[MiQP-Mail] APRS ?

[Mike Tindor / AA8IA]

For the purpose of this response, RF-ONLY = 144.39, unconnected packets.

APRS [in the truer sense, all via unconnected / nonconfirmed RF packets]
would be interesting, and would indeed really help determine coverage /
lack thereof of the packet network.   APRS via your cell provider, well,
that's a no brainer.   Pretty much every position "spot" is guaranteed with
cell.   Depending upon where you are, 0 to less than 100% is your coverage
guarantee on RF.

One could suggest that RF-Only APRS might not be as useful as one would
like if one doesn't have a decent RF APRS setup and doesn't have good
coverage by digis and iGates -- and that it shouldn't be considered
self-spotting since it isn't as reliable.   Conversely, one could suggest
that having your position sent into the APRS network via your cell phone,
by virtue of its superior reliability, means that you should be punished
into some other operating category :)   All the mobile chasers [if they
know to go to one of the APRS webs like aprs.fi] certainly would be on you
like flies on doodoo as soon as you hit the county line, like clockwork.

I'm with Randy though -- if you aren't adding you band/mode in the comment
field, there is no way in the world it should be considered
"self_spotting".   Sure, people who are savvy can determine when you've
reached a new county [or are about to].   But they don't know what
band/mode you are operating.  Gotta have band/mode/time for it to be
considered a spot in my book.

Knowing how lacking Ohio is for APRS coverage (most of Ohio at least), I
hope to see as many Michigan marauders send [at least] position reports to
APRS, via 2m or cell.   It'd be real fun for some of us to watch the
progress as you meander across MI.  If you're bold enough to send a valid
spot with band/mode without concern that you might get docked, that'd be
even more of a hoot

Mike / AA8iA



On Mon, Apr 15, 2013 at 10:09 PM, Love, Randy <RLove at rgis.com> wrote:

>  On a purely non-MiQP op note, as someone who helps build and maintain
> the APRS network in Lower Michigan, I can't think of better way to check
> the coverage of the network than to have a bunch of mobiles running around
> every corner of the state on a single day all running APRS.  :)
>
>  WF5X
>
>
> Randy Love <wf5x at interserv.com> wrote:
>
>  For the most part, APRS users that are contesting aren't updating the
> status message to give band and mode, therefore the self-reporting aspect
> would be obvious if it were happening. Now, APRS isn't linked into the DX
> cluster network, which is the 'normal' definition of self-spotting. The
> beacons are mostly 'set it and forget it' affairs. So, sending APRS beacons
> that say 'MiQP mobile' might actually stir up a little interest during the
> event without concern that the mobile is getting an unfair advantage as
> long as band/mode information is not sent as part of the beacon. Even if
> the band/mode information were, it wouldn't make it to the DX cluster
> network without someone posting it over there.
>
>  Here's the rub. I normally run APRS all the time. If that is deemed
> 'self-spotting' by the committee, even if I'm not giving band/mode
> information, then I'd have to turn it off if I'm mobile on a contest. I run
> APRS more as a peace-of-mind exercise for my wife and family, or nosey club
> members. APRS as a means of showing my location shouldn't be considered
> self-spotting if the exact band/mode isn't in the beacon information. My
> reasoning there is that you still have to hunt to find where the mobile is
> on the bands.
>
>  Randy
> WF5X
> avid APRS user and MiQP fan. :)
>
>  *Sent from my Verizon Wireless Razr Maxx with Gmail Tap interface :)*
>
>
> K9TM <k9tm at buckeye-express.com> wrote:
>
> Actually for a mobile in MiQP there is little difference between ARPS and
> self-spotting on packet.
>
>  Without specific verbiage in the rules one can guess what the answer is
> based on other MiQP rules... since MiQP doesn't allow single-ops to use
> packet it seems that it would be out for mobile-solo.  Since mobile also
> has multi-op, it seems that mobile multi-ops could use packet.  However
> even with packet use, it is not permitted to self-spot.
>
>  The question becomes is ARPS seen as self-spotting?
>
>  If a comment in ARPS says freq/band-mode then it would be easy to see it
> as same as self-spotting on packet.  Without this freq/band-mode info, it
> is an indication of location and based on time of day we basically know
> what band a mobile in Mi is likely going to be on.
>
>  Seems we need the MiQP committee to weigh in on the official answer.
>
>  73, Tim K9TM
>
>  On Apr 15, 2013, at 7:50 PM, Love, Randy wrote:
>
>  You aren't using it to make contacts, so I don't see why not.
>
>  Randy
> WF5X
>
>
> Jimk8mr at aol.com wrote:
>
>  Is use of ARPS permitted for mobile operations?
>
>
>
> 73  -  Jim   K8MR
>
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