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ZL3AI > APRDIG 09.12.03 10:30l 261 Lines 9921 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: TAPR Digest, Dec 04, 6/7
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From: ZL3AI@ZL3VML.#80.NZL.OC
To : APRDIG@WW
Subject: Re: National Parks Digi Coverage (Rev 3)
From: Randy Allen <ka0azs@earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 04 Dec 2003 19:40:03 -0500
X-Message-Number: 36
FYI, During my vacation in the Mammoth Cave area this past August, I
don't think I got a single digipeat of my position in the 3 days we were
there (D-700, running up to 50W with a good antenna). I know I never
hit FINDU during that period.
Stayed at a hotel up near Kentucky Down Under, spent a day at the caves
and one near Gun town Mountain, driving back and forth in the area.
As with anything, YMMV.
OBTW: GREAT family vacation. Dinosaur World was my daughter's favorite!
--
Randy Allen, KAĜAZS
EC, Montgomery CO Ohio
OH Dist. 3 ARES Web Page:
http://www.qsl.net/ohd3ares/
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Subject: Re: APRS WX Protocol Questions
From: "Spider" <spider@rivcom.net>
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 17:58:06 -0700
X-Message-Number: 37
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ralph Milnes" <ralphmilnes@patmedia.net>
To: "TAPR APRS Special Interest Group" <aprssig@lists.tapr.org>
Cc: "Bob Bruninga" <bruninga@usna.edu>
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 5:07 PM
Subject: [aprssig] Re: APRS WX Protocol Questions
Snip-o-lotta>
>I think it would be interesting to hear from APRS users closely connected
>to the NWS. Does the NWS use APRS WX reports? Is it a problem that an
>abundance of APRS WX reports are not matching the NWS standards? Since I
>run my WX station partly because I think the NWS may look at it its data
>from time to time, I'd like to know if that's not true so I can get over
>that misconception.
>
>Ralph KC2RLM
Ralph,
In an area where one of my weather stations is located (Quartzsite, AZ),
there was a micro-burst that did quite a bit of damage. This occurred
a few months ago. A few weeks ago, I received a phone call from the NWS
(Phoenix) asking if I had any archived data for that station during that
storm.
The fellow needed it for some report he had to file about severe storms.
Well, I did not have the data, but I figured Russ Chadwick and the FSL would
archive it...as they archive (at least I was told that at one time) all the
Mesonet data which the CWOP is part of.
So, I called Russ and let him know about the request and got the ball
rolling with the FSL folks getting involved in finding the data.
Although I never heard back from Russ (Hey Russ!) I think possibly Patty
Miller (MADIS) contacted Phoenix and got them the data that was being looked
for.
So, do they use it? Yes, they use it. They use it when they need it.
And, keep in mind they may not be the only ones using it! Anyone that has
an APRS feed can use the data. One of the U of AZ Extension Hydrologists
came on line on FireNet today. Jerry down at TAMU is always playing with
the data!
APRS Wx Reports actually provide more data, more often, than several of the
other mesonet systems. That has got to say something for what we do! We
need more stations! The USDAFS and the BLM use stations called RAWS
stations (Remote Automated Weather Stations). You can see them on the
Firenet APRS feeds. Most often, these stations are place in strategic
locations to warn of conditions relative to fire. Fire, as you know, is
one of the few Natural Occurrences that can devastate human conditions.
Amateur weather stations located in the same sort of areas can also provide
this sort of data.
73's and keep'em calibrated!
Jim, WA6OFT
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Subject: RE: I-Gate Without a Computer
From: "Scott Miller" <scott@3xf.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 17:38:30 -0800
X-Message-Number: 38
I don't think a non-computer solution is a good idea. You basically wind up
making a rather sophisticated device that's going to be less cost effective
than an embedded pc. I've got a similar device in my garage that's intended
as a terminal server to allow you to telnet to a serial port - it's just a
processor with a serial port and ethernet port. Given the right firmware,
it could certainly be used as an IGATE, but it would be a difficult
undertaking. And besides, that device was probably at least $200 new, and
for that price you can get a single-board PC, which is the route I'm taking.
So far I haven't had time to mess with it, though. If I do get around to
it, I'll probably come up with a tar file that you can extract to a compact
flash card and customize to meet your needs.
I guess the bottom line is that it depends on your definition of a
computer... it's a non-PC solution, anyway. No video, no hard drive, no
moving parts, but easy to develop for.
Scott
N1VG
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Subject: Re: National Parks Digi Coverage (Rev 3)
From: "Scott Miller" <scott@3xf.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 17:47:47 -0800
X-Message-Number: 39
I got coverage through at least part of my trip to Sequoia. Kurt, I think
that's your department? I was running 5 watts into a 1/4-wave magmount and
got sporadic coverage up to Atwell Mill at least, and from the Crystal Cave
parking lot.
Maybe Jim over at aprsworld could do an extract of park traffic. I've got a
shapefile of national park boundaries around here someplace... if I had my
Oracle Spatial database up it'd be a simple SQL query. But I got p*ssed off
writing the APRS parser for it and got a bit sidetracked on other projects.
=]
Scott
N1VG
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Subject: Re: National Parks Digi Coverage (Rev 3)
From: "Bud Talbot" <kb9wvg@arrl.net>
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 20:48:45
X-Message-Number: 40
Big Bend National Park in W. Texas- no coverage.
I was there last week and tried to get a packet in via PCSAT, but no luck.
The nearest terrestrial digi is 80 miles North in Alpine. It's a beautiful
place and it was an awesome trip, just no APRS!
73 de Bud KB9WVG
home.houston.rr.com/kb9wvg
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Subject: Re: National Parks Digi Coverage (Rev 3)
From: Jeffrey Nast <jpnast@lca.duluth.mn.us>
Date: Thu, 04 Dec 2003 20:55:40 -0600
X-Message-Number: 41
I spent 4 days in Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado) this past
July. There is an APRS digipeater in Estes Park which covered parts of
the nearby RMNP. Considering the mountainous terrain the coverage was
fairly good. Had a a few digital QSOs with others inside/outside the
park. Folks at home enjoyed watching us drive around the park and
tracking us on their own maps. Also was able to send out status update
emails. Worked great!
-Jeff
KC0MKS
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Subject: RE: APRS HF Antenna dimensions
From: "Richard Amirault" <ramirault@erols.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 22:34:26 -0500
X-Message-Number: 42
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Vodall - WA7NWP" <wa7nwp@jnos.org>
Subject: [aprssig] RE: APRS HF Antenna dimensions
>
>Here's a trick question.
>
>Excluding velocity factor, what's the lenght of a half
>wavelength dipole for the '30 meter' band?
For those who haven't 'groked' yet ... hmmmmm... 15 meters??
Richard Amirault N1JDU Boston,
MA, USA
www.erols.com/ramirault "Go Fly A Kite"
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Subject: Re: APRS WX Protocol Questions
From: Gerry Creager N5JXS <gerry.creager@tamu.edu>
Date: Thu, 04 Dec 2003 21:57:08 -0600
X-Message-Number: 43
Quoting from the Federal Meteorological Handbook Volume 1, Chapter 5,
"Wind",
5.3 _Wind Parameters
....
c. Gusts. The description of the variability of the wind speed.
....
5.4 _Wind Observing Standards_
....
5.4.4 _Wind Gust_. The wind speed data for the most recent 10 minutes
shall be examined to evaluate the occurrence of gusts. Gusts are
indicated by rapid fluctuations in wind speed with a variation of 10
knots or more between peaks and lulls. The speed of a gust shall be the
maximum instantaneous wind speed.
5.4.5 _Peak Wind Speed_. Peak wind data shall be determined with sind
speed recorders. The peak wind speed shall be the maximum instantaneous
speed measured since the last routine METAR.
....
5.5 _Wind Reporting Standards_
....
5.5.4 _Wind Gust_. When a gust is detected within 10 minutes of the
actual time of the observation, the maximum instantaneous wspeed shall
be reported (see paragraph 12.6.5.a).
5.5.5 _Peak Wind Data_. The peak wind speed shall be reported in the
remarks section whenever the maximum instanteous speed in knots (since
the last METAR) is greater than 25 knots (see paragraph 12.7.1.d).
....
Section 12 deals with the reporting methods and coding of METAR data.
There'll be a test next week.
gerry
Earl S. Garber wrote:
> On 12/04/03, "Ralph Milnes <ralphmilnes@patmedia.net>" wrote:
>
>>s = sustained wind speed in mph. The NWS standard is a 2 minute average. It
>>also says to report in knots. The APRS Spec says one minute average in mph.
>>
>>g = gust: The NWS has different definitions for "gusts" and "peak wind
>>speed". The APRS spec says "gust" means "peak wind speed in last five
>>minutes". The NWS measurement period for peaks is "since your last report".
>
>Further confusion: With a report rate of 10 or 15 minutes, shouldn't the
>"gust" period follow that instead of the spec of 5 minutes?
>
>Even further confusion: WinAPRS on my WX station set for .01 inch rain
>increments will report every .01 inch, "dynamically" increasing the report
>rate. What then?
--
Gerry Creager -- gerry.creager@tamu.edu
Texas Mesonet -- AATLT, Texas A&M University
Cell: 979.229.5301 Office: 979.458.4020 FAX: 979.847.8578
Page: 979.228.0173
Office: 903A Eller Bldg, TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
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