[aprssig] A test for APRS in some lessor traveled Western areas

[Cap Pennell]

You guys could _really_ benefit from _another_ careful read-through of
http://web.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/aprs/fix14439.html
and the links from that page.

Best bet: WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 mobile; WIDE2-2 (or less) fixed or base.  Three
(or more) hops in all directions is not the answer for courtesy, nor rarely
much help for vanity.

In remote areas the trick is mostly getting packets from your station into
_the first_ digi called for in your digipath.  Broader digipaths don't help
there.  Many areas are far less "remote" than a visitor's first impression
might indicate.  High mountains often have digis on top providing access
from a vast area.

A fill-in digi only operates packets addressed to WIDE1-1.  The other digis
will operate packets addressed to WIDE1-1 or WIDE2-2 or WIDE2-1 or WIDE3-1
(while inserting their callsign in the path's "history").  This is the "New
Paradigm", traceable WIDEn-N.  RELAY and WIDE and TRACE and TRACEn-N are
completely obsolete (pass it on).

Many digis will give only one hop to any WIDE3-N address (that is, WIDE3-3
or WIDE3-2 or WIDE3-1).  They operate/digipeat the packet while adjusting
the path so there will be no further hops ("trapping" the excess hops).
Still, any modern high "S overlay" digi will give WIDE2-1 or WIDE3-1 (or
WIDE1-1) the same one hop.

Confused about any of this stuff at all?  Then use WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 mobile;
WIDE2-2 (or less) fixed or base.  Transmit only as frequently as your
intended "audience" requires to fulfill their objectives.

(And please don't even consider putting up any new digipeater at all until
your confusion is all gone and you've had full discussions about the VHF
network's _needs_ with all the operators of existing digipeaters in your
network/region).
73, Cap KE6AFE