[aprssig] Danger Will Robinson!

[Steve Dimse]

On Jul 22, 2009, at 8:34 PM, Tom Hayward wrote:

> In my car? No, I don't have internet there. But I do have APRS.

I have an iPhone. I have internet everywhere. Not just bragging, this  
is the way the world is going (Bob excluded). In a few more years,  
every phone will have internet access. I just read 87% of US adults  
have cell phones, when 90% of cell phones are inet ready, then 80% of  
adults will have internet everywhere. The world has been heading this  
way for a long time, and I think as hams we need to work on systems  
which complement the commercial communications system in normal times,  
and provide readiness for the non-normal times. I just do not think  
adding 12% to the load on the APRS to provide information already  
available on the internet is a wise use of our resource.

Yes, I know the replies being typed already. The cell system and  
internet are fragile. That is a good reason for local EchoLink  
repeaters to send beacons on the RF side of APRS. If the internet is  
down, the proposed system is worthless anyway. Forcing locals to have  
this on RF even during normal times makes it more likely it will be  
there in the emergent times.

Steve K4HG