I guess the difference is that I was thinking in terms of efficient channel use while making a demo contact or so. It does take more work. But if your goal is only to make a demo contact, then it is easy enough.
On the other hand, those trying to maximize contacts per pass will find messaging easier, though adding a significant load of ACKS on the channel. Fortunately, Patrick's guidance does attempt to manage that. The key being, to CANCEL a message as soon as one knows it has been digipeated and NEVER wait on an ACK.
Say the channel is running at 25% success, then the chance of an ACK is 25% of that or only 8% or meaning the ACK might need 16 transmissions to be heard. (though the APRS radios stop at 5).
To answer Greg's question, the first press is Menu, Select APRS, Select status, Select number, Select Rate, begin editing. But all of those are already in line since the last time it was used, so it is just 4 rapid presses of the SEL (ok) key. But then you have to manually enter the other persons call (while remembering it).
Bob, WB4APR
-----Original Message----- From: Greg D ko6th.greg@gmail.com Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2019 11:58 PM To: Robert Bruninga bruninga@usna.edu Cc: AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Tutorial on Working APRS Contacts on Kenwood TM-D710
Hi Bob,
For those of us with a non-D710 radio (e.g. the D74A), what are those 5 menu items you're pressing through?
Greg KO6TH
Robert Bruninga via AMSAT-BB wrote:
Each time you want to QSL another contact you see in the STATIONLIST, you use the MENU button and 5 presses to then edit in the new call in place of the XXXXXX. Press BCON and wait for a response.