[aprssig] APRS Instant Messaging via WIFI.

[Bob Bruninga]

Wow,
Jake just informed me out of the blue that he has written an APRS messaging window for the OLPC!

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jack Zielke 
>
> I took an interest in your "APRS for OLPC" 
> page... This is what I have done so far:
>
> Wrote a GUI based on the APRS-XO image.
> 3 buttons link to: findu's XA page, 
> aprsworld and aprs.org
>
> The users first name is auto filled... by the 
> name used when registering the laptop.
> A place for a callsign or zip code.
> - If the callsign is left blank and a zip 
> code is entered geocoder.us is used to turn 
> the zip code into lat/lon.  The zip code 
> field is blanked and the callsign is filled 
> in XZZZZZ-AO Station text appended to the 
> end of the position report.
>
> I split the lat and lon entries into boxes 
> for degrees, minutes, decimal minutes and 
> NS/EW.  The location type is used after the 
> position and before the station text.
>
> The program is hard coded to use 
> 'rotate.aprs2.net'.  All of the servers
> that I connected to while testing require 
> authentication in order to accept position 
> reports.  The servers for cwop might work
> better.
>
> There is a text area on the right that shows 
> all of the server traffic.  I also used that 
> to display error messages, and some
> informational text.
>
> I think I have ACK's working correctly.
>
> If any of the text fields are edited 
> (except zip code) while you are connected, 
> the send beacon every 10 minutes checkbox is
> unchecked.  This is to prevent a beacon from 
> being sent while you are in the middle of
> changing something.
>
> If aprsd reports that you are verified, 
> I have an extra text box open up below the 
> messaging sending box.  You can type raw commands
> to the aprsd server there.
>
> That is basically what works.  I do not have 
> any method to save or restore the settings 
> via the laptop's journal.  You have to retype
> your information in every time.  That is the 
> very first item in the TODO list.
> I do not have any code for sending messages.  
> It will ACK them, but you can not reply easily.
>
> I think that about sums it up.  If you would 
> like to download the activity file, you can 
> find all 30k of it here:
> http://zielkeassociates.com/~jack/aprs-xo/
> APRS-1.xo is the activity installer
> aprs.py is the source code highlighted with GeSHi.
>
> Until this past Sunday I have never started 
> a project on an XO or written a program in 
> python.  I am hoping someone can look at this
> and make it better.
>
> I thank you for your time.
>
> Jack Zielke
> KG4GJY

>---- Original message ----
>>Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:55:00 -0400 (EDT)
>>From: <bruninga at usna.edu>  
>>Subject: APRS Instant Messaging via WIFI.  
>>To: aprssig at usna.edu
>>
>>Instant Messaging on APRS has been around a long time.
>>
>>And although I often focus my thinking on RF, I think there certainly is good reason to use APRS messaging whenever one's laptop is in range of WIFI.  In fact, I think some of you have written such small APRS instant messaging routines.
>>
>>I had proposed an APRS messaging client for the small OLPC laptop.  Just a small window that lets one "instant message" via APRS whenever the little laptop was in range of WIFI. 
>>I'd like to add a list of all of such APRS messaging capabilities in one place.  Here is the page:
>>
>>www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/APRS-OLPC.html
>>
>>On Monday, I will change the title to be APRS Messaging via WIFI and take suggested links to other such capabilities being offered.
>>
>>The whole focus of APRS (and specifically since Katrina) has been to make sure that APRS facilitates human-to-human 2-way ham radio communications.  Having everyone's VOICE FREQUECY in their packets and being able to instantly voice (if in range) or message if out of range, is another powerful technique!
>>
>>Bob, WB4APR