[aprsspec] Propnet Unique Formats

[Ev Tupis (W2EV)]

Steve Dimse wrote:

> If you use the grid square format, everything after the grid square is a
> "comment", but there is nothing wrong with defining the format of the comment to
> include parsable data for a specific application. For example, you could include
> a timestamp to indicate the report is not real time.

Excellent point.  Now, we're cooking!  I'll give some more thought to this.

> If you do this, I would suggest using something like an integer second delay
> from the current time (for example t-600 would mean 10 minutes old), the parser
> subtracts n seconds from the current time to generate the timestamp. This would
> ensure that the data has the correct timestamp in the database. Otherwise, your
> data integrity depends on the correct operation of all the client clocks. This
> is very dangerous in a non-internet connected computers, unless you use a GPS or
> internet NTP, computer clocks are often not reliable. I could see 10 minute
> errors having an effect in propagation data mining.

Steve, this is very clever!  I really like this alot.  We hadn't considered 
this approach.  I gotta run this by a couple of folks on the PropNET 
development list.

Thanks for helping to focus the discussion.

Kind regards,
Ev Tupis, W2EV