I would rather that we stick to promoting communication via Amateur Radio, not reasons why we don't need it. Sending position packets through terrestrial and satellites links would be more suited for this group, instead of bypassing the ham radio equipment and using the commercial cellular equipment as an alternative.

What would you do when a true emergency arises and everyone whips out their iphones? Uh Oh - the cellular network it down or is suffering from a major overload. Let's try to make of transmission methods within amateur radio more robust so we don't have to rely on the commercial telecommunication giants, and we can provide communication when the going gets tough. Isn’t that the reason we tell everyone we need this precious spectrum?

Just my $.02 worth

Michael KA9HNT

---- Bruce Robertson ve9qrp@gmail.com wrote:

I wouldn't, with

On Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 1:40 PM, Tim Tapio tim@timtapio.com wrote:

...

I'm not sure I want everybody to know where I am at every given hour of the day....I'm reading 1984 again...sounds too much like big brother is watching...

IMHO

Tim T. K4SHF

Tim:

Like you, I would set as a design requirement that the app be able to be turned off :-)

...

With all that happening on the iPhone, the actual Amateur Radio part seems a bit redundant.

I would prefer to see it as integrated with other services, and therefore more useful. Besides, the iPhone app would not currently be practical for many common uses of APRS. If you really want vehicle tracking, for instance, you're not going to buy a phone and put it in the car. But for occasional use an iPhone tracker would be excellent, and increase the general utility of APRS, including that which is available through satellites.

Perhaps others had already noted this, but for java-based phones with the 'JSR 179' API for GPS, there is this application: http://www.aprs-is.net/javAPRSME.htm It seems my family might go to a Samsung Instinct; I think this would fit our APRS bill.

73, Bruce VE9QRP _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb