[aprssig] Danger Will Robinson! -- Is there really any point to this ????

[Stephen H. Smith]

Cap Pennell wrote:
> Yes, yes, I know.  But I believe the numbers of transient mobile hams
> routinely reviewing their RF APRS displays for purposes of locating nearby
> Echolink stations which they will then utilize in unfamiliar territory will
> be just about the same number as that of APRS stations actually transmitting
> !x! or RFONLY (or using 9600baud for mobile APRS).  <grin>
>
>   


I'd have to agree. 

1)     I run a mobile laptop which makes the Echolink objects stand out 
nicely when they are transmitted.  However, when I run the D700 
standalone, I never notice or pay attention to messages on the D700 
screen.   [In the Los Angeles area, the APRS activity is so fast and 
continuous that nothing stays on the screen for more than about 3 
seconds max.


2)     I have been beaconing the presence of my RF-link Echolink node 
here in one of the most radio-saturated areas in the country (Los 
Angeles).  I beacon on a single-hop path that uses the actual callsign 
of a single digi  (N6EX-3) whose coverage  is approximately the same as 
mine (the Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley area).  This avoids setting off 
the other 4 or 5 high-level digis that ring the greater L.A. area within 
earshot of my home station that cover areas far beyond the range of my 
node.     

In two years of announcing my Echolink node in this environment, I have 
had exactly ONE user discover it via APRS.  I HAVE had numerous users 
discover the node via the online listings at echolink.org , or by using 
the CQ-equivalent random-connect feature of Echolink.  

Again, this is in one of the highest density and most active APRS 
environments in the country. If the probability here is essentially 
zero, it is definitely going to be even less elsewhere.......


3)     The same goes for the automated APRS announcements generated by 
UI-Event that I send out for four monthly club meetings and two 
swapmeets in the area each month.  [ send each one starting at 3:00 PM 
the day before the event and repeat it every half-hour until about 8:30 
the night of the event.  I figure that this gives the event exposure 
during two afternoon drive time periods and one morning drive time 
period before the meeting.  

I have been doing this for a year now, and have not yet had a SINGLE 
attendee at one of these events discover it via the APRS announcements.   


------------------------------------------------------------------------

--

Stephen H. Smith    wa8lmf (at) aol.com
EchoLink Node:      WA8LMF  or 14400    [Think bottom of the 2M band]
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Home Page:          http://wa8lmf.net

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"APRS 101"  Explanation of APRS Path Selection & Digipeating
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