[aprssig] APRS In the New Orleans Area

[Andre PE1RDW]

Robert Bruninga schreef:

>Raging philosophies aside...
>
>What appears to be needed right now is someone 
>outside the area with an IGate to point a beam at the 
>W5UK-9 digi that IS working in downtown
>New Orleans.
>
>The reason nothing is getting to the APRS-IS
>is because the closest IGate is 120 miles
>away via 2 hops in Alabama.  NOTICE that the 
>W5UK-9 digi at 600 feet in downtown New Orleans
>that is still on the air is a ONE-HOP digi.  It is an 
>old PacComm dig that only digipeats one hop.  
>Fortunately it does digipeat WIDE2-2, 2-1, 3-3 
>and 3-2 but again, only ONCE.  This serves the
>local area just fine,  But noting can get out farther
>unless APRS operators take the time to do
>directed digiepating.
>
>So there may be many  APRS stations in the
>area, but unless there is an IGate that can hear
>that BIG TALL digi in downtown N.O. direct then
>nothing is going to get out.  
>
>I think the best use of APRS right now is getting
>those one-line APRS Emails saying "Jimmy is OK 
>in Smalltown" delivered out of the area to loved
>ones elsewhere.
>
>de Wb4APR, Bob
>  
>
I have no idea of the current situation other then via news coverage but 
wouldn´t a temperary digipeater using an old laptop with digi_ned 
located half way between new orleans and the next digi be more usefull 
to reconnect W5UK-9 to the network?
Ofcourse you will need to customise the settings to pick up the used 
paths from W5UK-9 and digi on it´s own call and nothing else.
That way everything will get out nomatter what igate is up and packets 
can get in if specificly directed to go in, it makes it a bit more 
flexable just in case more sh*t hits the fan.
Obviusly I don´t have the means to get to the area or I would volenteer 
to set one up myself.

73 de Andre PE1RDW