Tutorial on Working APRS Contacts on Kenwood TM-D710
Searching YouTube and Google without a lot of success. I’ve found videos on how to set up the TM-D710 for APRS QSO’s, but nothing that demonstrates the actual steps involved in completing a contact.
Should I “beacon” a message that says “CQ DE N1LF EM63 K”? How will I know if I’m getting a response? Do I then transmit pre-programmed user messages? How do I enter the other stations call sign on the fly? How do I switch to the next message?
I really need a “for dummies” guide on this…and can’t seem to find it.
Can anyone point me towards an article or YouTube video?
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF Maylene, AL EM63nf AMSAT #38965, ARRL Life Member, CVHS Life Member, SVHF Member
Might not be a video, but Patrick's writeups have been very helpful to me: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/v3byggtuqw33fkk/AACqTTz41vduG0sdrjmsJNhJa/TM-D710...
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 03:12 Les Rayburn via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
Searching YouTube and Google without a lot of success. I’ve found videos on how to set up the TM-D710 for APRS QSO’s, but nothing that demonstrates the actual steps involved in completing a contact.
Should I “beacon” a message that says “CQ DE N1LF EM63 K”? How will I know if I’m getting a response? Do I then transmit pre-programmed user messages? How do I enter the other stations call sign on the fly? How do I switch to the next message?
I really need a “for dummies” guide on this…and can’t seem to find it.
Can anyone point me towards an article or YouTube video?
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF Maylene, AL EM63nf AMSAT #38965, ARRL Life Member, CVHS Life Member, SVHF Member
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Agreed that Patrick WD9EWK is the go-to guru for packet satellite ops using HTs. That file you linked to talks to settings on the TM-D710 but some of the articles (in PDF format) in this other folder on his Dropbox site (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/v3byggtuqw33fkk/AAD0oRWpOkXYYBQRqDSs9s-za/TH-D72A...) provide some more complete context on the flow of packet QSOs and are worth a read even if you aren't using the Kenwood APRS-ready HTs. The one on FalconSat-3 ops also discusses settings for the TM-D710.
73, Ryan AI6DO
On Saturday, April 13, 2019, 3:42:55 AM PDT, Don KB2YSI via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
Might not be a video, but Patrick's writeups have been very helpful to me: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/v3byggtuqw33fkk/AACqTTz41vduG0sdrjmsJNhJa/TM-D710...
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 03:12 Les Rayburn via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
Searching YouTube and Google without a lot of success. I’ve found videos on how to set up the TM-D710 for APRS QSO’s, but nothing that demonstrates the actual steps involved in completing a contact.
Should I “beacon” a message that says “CQ DE N1LF EM63 K”? How will I know if I’m getting a response? Do I then transmit pre-programmed user messages? How do I enter the other stations call sign on the fly? How do I switch to the next message?
I really need a “for dummies” guide on this…and can’t seem to find it.
Can anyone point me towards an article or YouTube video?
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF Maylene, AL EM63nf AMSAT #38965, ARRL Life Member, CVHS Life Member, SVHF Member
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Hi Don!
Thanks for the mention! I have a few folders in my Dropbox space, with files for a few different radios. Mostly related to satellite operating, and some - like the TM-D710G - that cover working packet/APRS via satellite. If you look up my WD9EWK call sign on QRZ, I have links to those folders, instead of posting the long Dropbox URLs to them here.
AMSAT's Station and Operating Hints page:
https://www.amsat.org/station-and-operating-hints/
also has useful stuff, including some of the articles I have written or co-written.
I have not made videos of how I set up these radios and use them to work packet via satellite. Maybe I will do that at some point in the future. In the meantime, I'll keep posting writeups in my Dropbox space, and writing articles for magazines like the AMSAT Journal and QST from time to time.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 10:42 AM Don KB2YSI via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
Might not be a video, but Patrick's writeups have been very helpful to me:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/v3byggtuqw33fkk/AACqTTz41vduG0sdrjmsJNhJa/TM-D710...
Generally, APRS messages are not welcome via satellites because they require ACKS and retries. and can only be read easily by the recepient.
The most efficient way to communicate with APRS is to learn to modify your STATUS text quickly and include all comms in those 43 allowed characters. That way, the text gets a free ride with your GRID and position packet.
Bob, WB4APR That way, eveyrone can see your messages and you can RETRY by toggling the BCON button. As soon as you see your "MY PACKET" digipeated, you can assume the other person saw it and move on.
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 3:11 AM Les Rayburn via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
Searching YouTube and Google without a lot of success. I’ve found videos on how to set up the TM-D710 for APRS QSO’s, but nothing that demonstrates the actual steps involved in completing a contact.
Should I “beacon” a message that says “CQ DE N1LF EM63 K”? How will I know if I’m getting a response? Do I then transmit pre-programmed user messages? How do I enter the other stations call sign on the fly? How do I switch to the next message?
I really need a “for dummies” guide on this…and can’t seem to find it.
Can anyone point me towards an article or YouTube video?
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF Maylene, AL EM63nf AMSAT #38965, ARRL Life Member, CVHS Life Member, SVHF Member
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
It's not a tutorial but you can see me operating the ISS digipeater in these videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woSzJ-PtH2M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhv7oz_El80
Note the ISS digipeater was on UHF briefly when the VHF radio was having issues. It hasn't been on UHF since.
Bob, I don't think people use STATUS messages in practice at least on the ISS digipeater, so I'm not sure that's good advice in this case. I personally like seeing notification that I specifically was sent a message.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 9:36 AM Robert Bruninga via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
Generally, APRS messages are not welcome via satellites because they require ACKS and retries. and can only be read easily by the recepient.
The most efficient way to communicate with APRS is to learn to modify your STATUS text quickly and include all comms in those 43 allowed characters. That way, the text gets a free ride with your GRID and position packet.
Bob, WB4APR That way, eveyrone can see your messages and you can RETRY by toggling the BCON button. As soon as you see your "MY PACKET" digipeated, you can assume the other person saw it and move on.
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 3:11 AM Les Rayburn via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
Searching YouTube and Google without a lot of success. I’ve found videos on how to set up the TM-D710 for APRS QSO’s, but nothing that demonstrates the actual steps involved in completing a contact.
Should I “beacon” a message that says “CQ DE N1LF EM63 K”? How will I know if I’m getting a response? Do I then transmit pre-programmed user messages? How do I enter the other stations call sign on the fly? How do I switch to the next message?
I really need a “for dummies” guide on this…and can’t seem to find it.
Can anyone point me towards an article or YouTube video?
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF Maylene, AL EM63nf AMSAT #38965, ARRL Life Member, CVHS Life Member, SVHF Member
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I agree, APRS messaging is a sense of satisfaction, but it generally is a 5-times multiplier of packet load just to get a single text through. In fact, that is the whole reason APRS was invented compared to conventional packet, to avoid the huge explosion of packets due to all the retries and acks.
And via a space digipeater with 100% "hidden transmitter" problem, this multiplication of QRM is unrelenting.
If most people are not doing it, then maybe we need some new training. IF PSAT2 and BRICSAT2 gets launched successfully and with AISAT-1 and the new ISS digipeater, that might be a good time to start a new educational campaign.
Once one has selected the STATUS TEXT MENU, then each time a new callsign is seen, it only takes a single MENU press, and then rapid 5 presses of OK to be right on the STATUS TEXT editing page. Then just overwriting the last few bytes of the new station's call and hit OK and the new packet is ready to go. Then toggling the BCON button can resend it.
Bob
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 9:48 AM John Brier johnbrier@gmail.com wrote:
It's not a tutorial but you can see me operating the ISS digipeater in these videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woSzJ-PtH2M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhv7oz_El80
Note the ISS digipeater was on UHF briefly when the VHF radio was having issues. It hasn't been on UHF since.
Bob, I don't think people use STATUS messages in practice at least on the ISS digipeater, so I'm not sure that's good advice in this case. I personally like seeing notification that I specifically was sent a message.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 9:36 AM Robert Bruninga via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
Generally, APRS messages are not welcome via satellites because they require ACKS and retries. and can only be read easily by the recepient.
The most efficient way to communicate with APRS is to learn to modify
your
STATUS text quickly and include all comms in those 43 allowed characters. That way, the text gets a free ride with your GRID and position packet.
Bob, WB4APR That way, eveyrone can see your messages and you can RETRY by toggling
the
BCON button. As soon as you see your "MY PACKET" digipeated, you can assume the other person saw it and move on.
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 3:11 AM Les Rayburn via AMSAT-BB <
amsat-bb@amsat.org>
wrote:
Searching YouTube and Google without a lot of success. I’ve found
videos
on how to set up the TM-D710 for APRS QSO’s, but nothing that
demonstrates
the actual steps involved in completing a contact.
Should I “beacon” a message that says “CQ DE N1LF EM63 K”? How will I
know
if I’m getting a response? Do I then transmit pre-programmed user
messages?
How do I enter the other stations call sign on the fly? How do I
switch to
the next message?
I really need a “for dummies” guide on this…and can’t seem to find it.
Can anyone point me towards an article or YouTube video?
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF Maylene, AL EM63nf AMSAT #38965, ARRL Life Member, CVHS Life Member, SVHF Member
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
Opinions
expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views
of
AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
Opinions expressed
are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
AMSAT-NA.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Thanks for explaining Bob. I wasn't clear on just how much "heavier" APRS packets were.
It would definitely take a concerted effort to get people to use STATUS messages more.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 10:15 Robert Bruninga via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
I agree, APRS messaging is a sense of satisfaction, but it generally is a 5-times multiplier of packet load just to get a single text through. In fact, that is the whole reason APRS was invented compared to conventional packet, to avoid the huge explosion of packets due to all the retries and acks.
And via a space digipeater with 100% "hidden transmitter" problem, this multiplication of QRM is unrelenting.
If most people are not doing it, then maybe we need some new training. IF PSAT2 and BRICSAT2 gets launched successfully and with AISAT-1 and the new ISS digipeater, that might be a good time to start a new educational campaign.
Once one has selected the STATUS TEXT MENU, then each time a new callsign is seen, it only takes a single MENU press, and then rapid 5 presses of OK to be right on the STATUS TEXT editing page. Then just overwriting the last few bytes of the new station's call and hit OK and the new packet is ready to go. Then toggling the BCON button can resend it.
Bob
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 9:48 AM John Brier johnbrier@gmail.com wrote:
It's not a tutorial but you can see me operating the ISS digipeater in these videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woSzJ-PtH2M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhv7oz_El80
Note the ISS digipeater was on UHF briefly when the VHF radio was having issues. It hasn't been on UHF since.
Bob, I don't think people use STATUS messages in practice at least on the ISS digipeater, so I'm not sure that's good advice in this case. I personally like seeing notification that I specifically was sent a message.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 9:36 AM Robert Bruninga via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
Generally, APRS messages are not welcome via satellites because they require ACKS and retries. and can only be read easily by the recepient.
The most efficient way to communicate with APRS is to learn to modify
your
STATUS text quickly and include all comms in those 43 allowed
characters.
That way, the text gets a free ride with your GRID and position packet.
Bob, WB4APR That way, eveyrone can see your messages and you can RETRY by toggling
the
BCON button. As soon as you see your "MY PACKET" digipeated, you can assume the other person saw it and move on.
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 3:11 AM Les Rayburn via AMSAT-BB <
amsat-bb@amsat.org>
wrote:
Searching YouTube and Google without a lot of success. I’ve found
videos
on how to set up the TM-D710 for APRS QSO’s, but nothing that
demonstrates
the actual steps involved in completing a contact.
Should I “beacon” a message that says “CQ DE N1LF EM63 K”? How will I
know
if I’m getting a response? Do I then transmit pre-programmed user
messages?
How do I enter the other stations call sign on the fly? How do I
switch to
the next message?
I really need a “for dummies” guide on this…and can’t seem to find
it.
Can anyone point me towards an article or YouTube video?
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF Maylene, AL EM63nf AMSAT #38965, ARRL Life Member, CVHS Life Member, SVHF Member
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum
available
to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
Opinions
expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views
of
AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings:
https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
Opinions expressed
are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views
of
AMSAT-NA.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Hi John!
Have you tried editing the status text field on an APRS-ready HT or mobile radio? Lots of keypresses to make the change. It would be easier for someone using software like UISS to type a few characters in that field. For someone with a TH-D72, you could end up with 20 to almost 40 keypresses to change a call sign in a status text field. It is similar for those using a mobile radio like a TM-D710G, where you press buttons on the microphone's DTMF keypad to make those changes. It is much easier for the users of the APRS-ready transceivers to pull a call sign from a listing, and in a few keypresses send a message to that call sign, instead of editing the status text to do the same thing.
I know of one west-coast station that uses the status text to make contacts with other stations. I don't think that station is using a radio like a TM-D710G to work the passes. For the rest of us with the APRS-ready transceivers, we use the messages back and forth. We can see when a station sends a message to another station, and can quickly make calls with messages compared to the longer time needed to edit a status text field to do the same thing.
Unfortunately, the Kenwood and Yaesu APRS-ready transceivers faithfully implement APRS, where UISS deviates from it slightly for messaging. UISS allows the user to disable the use of ACK packets when sending messages. UISS will send an ACK packet, if an incoming message requests it, but at least those users have the option of not using ACKs on their own messages to others. Now if the APRS standard provided a way for ACKs to be optional, and Kenwood and Yaesu implemented this change (i.e., a menu option where the ACK requirement for outgoing messages could be disabled)... I wonder who could propose changes to APRS... :-)
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 2:26 PM John Brier via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
Thanks for explaining Bob. I wasn't clear on just how much "heavier" APRS packets were.
It would definitely take a concerted effort to get people to use STATUS messages more.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
That's what I thought Patrick. IIRC you actually have to go into the menu to change it. I thought Bob knew another way or I was missing something.
If the menu is the only way to change the status message that is not a realistic way to make a QSO with the TH-D72 and similar radios.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 11:31 Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
Hi John!
Have you tried editing the status text field on an APRS-ready HT or mobile radio? Lots of keypresses to make the change. It would be easier for someone using software like UISS to type a few characters in that field. For someone with a TH-D72, you could end up with 20 to almost 40 keypresses to change a call sign in a status text field. It is similar for those using a mobile radio like a TM-D710G, where you press buttons on the microphone's DTMF keypad to make those changes. It is much easier for the users of the APRS-ready transceivers to pull a call sign from a listing, and in a few keypresses send a message to that call sign, instead of editing the status text to do the same thing.
I know of one west-coast station that uses the status text to make contacts with other stations. I don't think that station is using a radio like a TM-D710G to work the passes. For the rest of us with the APRS-ready transceivers, we use the messages back and forth. We can see when a station sends a message to another station, and can quickly make calls with messages compared to the longer time needed to edit a status text field to do the same thing.
Unfortunately, the Kenwood and Yaesu APRS-ready transceivers faithfully implement APRS, where UISS deviates from it slightly for messaging. UISS allows the user to disable the use of ACK packets when sending messages. UISS will send an ACK packet, if an incoming message requests it, but at least those users have the option of not using ACKs on their own messages to others. Now if the APRS standard provided a way for ACKs to be optional, and Kenwood and Yaesu implemented this change (i.e., a menu option where the ACK requirement for outgoing messages could be disabled)... I wonder who could propose changes to APRS... :-)
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 2:26 PM John Brier via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
Thanks for explaining Bob. I wasn't clear on just how much "heavier" APRS packets were.
It would definitely take a concerted effort to get people to use STATUS messages more.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I've tried what Bob WB4APR suggests a few times, as a test for last year's Field Day, and while I agree it's a more efficient use of packets, I found it to be impractical when using an HT in one hand and the antenna in the other. It would work much better if you and the stations you want to QSO with are using software like UISS rather than the keypad interface on an HT.
Part of the problem is that a lot of ops still use SSIDs when transmitting to the packet satellites, which is not really necessary and complicates the problem of having to memorize a call to type it in manually on another screen buried several clicks away in a menu. There's also the "chicken and the egg" problem, where one op using a "nonstandard" protocol isn't going to make a lot of QSOs when everyone else is using an incompatible protocol. Is everyone going to click several screens into each received position packet to see if their call is listed in the STATUS field? (Which is, again, added overhead that HT users have to go through.) Checking to see if you've been digipeated to know when to stop sending your packets? Yet another complication that's easier said than done when using an HT.
On the Kenwood D72 and D74 HTs, it's very easy to send a reply message to a station whose position or message packet you've received, and also very easy to stop automated resends, e.g., when you've gotten a response message, when you know the other station is out of the footprint, or when you realize that you're trying to QSO with an unattended station.
Until I see a significant shift of usage toward Bob's proposed QSO protocol, I plan to continue to use Patrick WD9EWK's very effective QSO protocol, which is much more practical for HT operation and is the de facto standard. I often check position packets' status messages in case someone else is using Bob WB4APR's protocol, but have found it to be rare, and it's an order of magnitude faster to just send them a message packet in response.
73, Ryan AI6DO
On Saturday, April 13, 2019, 8:31:51 AM PDT, Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
Hi John!
Have you tried editing the status text field on an APRS-ready HT or mobile radio? Lots of keypresses to make the change. It would be easier for someone using software like UISS to type a few characters in that field. For someone with a TH-D72, you could end up with 20 to almost 40 keypresses to change a call sign in a status text field. It is similar for those using a mobile radio like a TM-D710G, where you press buttons on the microphone's DTMF keypad to make those changes. It is much easier for the users of the APRS-ready transceivers to pull a call sign from a listing, and in a few keypresses send a message to that call sign, instead of editing the status text to do the same thing.
I know of one west-coast station that uses the status text to make contacts with other stations. I don't think that station is using a radio like a TM-D710G to work the passes. For the rest of us with the APRS-ready transceivers, we use the messages back and forth. We can see when a station sends a message to another station, and can quickly make calls with messages compared to the longer time needed to edit a status text field to do the same thing.
Unfortunately, the Kenwood and Yaesu APRS-ready transceivers faithfully implement APRS, where UISS deviates from it slightly for messaging. UISS allows the user to disable the use of ACK packets when sending messages. UISS will send an ACK packet, if an incoming message requests it, but at least those users have the option of not using ACKs on their own messages to others. Now if the APRS standard provided a way for ACKs to be optional, and Kenwood and Yaesu implemented this change (i.e., a menu option where the ACK requirement for outgoing messages could be disabled)... I wonder who could propose changes to APRS... :-)
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 2:26 PM John Brier via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
Thanks for explaining Bob. I wasn't clear on just how much "heavier" APRS packets were.
It would definitely take a concerted effort to get people to use STATUS messages more.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
Wouldn't it be nice if the TH-D74 allowed the use of a Bluetooth keyboard!
73, Frank
FRANK W. KARNAUSKAS, N1UW
-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) via AMSAT-BB Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2019 8:30 AM To: AMSAT Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Tutorial on Working APRS Contacts on Kenwood TM-D710
Hi John!
Have you tried editing the status text field on an APRS-ready HT or mobile radio? Lots of keypresses to make the change. It would be easier for someone using software like UISS to type a few characters in that field. For someone with a TH-D72, you could end up with 20 to almost 40 keypresses to change a call sign in a status text field. It is similar for those using a mobile radio like a TM-D710G, where you press buttons on the microphone's DTMF keypad to make those changes. It is much easier for the users of the APRS-ready transceivers to pull a call sign from a listing, and in a few keypresses send a message to that call sign, instead of editing the status text to do the same thing.
I know of one west-coast station that uses the status text to make contacts with other stations. I don't think that station is using a radio like a TM-D710G to work the passes. For the rest of us with the APRS-ready transceivers, we use the messages back and forth. We can see when a station sends a message to another station, and can quickly make calls with messages compared to the longer time needed to edit a status text field to do the same thing.
Unfortunately, the Kenwood and Yaesu APRS-ready transceivers faithfully implement APRS, where UISS deviates from it slightly for messaging. UISS allows the user to disable the use of ACK packets when sending messages. UISS will send an ACK packet, if an incoming message requests it, but at least those users have the option of not using ACKs on their own messages to others. Now if the APRS standard provided a way for ACKs to be optional, and Kenwood and Yaesu implemented this change (i.e., a menu option where the ACK requirement for outgoing messages could be disabled)... I wonder who could propose changes to APRS... :-)
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK
On Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 2:26 PM John Brier via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
Thanks for explaining Bob. I wasn't clear on just how much "heavier"
APRS
packets were.
It would definitely take a concerted effort to get people to use
STATUS
messages more.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
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participants (7)
-
Don KB2YSI -
Frank Karnauskas -
John Brier -
Les Rayburn -
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) -
Robert Bruninga -
Ryan Noguchi