[aprssig] Q: Fine point on Paths

[Robert Bruninga]

>  Robert Bruninga  wrote:
> > The WIDEn-N algorithm only looks at the ending "N" ...
> 
> Sorry, but I'm not talking about the N decrementing 
> algorithm at all.  I am specifically focused ONLY on the "n' 
> and most specifically the last "n".   OR perhaps all    n's.

The only way I know to answer that is with the answer above.
The only n that has any value is the last n.  And the only use
of that "n" is as I stated.  It is decremented at each hop until
it gets to zero.  I don't know any other way to answer your
question.  That is it. That is all there is too it.

> SHORT: What is the TRUE purpose of "n".
> 
> 
> 
> Long:
>    WHAT do we / you / others / whomever want it / them to 
> indicate?  If anything...
> 
>    I, perhaps foolishly, thought that the 'n' (since it 
> doesn't change) lets us know Further down stream) that this 
> *was* a 1-hop path.
> 
>    If is is valid to use  "WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1" and that is a TWO 
> hop, it appears to me that THAT last "n" is telling me (and 
> the rest of the world that the OM originally set things up 
> for a 2-hop.
>    Yhat being the case; "WIDE1-1,WIDE3-2" is the more better 
> correctliness way of doing a 3-hop.

Please re read my answer.  It agrees with you.  Except that
there is an ambiguity that could imply to others that you are
using one more hop than you are, and why would anyone want to
leave themselves open for criticism due to an ambiguity.    Bob,
WB4APR
 
> > prior systems using WIDE, RELAY, TRACE, SS and soforth.
> > 
> > > The...(not highly recommended) path WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2
> > > Should actually be  WIDE1-1,WIDE3-2   [change
> > "2" > "3"]
> > > So that the world knows you initially specified a 3
> > hop.
> > > Is this a valid observation, or do I still need 
> > > to change my smokes?
> > 
> > True, in a perfect fully traceable N-network then a path of
> > WIDE1-1,WIDE3-2 would arrive as
> > DIGI1,WIDE1,DIGI2,DIGI3,WIDE3*
> > showing a 3 hop path...   BUT, because it will be forever
> > before
> > all digis are converted from non-traceable "N"
> > digis to fully
> > traceable New-N "S" digis, then the path that
> > arrives as
> > DIGI1,WIDE1,DIGI2,DIGI3,WIDE3* could just as easily be
> > someone
> > using W1-1,W3-3 which is actually FOUR hops.
> > 
> > Personally, I would never want to appear to be using one
> > more
> > hop then I am actually using.
> > 
> > Thus I use WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 and assume every one can add the
> > two
> > digi fields together and know I am using only 2 hops.
> > 
> > Bob
> 
> 
>       
>