
that right Bob) But should the occasion arrise that you really need to use
that tool.. you may regret selling (or throwing away) that hammer or saw.
Richard Amirault N1JDU Boston,
MA, USA
n1jdu.org "Go Fly A Kite"
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:10:46 -0600
From: Mark Miller <markm_at_kramrellim.com>
Subject: [aprssig] central.aprs2.net
Is the tier 2 server central.aprs2.net down? I get an error when I connect
with Xastir. I am able to connect to midwest.aprs2.net with no problems.
Is there a WEB page or someplace that I can check the status of the
servers?
73,
Mark N5RFX
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 17:34:31 -0800
From: "VE7GDH" <ve7gdh_at_rac.ca>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] central.aprs2.net
Mark N5RFX wrote...
>Is the tier 2 server central.aprs2.net down? I get an error when I
>connect with Xastir. I am able to connect to midwest.aprs2.net with
>no problems. Is there a WEB page or someplace that I can check the
>status of the servers?
See http://www.aprs2.net/...
The following are OK...
http://aprswest.aprs2.net:14501/
http://florida.aprs2.net:14501/
http://midwest.aprs2.net:14501/
http://northcentral.aprs2.net:14501/
and of course...
http://rotate.aprs2.net:14501
However, http://central.aprs2.net:14501/ wouldn't load for me. It appears to
be down.
73 es cul - Keith VE7GDH
--
"I may be lost, but I know exactly where I am!"
------------------------------
Message: 11
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 17:47:44 -0800
From: "Cap Pennell" <cap_at_cruzio.com>
Subject: RE: [aprssig] Where to from here for APRS ?
>APRS is a tool, like a hammer or a saw. Yes, you can make improvements in
>the tool, but only so much. Frankly, 99% of the time APRS is not doing what
>it is designed to do... "Real time emergency communications" (hope I got
>that right Bob) But should the occasion arrise that you really need to use
>that tool.. you may regret selling (or throwing away) that hammer or saw.
>
>Richard Amirault N1JDU
"I see," said the blind man as he picked up his hammer and saw.
73, Cap
------------------------------
Message: 12
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 18:26:46 -0800
From: "Cap Pennell" <cap_at_cruzio.com>
Subject: RE: [aprssig] Official pronunciation of APRS?
Official? hi hi
Would you pronounce the callsign of Bob, "the Father of APRS", as W B 4
aper ?
It may change between Automatic Packet Reporting System or Automatic
Position Reporting System but those initials are still A P R and S.
73, Cap KE6AFE
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Message: 13
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:20:38 -0800 (PST)
From: Charles Doughtie <n5exy_at_yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: [aprssig] Official pronunciation of APRS?
Bob is the original. The rest of us are the apers - copycats, etc. Just gotta
get that in!!
BEAT ARMY
de Charlie, N5EXY
South Suburban Greater Hutto, Texas
------------------------------
Message: 14
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 22:25:05 -0500
From: "A.J. Farmer (AJ3U)" <farmer.aj_at_gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] Where to from here for APRS ?
On 10/29/06, Jim Duncan <jdbandman_at_earthlink.net> wrote:
>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.
Oh boy. Here we go again. Didn't we beat this to death a week or so ago?
:-)
>Finally, and I've been saying this since 1999, it is well beyond the
It's nearing the end of 2006 and it hasn't died yet... :-)
>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,
So many people want APRS to be something it's not and they seem embarrassed
to tell people that we pass data on a "slow" 1200 baud network. The fact
is 1200 baud equipment is cheap, it is reliable, and upgrading to higher
bandwidth just doesn't make sense for many reasons. I agree, higher
bandwidth applications are out there, but they don't need to be shoe-horned
onto the APRS network. These applications can *co-exist* with APRS and
complement it - they don't have to be *part of* APRS.
>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
Exactly my point. Real-time weather, high speed Internet, other high
bandwidth applications - whatever you heart desires is out there... It
doesn't mean you have to somehow figure out how to make it all work
together on 144.39. :-) The things you mentioned do not have anything to
do with APRS, so why do you want APRS to do them? You have many tools in
your toolbox - use the appropriate one for the task at hand.
--
A.J. Farmer, AJ3U
http://www.aj3u.com
------------------------------
Message: 15
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:36:31 -0800
From: <scott_at_opentrac.org>
Subject: RE: [aprssig] Official pronunciation of APRS?
From an efficiency standpoint, I'd say the 'apers' pronunciation is the
clear winner. Two syllables vs. four - except maybe in places like Texas.
They can make 'yes' into a two-syllable word down there. =] Better
compatibility, too. It's a lot easier to pronounce WinAPRS and APRSWorld
that way.
Either way doesn't really bother me much. Now, if you go pronouncing .GIF
with a hard 'g' (like 'gift'), that DOES bother me. =]
Scott
N1VG
------------------------------
Message: 16
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:56:14 -0800
From: <scott_at_opentrac.org>
Subject: RE: [aprssig] Where to from here for APRS ?
There will always be applications for low-bandwidth communications. In
critical, real-world applications the sort of information you usually need
most can often be distilled down to a few words, or a few bytes. Consider
some historical examples...
"HOOD SUNK"
"SOS SOS CQD CQD TITANIC. WE ARE SINKING FAST. PASSENGERS ARE BEING PUT INTO
BOATS. TITANIC."
"IT'S A BOY"
And some of these high-bandwidth applications don't necessarily NEED to be
high-bandwidth - they're that way because some people don't know how to
design for efficiency, or because it wasn't worth the trouble. I saw a
great example of this recently at work, where a certain 3-letter government
agency came up with an XML-based sensor data interchange format that
resulted in file sizes of 20 megs or more for what came out to around 15 or
20 KB of comma-separated values.
As I've said before, I fully expect to see APRS eventually decline among
casual users once cell phone based tracking systems become ubiquitous.
Hopefully we can keep a critical mass to maintain the infrastructure for the
rest of us, though - I'd hate to see the APRS network die like packet
messaging networks did after everyone got Internet access. Like the rest of
amateur radio, it'll have value for disaster response and communications in
undeveloped areas for a long time still.
Scott
N1VG
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