[aprssig] APRS Day Out! (rev a)

[Bob Bruninga]

Here is the new concept for the 10 September 2011 National APRS DAY OUT.
Please see:
http://aprs.org/APRS-day-out.html

The event and Rules are evolving so that everyone can play, not just the
Mountaintoppers.  Here is the latest... NO MESSSAGES will be used (too much
overhead).  You make your report in the status
Comment field of your Position Packet, using a once every 5 minute rate.

The information exchange is the total number of stations heard by their
number of hops, and the number of packets per minute at your location.  This
can all be summarized into about 10 bytes and will be very useful such as:

 76543210,p:QSL ABC,DEF,XYZ,HIJ...

Where 7 is the # of stations taking 7 hops, 6 is the # of stations taking 6
hops, etc.  Then P is the subjective number of packets per minute, and the
QSL info is a list of 8 callsign suffixes you have heard (or 5 full calls).
If your APRS radio does not display incoming paths, then just insert your
radio type instead: D700,p:QSL ABC, ...

IN addition to keep from overloading the network, stations choose their
outgoing TEMPn-N number of hops based on the load on the network.  For
example, if they are hearing more than 16 packets per minute, then they need
to cut down to only the TEMP2-2 path.  If they are hearing less than one
packet per minute, then they can use TEMP7-7.

This can be a great Test of the ability of Hams to set up and use APRS on an
ad-hoc basis.

Bob, WB4APR

-----Original Message-----
From: aprssig-bounces at tapr.org [mailto:aprssig-bounces at tapr.org] On Behalf
Of Bob Bruninga 
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2011 9:10 PM
To: APRS at yahoogroups.com; 'TAPR APRS Mailing List'
Subject: [aprssig] APRS Day Out!

APRS Day Out!

This idea of an "APRS Day Out" on 10 September is evolving and so has the
name.  This separates us from the goals and objectives of the rules-driven
ARRL QSO party overlaping the same timeframe, to an activity not quite so
restrictive.

Also, a full 24 hour cycle for APRS seemed overkill and beyond the length of
my usual kitchen pass (and attention span).  So, to help focus the event I'm
suggesting the "APRS Day Out" begins at 2PM local time and concludes at
11PM local time on 147.525 MHz, the HamIM frequency.  THis is an AD-HOC APRS
event using the temporary path of TEMPn-N.

And EVERYONE can participate, (no unattended stations please) even if you do
not leave your shack.  Those guys that do go to the mountain tops are going
to need to have someone to talk to, so all those shack potatoes will be
great additions to the event.

Shucks!  Lets make it a contest!

Every Station captured (that has a GRID in his beacon) counts as 1 point.
Every MESSAGE (BLN) captured from another station counts 2 points.  Every
"exchange" coutns 3 points.

Notice that since APRS recognizes the EFFICIENCY of bulletins and the BURDEN
of Messages-with-acks, then that callsign-to callsign messaegs are STRONGLY
DISCOURAGED.  These heavily burden the ad-hoc network.

So, what does an "exchange mean"?  It means that someone elses outgoing BLN#
lists YOUR callsign in it.

PLEASE do not send a BLN# until you have collected 8 callsigns.  Then send a
BLN# that says, QSL XYZ,ABC,FGH,DEF, etc.

This is a far, far more efficient way to QSL an exchange of 8 stations among
those 8 stations than it does to send 64 individual messages and 64 acks.
Which could add up to over 300 message retries and 300 acks, compared to
just one BLN each from the 8 stations acknowledging the other 8 all in one
packet.

I will add these techniques to my APRS Day Out web page when I get back to
my PC on monday.

http://aprs.org/rovers.html

Bob, wb4apr
.>
>For this coming Sept VHF QSO party(10-11 Sept),
> a cadre of APRS mobiles and portables is going
> to man 15 mountain tops along the Appalachians
> from Maine to Georgia (and anywhere else in the
> country where contesting is popular).
>
> Their APRS radio will be on the HamIM frequency
> of 147.585 and will be enabled for APRS digipeating.
> Not only will they be able to see all the contest
> rovers out there, but they will also digipeat any
> such beacons to others so that everyone can see where
> everyone is.  These packets have nothing to do with
> the contest or scoring, but they just support the
> mobile rovers and portable operators in seeing where
>  everyone is located.
>
> This kind of ad-hoc system works if all mobiles
> and portable stations use the same settings in
> their APRS radios and TNC's as follows:
>
> FREQUENCY: 147.585 (the HamIM frequency)
> PATH:      TEMP7-7 (reduce to TEMP3-3 if load too high)
> SYMBOL:    Rover or Portable (tent)
> RATE:      Every 5 minutes
>
> Now then, to make the ad-hoc network self-
> supporting, every well situated station (mountaintop
> or mobile and ROVERS) with a D700 or KPC-3 should
> also enable their own station for digipeating.
> To enable your station as a TEMPn-N digipeater
> also, use these settings:
>
> UITRACE TEMP
> DIGI ON
>
> These need to be permanently set in the Radio TNC
> via the serial port prior to the event.  In fact,
> these settings are now factory defaults in all
> D710's and subsequent radios so that any radio,
> any time, can serve as an ad-hoc digi for others
> on demand, by simply using the TEMPn-N path.
>
> For details and background please see:
> http://aprs.org/rovers.html
>
> Make sure you test your station before the event!
>
> Good luck in the Contest!
>
> Bob, WB4APR

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