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ZL3AI > APRDIG 12.05.07 02:17l 247 Lines 10094 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 10130-ZL3AI
Read: GUEST
Subj: [APRSSIG] Vol 34 #31, 2/3
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<DB0SL<DB0FSG<I4UKI<IK1ZNW<I0TVL<ON0AR<ZL2BAU
Sent: 070511/2330Z @:ZL2BAU.#79.NZL.OC #:47348 [Waimate] $:10130-ZL3AI
From: ZL3AI@ZL2BAU.#79.NZL.OC
To : APRDIG@WW
Message: 5
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2007 21:29:51 +0100
From: Bernard Tyers <bernard.tyers_at_gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] Re:FS - Mobile Wifi Stompbox
Site back up:
"A Stompbox is a home-brew WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network) router.
In more human terms, it's a compact little box that gets data from
cellular towers and re-shares it for multiple computers to use.
To use it all one does is plug it in to the cigarette lighter of a
car (or a 12v supply when at home). It automatically boots up and
links in to a cellular data service, turning itself into an access
point. Turn on your laptop, join the network and voila -- you're on
the net! It's just like using a hotspot (such as they have at
Starbucks and airports), but it goes anywhere you car goes. Some
people have even hauled them around in backpacks to make themselves
into a walking network access site."
hth,
bernard
On 29 Apr 2007, at 15:13, Mark Miller wrote:
>Since the web site is down, can you describe this or point me to
>another page? Sound interesting. What are the applications?
>
>73,
>Mark N5RFX
>
>At 08:43 AM 4/29/2007, you wrote:
[commercial content deleted]
>>Excellent condition with external cel and wifi antennas
>>
>>Site is currently down but is built like:
>><http://www.stompboxnetworks.com/>http://www.stompboxnetworks.com/
>>
[commercial content deleted]
>>
>>Jeff
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Message: 6
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:03:23 +1000
From: "Andrew Rich" <vk4tec_at_people.net.au>
Subject: [aprssig] Embedded Displays for APRS
I saw some glider computers recently with cute lcd screens and windows ce.
Anyone running APRS on embedded PC's and LCD screens ?
Andy VK4TEC
http://vk4tec.no-ip.org
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Message: 7
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2007 18:00:02 -0400
From: Steve Dimse <steve_at_dimse.com>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] APRS Coverage in Key West
On Apr 29, 2007, at 4:20 PM, Paul Zawada wrote:
>
>In a previous message (on Friday) you stated the stations were owned
>and operated by the county.
Yes, there is nothing that keeps a government from installing and
maintaining ham radio gear, even from paying a ham to maintain it (though
that is not the case here, KQ4AZ is a volunteer).
>In another message you also said there were no other local RF users.
That is true, other than the occasional tourist, or if I turn on my D700
while driving. There is nothing forcing this, it is the simple reality of a
small, very long town with very few hams.
>If you add these two factors together,
>it at least appears on the surface that the only entity benefitting
>from the system is the county.
Again, there is nothing in the rules that say a government entity cannot
benefit from amateur radio.
>>There is absolutely nothing
>>in the FCC rules that says that APRS equipment must operate in
>>exactly the manner Bob Bruninga dictates! Just because Bob issues an
>>edict does not make it the only legal way to operate.
>
>I didn't say that the only way way to comply with the FCC rules was to
>listens to Bob's edicts. (But clearly Bob isn't the only one who
>thinks the new paradigm is good operating practice.)
If you are trying to use the good amateur practice, remember that this is
never defined in the rules, and therefore unenforceable. I also thing it
does not apply in this case, because for something to be good amateur
practice, I think it must be universal. The "New Paradigm" does not work in
all situations, including here in the Keys, and therefore should not count
as good amateur practice anywhere, but certainly not here in the Keys.
>Again, I was
>trying to point out that when the county's needs as opposed to hams'
>needs (especially when I was lead to believe there were no local hams)
>are the rationale for why a certain system is built a certain way, it
>*sounds* like a border-line case regulations-wise.
Again, you are way over-reading. The weather system as implemented (and by
the way this was a pioneering system it has been in APRS longer than most
of the people on this list) does not conflict in any way with any of the
hams here in the Keys. I do not see how you could have read that in any of
the dicsussion of it.
Steve K4HG
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Message: 8
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2007 18:09:16 -0400
From: Steve Dimse <steve_at_dimse.com>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] APRS Coverage in Key West
On Apr 29, 2007, at 4:28 PM, Richard Sharp, KQ4KX wrote:
>So, for the overall good of APRS in general it would be nice to see
>all APRS
>sysops keep up to date on the current standard. This isn't "dictating"
>anything but generally most sysops, repeater owners, etc. are doing
>what they do for the good of Amateur radio in general.
It seems like dictating to me if people are using the threat of FCC rules
to advocate taking a system that has worked for many years, through several
major hurricanes, and done its job well, and destroy it just so that you
can say the system works like the others. The "New Paradigm" was designed
for, and works well in, high density areas. It is counterproductive in the
situation in the Keys with a small, very long, flat coverage area and few
if any users.
>Bottom line here is just as Bob mentioned - it would be *nice* if the
>stations were updated to the latest standard. If they're not it's
>not a major deal it's just they won't be as user friendly to visitors
>along US 1.
And once more, it isn't there to be nice to visitors. It is there to
provide EOC managers with accurate weather information during hurricanes.
If it is useful to the NWS and hams during hurricanes and the rest of the
time, so much the better, but the county is not going to compromise the
primary purpose to match the settings of other places, nor should they.
Steve K4HG
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Message: 9
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2007 18:46:24 -0400
From: Eric Christensen <eric_at_christensenplace.us>
Subject: [aprssig] Weather Alert Network on APRS
A few years ago I brought this idea to the SIG but didn't get much
response. I wanted to throw this idea out, again, to see if anyone had any
ideas/opinions on this idea.
So here's the setup. A local I-Gate is setup to gate out weather bulletins
(warnings and advisories) from our local NWS office. Because the I-Gate
isn't in the logical center of the NWS area of responsibility (AOR) he can
either send out the data to a path that will either drop the information
short of reaching all the affected areas OR he can extend his path which
will then "spam" the next AOR with information they really don't need to
see, strategically speaking.
We ATTEMPTED to get the sysops of our digipeaters to add "WXMHX" (MHX is
our local weather service office) into their UIDIGI field to create our own
weather network, thus preventing this information from going to far and
making sure that it gets to where it needs to get. For the most part this
idea has worked really well but because some sysops chose not to include
this in their programming the network is somewhat limited (we have quite a
few sysops around here that aren't users of APRS).
I was wondering if anyone has done something similar to this and how it has
worked on your end. I could see something similar to this being
implemented within the US which would allow I-Gates to send out this
possible life-saving information without crowding neighboring networks that
don't have a need for this information.
73s,
Eric W4OTN (ex KF4OTN)
AEC Newport SKYWARN
www.mhxskywarn.org
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Message: 10
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:50:13 -0600
From: Joel Maslak <jmaslak-aprs_at_antelope.net>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] APRS Coverage in Key West
On Apr 29, 2007, at 4:09 PM, Steve Dimse wrote:
>And once more, it isn't there to be nice to visitors. It is there
>to provide EOC managers with accurate weather information during
>hurricanes. If it is useful to the NWS and hams during hurricanes
>and the rest of the time, so much the better, but the county is not
>going to compromise the primary purpose to match the settings of
>other places, nor should they.
How would switching to WIDEN-n (assuming equipment supports it) or using
WIDE1-1 as a digi alias on all the digis (and
WIDE1-1,WIDE1-1,WIDE1-1,WIDE1-1 on the WX station(s)) compromise the
primary purpose? The other benefit is that mobiles using the recommended
WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 would get out at least one hop without a reconfig).
Depending on the device, you might not even need to remove WIDE and may be
able to add WIDEN-n without problems.
I doubt that the stations in question are violating any rules. That said,
I will play devil's advocate for a bit...
That said, the rules do specify that you can't get paid for operating
(although setup is not specified), nor can a station usually transmit
communication on the behalf of an employer. So the control operator
probably should be someone who doesn't work at the county. (97.113.a. 2-3)
In addition, one of the prohibited forms of communication is (97.113.a.5):
"Communications, on a regular basis, which could reasonably be furnished
alternatively through other radio services." If the whole purpose of the
system is to link weather to the EOC, and nothing else is part of it, I'd
think that the county should license this as others may have mentioned it.
If this is only one of the purposes (and the other, for instance, is to let
hams in the area know the weather), then it probably couldn't be reasonably
furnished another way.
Once again I doubt the people in the Keys are breaking the rules and I am
not in favor of losing amateur operators because of an overly strict
application of the rules when no damage is being done. Transmitting on
144.39 using the old paradigm is hardly doing any damage in this area, and
there are plenty of places doing the same type of things. I also agree
that the hams in the keys have no obligation to make sure my car shows up
on Findu when I drive through there, even if it would be a nice thing for
them to do. :)
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