[aprssig] APRS resolution

[Keith VE7GDH]

Scott N1VG wrote...

> The OpenTRAC spec already gives you something like 2 cm
> resolution using a total of 8 bytes for lat/lon...

It sounds very efficient and seems to have a lot more flexibility than the 
APRS spec that we all use. I know you had the advantage of being familiar 
with the APRS spec and its shortfalls, and all the various ways of tweaking 
APRS to try and get more out of it within its limitations, but how do you 
envision OpenTRAC being integrated into the amateur community? Can the two 
share 144.390 with a gradual changeover? If it can use the same digis and 
IGates, and if the APRS-IS can interpret it, it would make a lot of sense to 
use the existing infrastructure instead of developing a parallel network. 
That eventually leaves a lot of APRS users with hardware (except 
OpenTrackers - hi!) and software that would become obsolete. It would be a 
big change, but there could be big advantages. I know there will be a lot of 
resistance, but how do you see things working out? PS - I see that 
www.opentrac.org is still down.

My comments aren't meant to "shoot APRS down". It is very useful and has the 
can be used for many everyday functions as well as in disasters. I just 
think that OpenTRAC has the potential to allow us to get more out of it. 
Case in point... OpenTRAC will have an almost unlimited ability to add more 
symbols. APRS has only a handful of unused symbols. There was enough room to 
add a farm tractor, but not a skier. Every mobile APRS user not in a 
vehicle, aircraft, on horseback or in a wheelchair is a jogger... none are 
standing still, walking, skiing, hiking or whatever.

73 es cul - Keith VE7GDH
--
"I may be lost, but I know exactly where I am!"