> I'm not understanding the legalities of beaconing > and broadcasting. Are they not the same.
Neither one describes APRS. APRS is a group of stations participating in a network no different than the round table discussions on the local voice repeater during commute times. Someone that has info to contribute, transmits and everyone copies it. With one transmission, everyone in the net is updated, a very efficient 2-way system. What is frustrating to see on APRS is so little USEFUL real-time content of interest to the mobile operator. What the local network should provide to the front panel of your radio when you are driving are these things (and their location): Frequency of the locally recommended voice repeater (and TONE) Frequency of local IRLP/Echolink or other asset Local weather Any NETS in progress Any hamfest coming up in the next 2 weeks ANY other ham activity in progress Any incoming messages from your friends See www.aprs.org/localinfo.html In addition, of course, you see all the other APRS mobiles nearby, and if one is within direct SIMPLEX range, you can hear a "Voice Alert Beep" letting you know he is looking for a contact. See www.aprs.org/VoiceAlert3.html On satellites what we used to see was not only the location of the satellite, but also all the other participants. In addition to the range and direction to the satellite, we used to see the instantaneous uplink and downlink and Doppler. This was very handy for handheld satellite operation. But again, this required someone in the footprint to be running software that would uplink this info in real time. After over a decade, the excitement wore off, and now we have too many lights-on-nobody-home type operations. See www.aprs.org/astars.html about 65% down the page "APRS Bulletins and Objects" Bob, WB4APR _______________________________________________ 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
