[aprssig] Abusive path lists

[Steve Dimse]

On 2/9/05 at 1:33 PM Robert Bruninga <bruninga at usna.edu> sent:

>We need someone to do a FINDU study... that plots all
>IGates and all DIGIS including their PHG circles.  THen
>we can zoom in and see where there are more than 8
>hops between IGates (4 either way). 
>
From the FAQ on the findU front page:
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Why don't you track digipeaters, so I can see who is using my digi (or why don't
you support PropNet, or any other RF propagation related issue)

 This is a matter of findU (or more generally the APRS Internet System) being
the wrong tool for the job. My design of the APRS IS was based on getting data
distributed widely, not about characterizing the RF network. Therefore, the
system is designed at each stage to filter out duplicate versions of the same
data packet. However, it is precisely the differences between different
instances of the same packet that would allow you to draw interesting and/or
definitive conclusions about the RF network and propagation.
------

The APRS IS simply cannot be used to answer such questions with any sort of
certainty. findU and any client program can identify any holes where data is not
appearing, but unless you drive the gap you cannot tell if the problem in no
digis, no IGates, or no users!

Steve K4HG