[aprssig] APRS Messaging

[Lynn W. Deffenbaugh (Mr)]

First, I need to know what software your IGate is running?  Is it 
APRSIS32 perchance?  If it's any other software, I'll have to refer you 
to the appropriate support group for that software.

Second, what APRS-IS server are you connecting to?  Is it one of the 
core 3 or Tier 2 or some private one?

My experience of the javAPRSsrvr platform that runs the core servers is 
that they will automatically include messages in the APRS-IS stream for 
any station for which a packet was recently sent into the server.  In 
other words, if you gate a packet from station A from RF to -IS, any 
messages addressing station A from anyone, anywhere, will be included in 
your feed, regardless of filter, for about the next 30 minutes.

The reverse effect of this statement is that if you haven't gated a 
packet from station B from RF to -IS in the past 30 minutes, you'll only 
see messages for station B if they are sourced by something otherwise 
included in your filter.

The question of why messaging doesn't work in any particular coverage 
area is a frequently recurring topic on the APRS mailing lists.  Right 
now, it's very hit or miss and nigh on impossible to predict if it will 
work or diagnose why it doesn't.

I applaud your desire to make your IGate work and will work at assisting 
you to do so!

Lynn (D) - KJ4ERJ - Author of APRSISCE for Windows Mobile and Win32

Adi Linden wrote:
> Hi Lynn,
>
> I've read the docs you've recommended. I suppose I am interested in a lot more detail. In order for a message to make it from IS to RF, does the iGate need to listen to the complete IS data stream? Or is there a mechanism that allows an iGate to forward the "heard" list to upstream server(s) to establish a path for messaging?
>
> I tried sending message to my two messaging capable radios. One should have been gated through my iGate, the other via some other iGate while I was travelling. Neither message ever made it. I'd like to understand why. Especially when it comes to my own iGate I'd like to be able to configure it appropriately for messaging.
>
> Thanks,
> Adi
> VA3ADI
>
> On 2010-07-26, at 10:17 AM, Lynn W. Deffenbaugh (Mr) wrote:
>
>   
>> It works for both.  Search for aprs101.pdf to read the details.  Also see http://aprsisce.wikidot.com/aprs-messaging-explained for a (hopefully layman's) description of what all has to be in place for both RF and -IS messaging to be successful.
>>