The Orlando Hamcation is just a week away...
Checking the ham radio tactical situation in Orlando, (http://aprs.fi enter Orlando, FL)), there does not appear to be any hamfest. The only hamfests showing to mobile operators this month are 2 in PuertoRico, 1 in Japan and 1 in Ontario. (See: http://map.find.com/hfest* )
Although there is no Hamfest showing in Orlando, there are some other good objects visible to mobile operators:
- 147.730 recommended traveler repeater downtown - 147.120 recommended traveler repeater NW - 442.525 recommended traveler repeater NE - 443.525 voice repeater at the International Airport for HT travelers - Two winlink nodes on 145.07 - IRLP node 4904 near Executive Airport - 443.1375 D-star repeater in the Northwest - 443.625 D-star repeater downtown - 1291.3 D-star near Executive Airport - 1285 D-star repeater
The other resource objects that might be useful for visitors could be:
* HFEST-ORL showing the location, date and talk-in frequency * Object showing the Recommended Local Echolink node * Object showing the location of any HAM stores in the area * Any other important resources for visitors or locals
Then on the day of the event, other useful information objects might be: * AMSAT chat channel frequency * ATV chat frequency * DX chat frequency, etc * Announcements about events and times
Remember, there are now 8 models of APRS ham radios and many add-on kits that can flash this information to the mobile operator or HT on his front panel or heads-up display; and 3 of them can auto-tune instantly to the FREQ, TONE, and shift of any such object seen. This really provides the mobile operator traveling to a hamfest all the information he needs as he approaches the event.
Such info and auto-tuning is also helpful in the dozens of cities, towns and repeaters they pass along the way to get there.
With almost all repeaters these days having PL or CTCSS, it is hard to just play radio along the way. The APRS Frequency objects for radio front-panel-display were designed to solve this invisibility problem.
Anyone with a TNC can put one of these LOCAL objects on the air. See the formats: www.aprs.org/localinfo.html
And someone PLEASE put the HFEST-ORL on the map: See www.aprs.org/hamfest.html
And consider placing an http://aprs.fi map in front of the talk-in operator so that he can SEE where all the lost souls are out there driving around.
Helping the mobile ham traveler is what it is all about.
Bob, Wb4APR