[NLRS] Possible VHF rule changes & roving

[Jim Mitzlaff]

I too would be very much in favor of these rule changes.  Now, I presently 
don't have room in my rover for an APRS beacon, but I do have a smartphone 
which could be used to post my location and update my rover plans via the 
internet, and check other rover's status.  I could also use direct phone 
calls, like in the 10+ GHz contest, if that is now allowed in all contests 
under the new rules.  I know several 6+ band operators who would like to 
contact me, but we often miss because our antennas are not pointed at each 
other.

73 Jim
W9SNR/R

-----Original Message----- 
From: Matt Holden
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2014 12:36 PM
To: NLRS Reflector
Subject: Re: [NLRS] Possible VHF rule changes & roving



I use APRSdroid on my Android phone.  I manually send a single packet when
I get into a small town and hope the local tower picks me up.  Automatic
operation sucks down battery life and consumes too much of my cellular data
allocation when roaming.  Sending a few packets, via Wi-Fi, from the hotel
in Faith SD (DN85) would be a huge boost.  Like WØZF said, there really
aren't any fixed APRS stations in South Dakota except +/- 40 miles from
interstates 29 and 90.
The Yaesu FTM-350 and now FTM-400DR have performed well as APRS radios.
WØZF or I end up turning the radio off if we move a 6 meter QSO up to 2
meters.  This is not a big deal because aprs.fi will show your old packets,
on the map, for quite a while.  Its just part of our operating procedure to
turn the FM radio back on when you start up the Jeep.

Self spotting on dxmaps.com will yield far more 6 meter contacts than APRS
will.  I hope this would reduce the zero QSOs per hour rates we often
experience in Western South Dakota.

Back in Minnesota, we have a great APRS network to keep track of the
rovers.  Making that data available to Single operators would be very
helpful to the majority of contest entrants.

I just want to hand out the rare (and not so rare) grids to those who want
them.  If these changes get more hams on the air (and rovers on the road)
I'm all for it.
73 Matt KØBBC