APRS start up and packet nets

[KA9CAP]

I have been casting about the Internet looking for information about what software is available for use with the APRS operation.

After many hours I have found a few things that look useful, and others, that seem to lead you down a garden path.

Long ago, another ham and I set up an RBBS on a packet network in my area, but we had to pull it all off the air because they wanted to change the local digipeater to APRS. My Packet stuff has been laying around for years while I was off doing other things. At this point, I want to make use of the APRS network. Now, I would also like to see if there are other hams in the area that want to have a simple chit chat type network. To do this, though, it would be nice to point their noses at the easiest and cheapest stuff to use.

Further, the State emergency hams want to set up a state wide emergency packet radio network. No reason why a chit chat network cant simply change frequencies and become part of the emergency network.

Anyone have any thoughts on all the foregoing?

Thanks for listening.

RON

[W4OTN]

Just my thoughts but I see a benefit for having both an APRS and a "BBS" packet system up and operational for emergencies.

APRS provides locational information as well as a short message system that allows people to send higher priority, brief messages (very brief) from point-to-point or point-to-all (a bulletin).  This serves an emergency very well.

APRS cannot handle larger messages, though, and that's where a BBS system is going to shine.  Situation reports, net logs, people at a shelter, requested logistics, NTS messages, etc, can all be processed by a BBS system with ease.

I write all that to say that I wouldn't switch over an APRS system to a BBS system just for an emergency.  It would be much better to have both up and operational all the time.  If people are familiar with using both then they will be more likely to use both.  If both are up and operational all the time then both systems will be tested and ready to go all the time.

Maybe the APRS digipeaters could use dual-band antennas and the BBS system could operate on the other band.  That way you could co-locate nodes with the APRS digipeaters and it would have a smaller footprint on the tower.

Just my $0.02 worth.

73,
Eric W4OTN

[n5pvl]

I like APRS, but I would not use it for any important messaging as there is no error detection or correction on APRS messaging, it's all done with UNPROTO broadcasts.

For messaging of any kind, regular Packet is light years ahead of APRS. It's much more reliable, and reliability is an important issue in emergency communications, where a garbled message could literally cost human lives.

[kd5mkv]

I have been using WinAprs for several years, but recently found Xastir-linux program.
It is developed were as WinAprs,Ui-view are no longer being developed. Xastir features Internet Server, receive packets from the internet. Much like APRS-FI website does. Updated position icons, voice speech sythesizer for weather alert and messages (Festival). With a internet connection will download tiger,geo maps. OziAprs and Ui-view charge additionally above initial fee for precision mapping. And the cost Free! I have used Aprs for several years to messaged my father etc. And think Xastir is the best! I use Ubuntu 9.04 which uses Xastir 1.9.4., Ubuntu is a partitioned on windows but can be deleted at any time. You update the package manger (synaptic) and look under ham radio universe for xastir and check box and it installs. Ubuntu 9.10 is due out at the end of October. 73 Steve kd5mkv

[n9lya]

Yes and in fcat with BPQ32 and UIVIEW32 you can have both on same system....!!!

73 jerry

Just my thoughts but I see a benefit for having both an APRS and a "BBS" packet system up and operational for emergencies.

APRS provides locational information as well as a short message system that allows people to send higher priority, brief messages (very brief) from point-to-point or point-to-all (a bulletin).  This serves an emergency very well.

APRS cannot handle larger messages, though, and that's where a BBS system is going to shine.  Situation reports, net logs, people at a shelter, requested logistics, NTS messages, etc, can all be processed by a BBS system with ease.

I write all that to say that I wouldn't switch over an APRS system to a BBS system just for an emergency.  It would be much better to have both up and operational all the time.  If people are familiar with using both then they will be more likely to use both.  If both are up and operational all the time then both systems will be tested and ready to go all the time.

Maybe the APRS digipeaters could use dual-band antennas and the BBS system could operate on the other band.  That way you could co-locate nodes with the APRS digipeaters and it would have a smaller footprint on the tower.

Just my $0.02 worth.

73,
Eric W4OTN