[aprssig] APRS Email (better way)?

[Lynn W. Deffenbaugh (Mr)]

On 9/7/2012 4:27 PM, Robert Bruninga wrote:
> I sent an Email via the APRS system today.
>
> Here is how it comes into my email box.  Notice there is lots of other
> useful APRS information that could have also been included such as:
>
> --------------------------------------
> >From Bob Bruninga [from the FCC data base]

APRS, and the EMAIL servers, are used by a whole lot of licensed amateur 
operators that aren't registered in the FCC database.  QRZ has more, but 
even that doesn't have everyone.  And to provide such a lookup means 
that the data being queried has to be refreshed periodically.

> Located 1 mile E of Annapolis [Based on WB4APR-3 position]
> Heard via WA5VHU-1 located 2 miles west of Glen Burnie [based on WA5VHU-1
> position]

I realize that some of the APRS web sites show such information, but 
reverse geocoding doesn't always come free.   For that matter, I'd just 
as soon see an embedded map showing the location of the sender in 
context (not really, see my simplicity comment below).  Something like 
the image at:

http://aprs.fi/static/?call=WB4APR-3&z=13

> And if RS0ISS-4* is in the digi path, it could have taken that special
> case and said "Via APRS on the International Space Station".

The e-mail servers are just that, e-mail servers.  They're "set and 
forget" and I'd suggest they not try to keep up with every special 
detection that's out there.  If someone wants to know they made it 
through the ISS, there's plenty of ways to find that out via APRS-IS and 
the various web sites like http://www.ariss.net/

I didn't write nor do I maintain the APRS e-mail servers, but simple is, 
in many cases, better, especially for servers designed to run robustly 
and unattended.

At least the EMAIL-2 server puts some helpful links in the body for 
people that may want to know more.  Here's what I received from that server:

Subject: KJ4ERJ-AP: Test via EMAIL-2

From: KJ4ERJ-AP
Test via EMAIL-2

DO NOT REPLY

Find KJ4ERJ-AP athttp://www.jfindu.net/find/KJ4ERJ-AP
Track KJ4ERJ-AP athttp://www.jfindu.net/track/KJ4ERJ-AP

Received from KJ4ERJ-AP via APRS by EMAIL-2
More info athttp://www.aprs-is.net/email.aspx

And there are instructions at the bottom of that last link that describe 
how to set up the system so that short responses can be sent via e-mail 
which will then be delivered to the originator via an APRS message.

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