[FARC] APRS Software Info

Fri May 1 09:43:27 EDT 2009

Yes Ernie when you think about what APRS does, or what APRS users allow it 
to do, we certainly are opening wide for all to see our private movements. 
The eye in the sky also has us pinpointed too whether we use APRS or not and 
the GPS and LOJACK systems in our vehicles just make this easier. 
FINDU.COM, GOOGLE EARTH, and MICROSOFT VIRTUAL EARTH can determine if you 
need new shingles on your roof or if your lawn has too many weeds and your 
cell phone turned on works just as well as a GPS system for tracking you. 
Don't get me started down this path, George Orwell was right in his book 
"1984" and we've opened this up inside our homes with our web cams. 
Privacy is a thing of the past, "big brother" is watching and taking notes.

The nature of APRS I guess is to track or find "lost things"  and from that 
Ham radio ecomm applications have sprung.   The lord of APRS Bob Bruninga 
has declared it so.   I don't have any particular rub with the concept of 
APRS so far as it goes.    The fact is APRS could be useful in an emergency 
and this is good.  But also useful in an emergency is old 1200 baud Packet, 
semaphore flags, smoke signals, mirror-Morse code, and drums.    My 
particular rub is when bureaucratic entities determine, often arbitrarily, 
that one system or method of emergency communication is so much more 
beneficial than any other,  that other methods of emergency communication 
are deemed antiquated and thus excluded.    This is not good.

A fine gentleman once told me regarding APRS, "Now that you have it, what 
are you going to do with it?"  A good question as I stare at my computer 
screen right now and watch the 2 APRS stations in the Frederick area, one 
fixed and one mobile, on my computer monitor.   They just sit there on the 
map and I dutifully stare at them while the VHF radio growls in the 
background on 144.39.   I switch to monitor mode and watch APRS mobiles send 
good morning messages to each other from their keypad microphones.   Back to 
the map, wait...there's a beacon from a digipeater and one of the mobiles 
has moved.  This surely is insanity defined.    I think I'd better go spread 
some mulch on the flower beds.

73
KB3ONM
Kirk

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Ernest Hansen" <ernie_hansen at prodigy.net>
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 7:47 AM
To: "Frederick, Maryland ARC" <farc at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [FARC] APRS Software Info

> Your correct Kirk, I always thought that APRS was for tracking vehicles 
> with messaging as an extra feature. I would not like to be tracked. If I 
> need to report my location, I will send a message. So I have very little 
> interest in APRS. Dependency on the Internet is not good.
>
> Ernie, K3VVV
>
> --- On Thu, 4/30/09, Kirk Talbott <KirkTal7237 at msn.com> wrote:
>
> From: Kirk Talbott <KirkTal7237 at msn.com>
> Subject: Re: [FARC] APRS Software Info
> To: "Frederick, Maryland ARC" <farc at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: Thursday, April 30, 2009, 9:01 PM
>
> Roger Joe, I think with a system as comprehensive as APRS is, and as long 
> as it
> has been around, it's a shame that there can't be a nice NEW, user
> friendly, self-installing, easy configuring, APRS sofware package 
> integrated
> with maps written for Windows.  It is time to get APRS software out of the 
> lab
> and into production or just get rid of it.  APRS LINUX?  APRSDOS?  Any 
> UNIX out
> there?  What about some CP/M?  Dual booting operating systems just to run 
> APRS?
>
>
> In fact, APRS software and other Ham messaging programs are becoming so
> Internet intensive why don't Hams just do away with designing and using
> software and start using Internet Explorer and Internet mail for Ham ecomm 
> use.
> I mean if Winlink 2000 has to depend on the Internet, Echolink has to 
> depend on
> the Internet, APRS depends on the Internet, WHY NOT JUST USE THE INTERNET 
> AND
> EMAIL for ecomm and be done with it.  If the Internet is down then it's 
> all
> down whether we're using all Internet or Packet and Internet.
>
> "Gripe, gripe, gripe the kids are marching...."
>
> 73
> KB3ONM
> Kirk
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Joseph M. Durnal<mailto:joseph.durnal at gmail.com>
>  To: Frederick, Maryland ARC<mailto:farc at mailman.qth.net>
>  Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 8:05 PM
>  Subject: Re: [FARC] APRS Software Info
>
>
>  That is the big problem I have with all APRS software, most are made
>  to use online maps, but I'd like to use it offline :).
>
>  I have the xastir client that runs on linux configured for the hike
>  across maryland, but the maps I have are not as good as the online
>  maps.
>
>  On Thu, Apr 30, 2009 at 4:28 PM, Kirk Talbott
> <kirktal7237 at msn.com<mailto:kirktal7237 at msn.com>> wrote:
>  > FYI, I found a neat program for an APRS home station and that is AGW
> Tracker. Works with AGWPE and will not work with a TNC. Requires a 
> soundcard
> interface of some sort, I use a West Mountain RigBlaster Plus.
>  >
>  > For mapping the program can use individual map files or use the Google
> Earth or Yahoo Maps websites and both work well with it. It can also use
> Microsoft Virtual Earth or Map Point, but I haven't tried either one. I do
> not know if it can use Delorme Street Atlas or Precision Mapping Streets 
> and
> Traveler, but with Google Earth or Yahoo Maps web sites you wouldn't need 
> it
> anyway. The program comes with ONE map included and that is a standard map 
> of
> the United States; an outline map with no detail except for state 
> boundaries.
>  >
>  > AGW Tracker is shareware and has a free trial for 30 days after which
> you would have to purchase it to keep using it. Cost is $49.00. AGWPE is 
> hamware
> and thus free.
>  >
>  > Does it work as well or better than UI-View and other APRS software? 
> Who
> knows, time will tell. I've only been using AGW Tracker for 2 days and 
> have
> only used UI-View in the past with limited success. I can definitively 
> tell you
> this, the installation and setup of AGW Tracker and AGWPE is easy enough 
> to
> justify not using UI-View regardless of any advantages it may have.
>  >
>  > Summary:
>  >
>  > AGWPE soundcard TNC software, free download.
>  > AGWTerminal Packet terminal program for doing 1200 baud soundcard
> Packet, free download.
>  > AGWTracker APRS program, free 30-day trial and $49.00 to purchase.
>  >
>  > I have tested all 3 on Windows XP.
>  > Additional mapping software not required you can use Google Earth or
> Yahoo Maps web sites.
>  > Soundcard interface required.
>  > High-speed, permanent connection Internet strongly suggested.
>  >
>  > These 3 programs give you APRS and 1200 baud Packet capability. Add
> Outpost software (free download) to the mix and you have 1200 baud Packet 
> BBS
> messaging in an E-mail client format.
>  >
>  > 73
>  > KB3ONM
>  > Kirk
>  >
>  >
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