Survey Comments
Non-Technical Operators
Let's face it, some people are just happy operating their simple tube-type radio gear while others enjoy something a bit different. APRS is another method of operation that requires a certain level of skill and understanding in order to operate efficiently. The plain and simple truth is some people don't have what it takes to really understand APRS beyond looking at a map and seeing other stations and thinking to themselves this is all there is to APRS. Despite attempts to explain to these folks all APRS can do and what it's really used for, some people are just such simpletons they'll never grasp the reality of all it can do and what it's really used for. So these people, in their lack of understanding, think APRS is actually used for things way more simple and basic than what it really is.
Not to worry though, even these simple-minded folks have their niche in amateur radio. It just isn't in the world of APRS. The same thing can be said for just about any other mode of operation, be it phone or digital. Everyone has their prefered method of operation as well as their favorite mode.
Simple-minded people won't change the fact that operating APRS is fun and serves a useful purpose for those that really know what it is and are a useful part of the 21st century.
Posted by
YEPSURE on 2006-04-27
Ignorance of People
It's really amazing how those who don't like (or are just too paranoid) to use APRS have decided it's a gimmick or just totally worthless. The funny thing is it's only worthless to them but they make statements that it's useless in general as if everyone else is dilusional because they choose to use it.
Take a look at a real APRS map sometime and you'll see how many folks use it and communicate through it. Although it may be worthless to you, YOU in no way represent the general amateur public who might be interested in it. To say APRS is useless is the same as saying CW is useless. All your going to do is stir the pot because of a very limited viewpoint on the matter.
And to the paranoid bunch out there, better not use your newer style cell-phone or your credit-card . . . EVER. You'll be tracked in ways you never thought possible. If you think of APRS as "helping big brother" then you all help everytime you make on online transaction, use your debit card at dinner or simply order a pizza on your beloved cell-phone.
People really need to get real in life. APRS is simply a hobby-related method of having fun. But your ignoring the bigger picture if you think that would be the chosen method someone would use to "track" you.
Some of you people really need to get laid.
Posted by
KC4UEB on 2006-04-23
APRS useful ?
It seams apparent that many of these postings are confusing multiple/separate issues. The discussion talked about the benifits of the APRS system. Many of you seam to confuse this with a more narrower focus of "what can it do for me" ?
To name just few proven examples of using GPS beacon technology over at least as many years in a benificial manner are as follows:
OKC Police, Fire, and EMSA response personel are particularly fond of this system when over 10,000 runners fly thru the streets of Oklahoma City during the OKC Murrah Bombing Marathon. Tracking exactly where the runners (Leader, Last and bulk of the pack) are at a glance has given amateur operators a place on the map to support emergency communications.
Some divisions of The Salvation Army use them very well to ensure the canteens are going where they are directed, and from a Command and Control perspective, they know when they are returning to be restocked without having to use cellular, or other types of voice traffic. A "force multiplier" is knowing what you have, and where you have it, so you don't duplicate resources. It is also my wish to suggest to all those that are active in a disaster response role to see the benifits and get involved with this system. Some day it may save some lives if not your own!
Those that send balloons up into the stratosphere are particularly fond of finding thier packages when they come back to earth. This method usually as a second or back up methond once the CW beacon DF chasers have either not worked or completely failed. This is also a "sure fire" method to collect telemetry information during ascent and descent of the package.
Since I believe I have highlighted some very positive aspects of the APRS system, I'll briefly touch on the later part of "what's in it for me"
The same people that balk at APRS are probably just as closed minded as those previous to them that said "Solid State" transcievers, or "digital" communications will never go anywhere. My bet is they have a digital satelitte system in thier home or some form of high speed INET connection.
I would also bet that those that balk at the benificial uses of APRS are also those that look at themselves more than others.
I call this the "What's In it For Me" syndrome. Simply put this is "narrow minded". If this hurts your feelings, then maybe it should!
Socially acceptable, sometimes... Poltically correct.. NEVER!
Hmmm
AE5MH
Posted by
AE5MH on 2006-04-23
APRS useful ?
It seams apparent that many of these postings are confusing multiple/separate issues. The discussion talked about the benifits of the APRS system. Many of you seam to confuse this with a more narrower focus of "what can it do for me" ?
To name just few proven examples of using GPS beacon technology over at least as many years in a benificial manner are as follows:
OKC Police, Fire, and EMSA response personel are particularly fond of this system when over 10,000 runners fly thru the streets of Oklahoma City during the OKC Murrah Bombing Marathon. Tracking exactly where the runners (Leader, Last and bulk of the pack) are at a glance has given amateur operators a place on the map to support emergency communications.
Some divisions of The Salvation Army use them very well to ensure the canteens are going where they are directed, and from a Command and Control perspective, they know when they are returning to be restocked without having to use cellular, or other types of voice traffic. A "force multiplier" is knowing what you have, and where you have it, so you don't duplicate resources. It is also my wish to suggest to all those that are active in a disaster response role to see the benifits and get involved with this system. Some day it may save some lives if not your own!
Those that send balloons up into the stratosphere are particularly fond of finding thier packages when they come back to earth. This method usually as a second or back up methond once the CW beacon DF chasers have either not worked or completely failed. This is also a "sure fire" method to collect telemetry information during ascent and descent of the package.
Since I believe I have highlighted some very positive aspects of the APRS system, I'll briefly touch on the later part of "what's in it for me"
The same people that balk at APRS are probably just as closed minded as those previous to them that said "Solid State" transcievers, or "digital" communications will never go anywhere. My bet is they have a digital satelitte system in thier home or some form of high speed INET connection.
I would also bet that those that balk at the benificial uses of APRS are also those that look at themselves more than others.
I call this the "What's In it For Me" syndrome. Simply put this is "narrow minded". If this hurts your feelings, then maybe it should!
Socially acceptable, sometimes... Poltically correct.. NEVER!
Hmmm
AE5MH
Posted by
AE5MH on 2006-04-23
APRS useful ?
It seams apparent that many of these postings are confusing multiple/separate issues. The discussion talked about the benifits of the APRS system. Many of you seam to confuse this with a more narrower focus of "what can it do for me" ?
To name just few proven examples of using GPS beacon technology over at least as many years in a benificial manner are as follows:
OKC Police, Fire, and EMSA response personel are particularly fond of this system when over 10,000 runners fly thru the streets of Oklahoma City during the OKC Murrah Bombing Marathon. Tracking exactly where the runners (Leader, Last and bulk of the pack) are at a glance has given amateur operators a place on the map to support emergency communications.
Some divisions of The Salvation Army use them very well to ensure the canteens are going where they are directed, and from a Command and Control perspective, they know when they are returning to be restocked without having to use cellular, or other types of voice traffic. A "force multiplier" is knowing what you have, and where you have it, so you don't duplicate resources. It is also my wish to suggest to all those that are active in a disaster response role to see the benifits and get involved with this system. Some day it may save some lives if not your own!
Those that send balloons up into the stratosphere are particularly fond of finding thier packages when they come back to earth. This method usually as a second or back up methond once the CW beacon DF chasers have either not worked or completely failed. This is also a "sure fire" method to collect telemetry information during ascent and descent of the package.
Since I believe I have highlighted some very positive aspects of the APRS system, I'll briefly touch on the later part of "what's in it for me"
The same people that balk at APRS are probably just as closed minded as those previous to them that said "Solid State" transcievers, or "digital" communications will never go anywhere. My bet is they have a digital satelitte system in thier home or some form of high speed INET connection.
I would also bet that those that balk at the benificial uses of APRS are also those that look at themselves more than others.
I call this the "What's In it For Me" syndrome. Simply put this is "narrow minded". If this hurts your feelings, then maybe it should!
Socially acceptable, sometimes... Poltically correct.. NEVER!
Hmmm
AE5MH
Posted by
AE5MH on 2006-04-23
What's in it for me?
When I ask, "What's in it for me?" I mean what can I do with it under my control. I am not fooled by all this "team player" hog wash. Yes, we have to cooperate with others. No, I do not have to subordinate myself to others in those instances where I know my skills and the would-be team leader does not know my skills. I will determine if something is useful to me and what applications I will make of it. I am free to take it or leave it alone. Every ham should think this way, and so be free and independent. When each one decides for himself what part he chooses to take, then he is ready to join with others, or to take an alternate route. When free men join together, nothing can stop them. Think about it. Now you know what is behind the phrase, "What's in it for me?"
Posted by
AI2IA on 2006-04-23
If you have teen drivers
Put APRS tracker in my Miata. Every time daughter uses car I see where she is and where she's been. She wonders why she loses her driving privileges and how did I know she was where she isn't supposed to be. I always let the boyfriend use my car on dates. No back seat and APRS tracker.
Posted by
W2CSH on 2006-04-20
aprs
this is just another gimmick for someone to sell more equipment that will eventually end up collecting dust on some shelf. has no useful purpose.
Posted by
W2HWG on 2006-04-19
It has it's uses - locating hams on a daily basis isn't the idea, though.
Some of you who are commenting on APRS as a function of "knowing where you are" at a given time are missing the point. Many hams have their trackers on, I suppose, just to make sure the gear is working. APRS does have value in public service events (as mentioned), and possibly in relaying short messages (although I am uncertain when I would prefer to use it in daily life instead of real SMS or email). As for weather - when I worked closely with NWS in implementing APRS, the meteorologists mostly ignored it since almost all of the participants did not have their weather stations sited properly and the data was bogus (we're talking two stations a few blocks apart with 15 degree temperature differences - one station obviously situated in sunlight). I don't know if the educational aspects of station siting have paid off in greater acceptance of APRS in the intervening years. I decided not to invest in my own APRS weather station for that reason.
That having been said, where APRS could be put to good use is in disaster recovery. Any ham that can get up with a decent 2M signal can be a relay point in a mesh network during a Katrina-like disaster. You can't say that about a repeater! It could be handy for sending message traffic between shelters/PODs /EOCs that is lengthy or cumbersome to read and copy such as lists of needed supplies. I would, however, prefer to see something more routable such as a PBBS for this application, but in a pinch, where everyone who can snake up a Jpole and fire up a rig can assist, this is a viable solution.
I fire up my APRS every so often - just to make sure it is ready to go when needed. Outside of that, I have no practical day to day use for it.
Posted by
AB2M on 2006-04-16
APRS
Why should we give Big Brother another helping hand?
WB4ENI
Posted by
WB4ENI on 2006-04-16
APRS
Aprs was handy when I travelled 900 miles to visit some relatives last fall. I gave them the APRS werbsite link and they watched me as I was travelling.
It was kind neat.
As far as the paranoid crowd goes, what are you hiding anyways? If someone really want's to know where you are located they really don't need APRS anyways.
73
Posted by
KC8VWM on 2006-04-15
Burglars
Well burglars are welcome to visit my Rotweiler at any time. That is if they get past the alarm system and my son who stays home while I am away.
Did I mention that my son is an ex marine who did a few tours in Iraq and knows which end of a rifle to hold?
Come on over while I am way sometime, I am sure you will have a unique experience...
73
Posted by
KC8VWM on 2006-04-15
APRS
Does APRS have an ON/OFF switch?
Posted by
AI2IA on 2006-04-15
APRS among other modes.
My radio's and my computers live in close proximity to each other but have never met. That's the way it's going to stay.
73, Dan
Posted by
N1GXC on 2006-04-14
APRS
Do you really want burgalars to know you are out and far away from your home!
As a double-secret agent, I have no desire to be tracked.
W9WHE
Posted by
W9WHE-II on 2006-04-14
APRS Humm
This is not ham radio who want to be track ever move you make,Must not have much else to do.....
Posted by
N2BR on 2006-04-12
Most people don't understand APRS
Why would anyone want to track you? I don't know, but maybe you are boring so no one wants to track you. Hams that are more interesting attract attention and people want to know where they are. Sorry you have not achieved that status.
Well it is great for emergencies, search and rescue.
Plus weather tracking and reporting.
Let's not forget messaging built into APRS.
But, if you lead a boring life, APRS is not for you. If people don't care who you are or where you are, APRS is not for you. If you want to sit in front of some old tube rig and yack with your buddies about your last visit to the doctor, your latest operation, your sick wife, then APRS is not for you.
If you sit on your butt all day in the basement on the radio and never come out in the sun, APRS may not be for you, but maybe it is since you can get the up-to-the-minute weather on an APRS application/radio.
If you don't take part in public service, or never experiment with radio balloons, etc. then APRS is not for you.
So you pretty much have to be someone interesting and an adventurer to be interested in APRS - boring old farts need not apply.
Posted by
WB8NUT on 2006-04-12
Most people don't understand APRS
Why would anyone want to track you? I don't know, but maybe you are boring so no one wants to track you. Hams that are more interesting attract attention and people want to know where they are. Sorry you have not achieved that status.
Well it is great for emergencies, search and rescue.
Plus weather tracking and reporting.
Let's not forget messaging built into APRS.
But, if you lead a boring life, APRS is not for you. If people don't care who you are or where you are, APRS is not for you. If you want to sit in front of some old tube rig and yack with your buddies about your last visit to the doctor, your latest operation, your sick wife, then APRS is not for you.
If you sit on your butt all day in the basement on the radio and never come out in the sun, APRS may not be for you, but maybe it is since you can get the up-to-the-minute weather on an APRS application/radio.
If you don't take part in public service, or never experiment with radio balloons, etc. then APRS is not for you.
So you pretty much have to be someone interesting and an adventurer to be interested in APRS - boring old farts need not apply.
Posted by
WB8NUT on 2006-04-12
A good idea, but ......
APRS is a good idea, but its time is not yet here. It has some good applications now, but a lot more hams will jump on the APRS wagon down the road when its applications become more useful and closely related to world-wide communications. It is not quite there yet. Let's give it time.
Posted by
AI2IA on 2006-04-11
A Great VHF DX Tool
No, I don't care where the local hams are as they drive around town.
And, no, I am not interested in having anyone track me. But...
I am a VHF DX guy. APRS gives great, useful, real-time data as to what is going on for tropo ducting. I have it running at my house much of the time. A quick look at the map on my computer shows what is happening.
APRS is an awesome tool for the weak signal enthusiast.
Peter
Posted by
N4LI on 2006-04-11
A Great VHF DX Tool
No, I don't care where the local hams are as they drive around town.
And, no, I am not interested in having anyone track me. But...
I am a VHF DX guy. APRS gives great, useful, real-time data as to what is going on for tropo ducting. I have it running at my house much of the time. A quick look at the map on my computer shows what is happening.
APRS is an awesome tool for the weak signal enthusiast.
Peter
Posted by
N4LI on 2006-04-11
APRS
1, If I need to know the weather I have a bunch of ways to get that info without APRS Ham radio.
2, Don't need to know where, a, the person I'm talking to is and b, where ANY other mobile is. I'll just ask them where they are.
3, Not interested, don't want it, won't use it and would never buy any gear that had it.
Now, all that being said if you like to play with this stuff and want to keep inventing ways to use it fine. I think it is as relevant and useful as packet......
Paul.
Posted by
W6PMR on 2006-04-11
APRS
I am what you would call an APRS junkie I guess. Saying that, "we", the Kennebec county ARES Team use APRS a lot. We use it on the Trek Across Maine where we track 1600 cyclist from the western border to the coast over a 3 day event. We put trackers in all the support vehicles, rest stops command vehicles, ect. It is an extremely valuable tool, especially if someone is hurt and we need to dispatch help. All we do is look at the computer and we know who is closest. I also use my APRS station at home as a WX station. I am one of many who are also connected to the CWOP program, "Citizen Weather Observer". The National Weather Service uses our data to help them plot their weather. Another use is for those of us who like to hike. I always have my TH-D7 connected to my GPS. It has come in handy in helping others when summoning help. So, just my opinion but I think APRS has many uses. But I also respect those who dont want to use it. Its like any mode of radio. Its all in what you like.
73 to all
AA1XD
Posted by
AA1XD on 2006-04-11
APRS
Who in GOD'S name wants to be tracked???
Posted by
KU2US on 2006-04-10
APRS messaging
Well, SMS is a big deal with the kids these days, along with IM, Crackberries, etc. APRS has short messaging built in, and it works very well. I've received messages from a friend in Pennsylvania (tunneled through the internet) quickly enough to make it feel like SMS on a cellphone. It also has the advantage of being able to send to groups, which is something that the cell phone/Nextel folks can't seem to figure out, and is theoretically international in nature. I think this is one of the most underutilized aspects of APRS.
A few other potential uses for APRS:
telemetry/data reporting capabilities. Imagine having a near-realtime update of your repeater's battery voltage, tempature, or maybe a RF level indicator... great fun for the charts and graphs crowd. You wouldn't have to tie it to the national system on 144.390, just transmit it on your output frequency without tone. Heck, use it instead of a curtesy beep.
Also, the weather data is very useful for those of us who don't live near a reporting station/airport. More and more people are signing up with NOAA for the Citizen Weather Observer Program, and APRS beacon stations in remote locations could provide a great way to fill in the gaps. I would be very interested in building a few remote site beacons, solar powered, that could be set up in sparsely populated areas to get a better picture of ground weather. I think I would learn a lot about low power consumption operations (and how to keep equipment from being stolen).
Finally, think it is fun to mess around with GPS receivers, and this is just an extension of that "hobby." To me, a GPS is magic, radio is magic, and tying them together is magic^2. :)
However, there needs to be a shakeout of some of the digipeater/igates. Every time I go to the city I set my path to wide2-2 (out here I have it set to wide5-5 due to the lack of igates), and I still get about 6-8 digipeats of my position, even at low power! Digipeating is a useful thing, but there needs to be a little coordination, or at least a few people need to figure out how to use their software and disable digipeating if it is not necessary. Reducing the widen-N is a great start, but getting digipeaters talking to each other over a sepearate backbone channel on UHF or over the internet to a local server would be a great help.
Posted by
K0JEG on 2006-04-09
Use It all the time
I have a weather station at my QTH. I have APRS in the car with a Kenwood D700A w/GPS. I know by looking at my display in the car how far I am from home. The weather display tells me my QTH weather as well. I send email from the car ( when I stop the car). If I want to track my car I go to findu.com and look at the trace. It is fun to get the weather station to work as it is a TAPR project that I built. It has not been cheep but lots of fun to keep working. Look for me at W0MAF-1 for weather and W0MAF-2 for mobile in Kansas. KCAPRS.com
Posted by
W0MAF on 2006-04-08
No plans to use APRS
I have no use for APRS, there are too many gimmicks on a lot of modern radios.
73, John
Posted by
G8KHS on 2006-04-08
Interesting, but..
I used it a few years ago, for about 1 week. Yes, I was interesting to see how you can be tracked. However, for daily operations, I don't see how this could remain exciting for very long. But, this is just another facet of ham radio in which some hams will find their niche.
Posted by
WB4M on 2006-04-08
Interesting, but..
I used it a few years ago, for about 1 week. Yes, I was interesting to see how you can be tracked. However, for daily operations, I don't see how this could remain exciting for very long. But, this is just another facet of ham radio in which some hams will find their niche.
Posted by
WB4M on 2006-04-08
Another way to chastise me on my operation
Used to have a weather station on aprs until the local hamcops started sending me emails on how it should be run.
Got kinda tired of contradictory mandates on how the station should be set up and run.
Finally pulled the plug. There are just too many wierdos out there for me to furnish the means for them to stalk my family.
Posted by
VAPIDW on 2006-04-08
Who Cares....
.....about little blips showing where a ham is located. I just don't get the purpose? Its a "so what" to me......big deal......may be cool for someone, not me.
Posted by
W7AIT on 2006-04-08
Peek-A-Boo
I don't own a car with OnStar or similar service installed. My cell phone is generally powered off and even when it is on the GPS activation is only linked to 911. I never brag on the local repeater that I'm on my way to a swap, a show, dinner, shopping or anywhere else that would indicate to someone listening that I'm not home and that my house is empty and that I'm not going to be back there for some time. Would I add to this a visual tracking indicator to confirm that I'm not home? Not likely.
The concept must have made an interesting subject for someone's thesis or dissertation much the same as SSTV did. As a commercial service, this is very beneficial in both the public and private sectors so I hope those who did the original development have been compensated for their work. For public service events and disaster response, I'm sure it's invaluable.
From a personal security standpoint it's not for me, thank you.
Posted by
WA8HHH on 2006-04-07
APRS Misunderstood
Like most other forms of amateur radio, there are many people who will comment on a subject that know little to nothing about it. Since they find no use for it then its deemed useless or redundant by them.
There are so many facets of amateur radio, and I won't ever talk trash about a particular following I know little about. Just because it isn't my "thing" I see no need in alluding that it isn't useful, even if only for the purposes of enjoyment.
I thoroughly enjoy APRS operation. But I don't act like a secret agent when using it as someone previously touched on. APRS is just another facet of amateur radio and it's more popular than ever so it's likely here to stay, like it or not. And like all other forms of amateur radio, if you don't like that particular "thing" then no one's going to force you to participate in it or buy the needed equipment to operate it. It's kinda like CW. I personally don't enjoy it but many do. And as long as people enjoy operating CW then it certainly serves its purpose. There's no need to trash it because you don't care for it (I know no one said anything about CW. I'm only using it as an example here).
APRS is merely another fun way to communicate with others. So lets simply enjoy it as you would any other area of ham radio and just do your own thing :)
Posted by
YEPSURE on 2006-04-07
aprs
Stevie, WIK, Not all cell phones are GPS, yes some, but not MOST, plus almost all are default to GPS OFF. Most cell phone employees turn it OFF, why would your manager want to PING the network and find out where you are AT!!! APRS has it's small Nitch, but not for me.
Steve W4CNG
Posted by
W4CNG on 2006-04-07
why?
I agree with KR4WM. There really is no need for other hams to know where I am. Seems like many hams like to run around playing secret agent man with their special super secret tracking devices. Plus I don't like the idea of anyone with a computer being able to see how far I am from home, and then doing a QRZ search to see where my unoccupied home is. The same reason I never talk on the repeaters about going on vacation until after I have returned.
73s John NE0P
Posted by
NE0P on 2006-04-06
APRS
APRS is a solution waiting to find a problem. I can't imagine it would be useful for much of anything unless I get so terribly lost that I can't find my mike.
W9EH
Bob
Posted by
W9EH on 2006-04-06
APRS
APRS is a solution waiting to find a problem. I can't imagine it would be useful for much of anything unless I get so terribly lost that I can't find my mike.
W9EH
Bob
Posted by
W9EH on 2006-04-06
Useful in Public Service
During a parade our ARES group put a APRS beacon in an emergency management agency vehicle at the beginning of the parade, in the middle of the parade and at the end of the parade. From our mobile command station we could monitor the ebb and flow of the parade on a map. This information was used in part to notify police when to open back up roads being used in the parade route. APRS was not only useful, it was another demonstration to emergency management (and village officials) of the added value of ham radio at the EMA. Someday we'd like to see the use of ATV in emergency management for these same purposes.
Posted by
K9NYO on 2006-04-06
WX beacons
The National Weather Service monitors APRS beacons that transmit ground truth. These small burst of data that get transmitted along with your coordinates can be more useful than to just track your whereabouts.
Do I sound like a cheerleader for APRS? I don't personally use it--but I've seen it used in some really creative ways, and I'm all for it.
Posted by
K9NYO on 2006-04-06
APRS
APRS has a lot of uses, and if you don't want to be tracked, it's pretty simple to turn it off.
Out here in the corn fields, it is often much easier to connect to an APRS gateway than it is to find a voice repeater. I've been successfully tracked out in the middle of absolutely nowhere, where you will never hear a squelch tail or an IDer.
We use it for public service events. When the net control station can see where you are, it cuts down on voice traffic quite a bit, and it's very handy for times when mobiles obviously get lost. Some of our events cover 4 counties, so it can get very involved.
There is also a way for the APRS digis to broadcast GPS points that will appear on an APRS screen for mobile users. This way, the net control can easily guide the mobiles to checkpoints and other places that are not obvious on a map.
We're interested in using it for storm spotting here. Many times, spotters will report something that needs another set of eyes. Out in the tall corn, it can be hard to visualize where the other stations are. With APRS, I don't need to ask another station to repeat his location if he is asking for confirmation of something he is seeing. It would also be great if we could get someone to use the digis to flash the coordinates of significant storm features as seen on radar, so we could see exactly where we are in relation to them.
Posted by
K0RGR on 2006-04-06
Impressive show of technology
Our radio club provides communications service for a 50K and 100K run, we sweep the course with several portable APRS packages. If an issue occurs, once located, we will know right where the participant is located.
We provide several of the race officials with receive terminals in their vehicles. This pin point accuracy has proven to be a great asset and once it may have even saved a life.
It's a very impressive show of technology.
Posted by
KE6PID on 2006-04-06
Why?
Why would I be interested in having the world know where I am? That sort of depends upon what I am doing. So if I am doing something that I don't really want others to know about, the unit gets turned off. On the other hand if I am doing support for some situation where the difference between where I think I am, and where I actually am, could make the difference between whether someone lives or not, well then it probably would be a good idea to have the correct position for where I am available. Right?
No I don't expect every amature to be involved in emcom, or even some sort of public service. Even those who are, I don't expect to always want to be telling everyone where they happen to be.
Some of us realize that even in a urban setting the necessary coverage is somewhat spotty for web based usage, but probably is less so for people with their own APRS capable equipment.
In some situations, GPS co-ordinates are all you have available to work with. Look at the results of a hurricane eliminating all the roadsigns. Perhaps you will never help out with a hurricane. If so, or you are so worried that having information about where you are opens up significant security problems for you, they by all means don't get involved in APRS.
I hardly think that APRS is a solution looking for a problem. It is an aid in entirely too many situations where it's absence has been a significant problem in the past. And while APRS as we see it is part of the Amature radio service, it is hardly restricted to Hams. Variations are available in a wide variety of services. Your local bus services may be using a variation to keep track of how the busses are running. Your local police force may be using a variation to let dispatchers know which car is closest to a 911 caller.
As for me? Occasionally you will find that I am moving and my location is visiable on findu. Other times you may find the information is outdated. Enjoy.
73
-Rusty - kc0vcu
Posted by
KC0VCU on 2006-04-06
APRS
Why would I be interested in having the world know where I am and what I'm doing all the time? It seems like a voluntary intrusion into one's privacy to me. Here in the U.S. we don't like our government to have this information- why would we want other ordinary citizens to have it? Call me on the phone, I'll tell you where I am if I want you to know. -KR4WM
Posted by
WY3X on 2006-04-05
Ahh, but there's more to it than "having the world know where I am and what I'm doing all the time." For instance, the weather station at my QTH sends observation data via APRS every 5 minutes that eventually ends up at http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/wxpage.cgi?call=K3gm . It is ingested by the National Weather Service along with thousands of other citizen observer sites to create surface maps to aid in their forecasts.
Posted by
K3GM on 2006-04-05
APRS is cool!
Thanks to Kenwood and its D-700A and TH-D7A(g) radios, APRS is easier than ever to get into. And seeing where other HAMs are on my GPS' screen is an excellent feature! It's emergency applications have been proven and it can offer an added bit of security in case you're in a questionable situation!
Posted by
AF4KK on 2006-04-05
Not for me
Now, if I were a private detective...
Our cell phones are all GPS types (as I think all are, nowadays), that's good enough for me. In an emergency, the touch of a single key calls "911" and they can track my phone and find out where it is. If I'm lucky, I'll be somewhere near it...
Posted by
WB2WIK on 2006-04-05
Connected
http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/wxpage.cgi?call=KC8VWM
Last report from KC8VWM received 3 minutes 12 seconds ago
Wind from 270 degrees @ 3.0 MPH Gusts to 3.0 MPH
Temp 57F Humidity 37% Dewpoint 30F
Pressure 1013.2 mb
Uh... What's APRS?
:)
Posted by
KC8VWM on 2006-04-05