[MOham] Fw: [APRS] APRS Day Out!

[Ray Brown]

  FYI for everyone here...


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Bruninga " <wb4apr at amsat.org>

> APRS Day Out!
>
> This idea of an "APRS Day Out" on 10 September is evolving and so has the name.  This separates us from the goals and objectives 
> of the rules-driven ARRL QSO party overlaping the same timeframe, to an activity not quite so restrictive.
>
> Also, a full 24 hour cycle for APRS seemed overkill and beyond the length of my usual kitchen pass (and attention span).  So, to 
> help focus the event I'm suggesting the "APRS Day Out" begins at 2PM local time and concludes at  11PM local time on 147.525 MHz, 
> the HamIM frequency.  THis is an AD-HOC APRS event using the temporary path of TEMPn-N.
>
> And EVERYONE can participate, (no unattended stations please) even if you do not leave your shack.  Those guys that do go to the 
> mountain tops are going to need to have someone to talk to, so all those shack potatoes will be great additions to the event.
>
> Shucks!  Lets make it a contest!
>
> Every Station captured (that has a GRID in his beacon) counts as 1 point.  Every MESSAGE (BLN) captured from another station 
> counts 2 points.  Every "exchange" coutns 3 points.
>
> Notice that since APRS recognizes the EFFICIENCY of bulletins and the BURDEN of Messages-with-acks, then that callsign-to callsign 
> messaegs are STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.  These heavily burden the ad-hoc network.
>
> So, what does an "exchange mean"?  It means that someone elses outgoing BLN# lists YOUR callsign in it.
>
> PLEASE do not send a BLN# until you have collected 8 callsigns.  Then send a BLN# that says, QSL XYZ,ABC,FGH,DEF, etc.
>
> This is a far, far more efficient way to QSL an exchange of 8 stations among those 8 stations than it does to send 64 individual 
> messages and 64 acks.  Which could add up to over 300 message retries and 300 acks, compared to just one BLN each from the 8 
> stations acknowledging the other 8 all in one packet.
>
> I will add these techniques to my APRS Day Out web page when I get back to my PC on monday.
>
> http://aprs.org/rovers.html
>
> Bob, wb4apr
> .>
>>For this coming Sept VHF QSO party(10-11 Sept),
>> a cadre of APRS mobiles and portables is going
>> to man 15 mountain tops along the Appalachians
>> from Maine to Georgia (and anywhere else in the
>> country where contesting is popular).
>>
>> Their APRS radio will be on the HamIM frequency
>> of 147.585 and will be enabled for APRS digipeating.
>> Not only will they be able to see all the contest
>> rovers out there, but they will also digipeat any
>> such beacons to others so that everyone can see where
>> everyone is.  These packets have nothing to do with
>> the contest or scoring, but they just support the
>> mobile rovers and portable operators in seeing where
>>  everyone is located.
>>
>> This kind of ad-hoc system works if all mobiles
>> and portable stations use the same settings in
>> their APRS radios and TNC's as follows:
>>
>> FREQUENCY: 147.585 (the HamIM frequency)
>> PATH:      TEMP7-7 (reduce to TEMP3-3 if load too high)
>> SYMBOL:    Rover or Portable (tent)
>> RATE:      Every 5 minutes
>>
>> Now then, to make the ad-hoc network self-
>> supporting, every well situated station (mountaintop
>> or mobile and ROVERS) with a D700 or KPC-3 should
>> also enable their own station for digipeating.
>> To enable your station as a TEMPn-N digipeater
>> also, use these settings:
>>
>> UITRACE TEMP
>> DIGI ON
>>
>> These need to be permanently set in the Radio TNC
>> via the serial port prior to the event.  In fact,
>> these settings are now factory defaults in all
>> D710's and subsequent radios so that any radio,
>> any time, can serve as an ad-hoc digi for others
>> on demand, by simply using the TEMPn-N path.
>>
>> For details and background please see:
>> http://aprs.org/rovers.html
>>
>> Make sure you test your station before the event!
>>
>> Good luck in the Contest!
>>
>> Bob, WB4APR