[aprssig] APRS on ECHO

[Robert Bruninga]

>>> jdw at eng.uah.edu 06/29/05 9:49 AM >>>
>I just noticed this from "AMSAT:
>
>>Due to restrictions in the Satellite, there can be 
>>no digi... on Echo at this time.....  Echo is 
>>will only pass AX.25 packets beginning with a 
>>certain character... 'P'...  Therefore, the digi 
>>packet will not get through the SCC unless the 
>>destination station call sign begins with... 'P'.

Yes, but notice that there is still no technical reason 
at all.   An APRS packet can be addressed to any
special callsign (In APRS it is called an ALTNET).
APRS users or just raw TNC users can set their
AX.25 destination (or ALTNET) to PECHO and the
problem is solved.

I have suggested this to the command team but
have not gotten a response yet.  Maybe they will
enable the digipeater for a special test some day.

Note that this restriction WILL make it NOT work
for D7 and D700 or any MIC-E packets, but it will
work for those radios in MESSAGE mode if they
set the right UNPROTO.

Remember ECHO is 9600 baud so the D7 and D700
are perfect for this application.  Just not posits
unless you run a PC...

de Wb4APR, Bob