[OZAPRS] Foundation and RF APRS

vk2tv vk2tv at exemail.com.au
Sat Dec 21 08:19:12 AEDT 2019


Scott,

Not OT for me.

Ray vk2tv

On 20/12/19 11:10 pm, Scott Evans wrote:
> For the Tier2 servers T2TAS & T2SYDNEY(I'm the sysop of T2TAS) they 
> will reject all non verified stations. So if you forget to include 
> your pass code then you will be ignored by the server for passing your 
> traffic to the internet. I can't answer on behalf of T2QLD or T2PERTH 
> (is that still online?) and for any of the ZL (New Zealand) based 
> servers. Whereas I-Gates generally don't do any filtering. Only 
> exception to this would be for RFONLY NOGATE to destinations.
>
> I realise this is a little bit off the topic, but just wanted to 
> clarify the Tier2 internet side of things...
>
> Cheers
>
> VK7HSE Scott Evans
>
> Get Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/ghei36>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* OZAPRS <ozaprs-bounces at aprs.net.au> on behalf of Mark Jessop 
> <lenniethelemming at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Friday, December 20, 2019 10:49:05 PM
> *To:* Australian APRS Users <ozaprs at aprs.net.au>
> *Subject:* Re: [OZAPRS] Foundation and RF APRS
> For positioning the use of an object is a good way of having a valid 
> foundation callsign show up on the various mapping services. As you 
> mention it still needs to be sourced from an AX.25 compatible callsign 
> when produced via RF, but this could be a modified callsign as 
> mentioned previously. If the source callsign is valid from an AX.25 
> standpoint, then it should make its way through igates into APRS-IS 
> fine. Whether packets will make their way back *out* of APRS-IS into 
> RF is another good question - I'm not sure what IS-RF filtering is 
> used on the various TX-capable igates around Australia.
> I'm not sure if any of the commonly available APRS trackers (be it 
> standalone devices like the tinytrak/opentracker, or rigs like the 
> various kenwoods/yaesus) support emitting of objects instead of 
> position reports, so that will be a seriously limiting factor.
> Anyway, the above is a possible option for getting packets out on RF 
> that look show up nicely on a map or APRS-capable device and don't 
> require additional poking around to find out the actual callsign. 
> However, i suspect finding trackers that will produce objects instead 
> of position reports may be difficult. (Hopefully I'm wrong on that!)
>
> As for the APRS-IS passcode, well there's also an online calculator 
> here: https://apps.magicbug.co.uk/passcode/
> It's just a hash function... I guess the original designers of APRS-IS 
> decided security-through-obscurity was good enough :-/
>
> 73
> Mark VK5QI
>
> On Fri, Dec 20, 2019 at 9:55 PM <vk7hse at gmail.com 
> <mailto:vk7hse at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>     APRS also has the option to add an object to a map, it is with
>     this that you could provide the Foundation callsign. In most cases
>     in the US where special event stations are in use they are not
>     using the primary ax25 mycall as a station identifier but instead
>     using the object to place the operators valid callsign. Now this
>     doesn’t address the protocol layer restriction for ax25, as that’s
>     hard coded and restricted to XXNXXX (or variations thereof) As
>     Australian Foundation callsigns (decided to be the better choice
>     in 2005) have the XXNXXXX suffix I believe this was chosen with
>     the intention to prevent foundation calls from “accidently” trying
>     to use packet radio, and if that was the case then it was a bit
>     silly. But it is what it is and now that the foundation call is
>     permitted digital modes (something I feel they should have always
>     had access to) that decision in 2005 has come back to bite them
>     (whoever they were at the time!)
>
>     Granted I haven’t read the determinations to the letter in recent
>     months, but a station ID is only required every “TEN” minutes, not
>     on “EVERY” transmission! Packet radio was always overkill for that
>     but it was logical that the station ID be it’s callsign hence why
>     the ax25 protocol has the limit of a 6 letter call.
>
>     Now what can we agree upon in the interim to be acceptable until
>     the callsign suffix for the foundation is resolved? Bearing in
>     mind that could take some time as there’s now 3 entities involved
>     with the process (WIA, AMC & ACMA)
>
>     My take would be a tactical name with the operator callsign in the
>     status text field (>VK7FABC John Citizen QE37pa) this would work
>     for all RF aprs clients but because of the use of a tactical call
>     it would be prohibited into the APRS-IS side (unless you are
>     sneaky and generate a valid aprs pass code *the software for that
>     is available under GNU hint think Xastir)
>
>     So that’s my initial thoughts …
>
>     Cheers…
>
>     VK7HSE Scott Evans
>
>     *From:*OZAPRS <ozaprs-bounces at aprs.net.au
>     <mailto:ozaprs-bounces at aprs.net.au>> *On Behalf Of *Jack Schultz
>     *Sent:* Friday, 20 December 2019 12:45
>     *To:* Australian APRS Users <ozaprs at aprs.net.au
>     <mailto:ozaprs at aprs.net.au>>
>     *Subject:* Re: [OZAPRS] Foundation and RF APRS
>
>     Hi Marcos (and Carlos), interesting to read both your thoughts on
>     the topic.
>
>     Though my preference is obviously to have a 'valid' callsign for
>     AX.25, what I use now is the best I could come up with. Every
>     packet contains my full callsign in the comment, which I think
>     works well for those that use APRS through a PC interface, but not
>     as handy in a mobile rig or handheld where my full call is hidden
>     behind several screens.
>
>     My thinking is that while transmitting my full callsign makes it a
>     legal transmission, I should try and fit as much as possible in
>     the designated callsign field, with the lowest priority being the
>     leftmost part of the callsign since it is the least specific.
>
>     I hear a similar take on local repeaters where there is a usual
>     crowd that chats to each other, often simply omitting 'VK'
>     altogether when referring to each others callsigns, or the
>     callsign of a repeater for example. In the world of APRS, I feel
>     there is a similar level of community in that aspect within the
>     local RF zone. I generally see a dozen or so core users, so there
>     is that immediate recognition when I decode one of their packets.
>
>     In Melbourne I've also seen VK3FSPD using APRS first as VKFSPD,
>     then using 3FSPD. I prefer the latter form as it avoids ambiguity
>     when travelling interstate.
>
>     Regards,
>
>     Jack Schultz
>
>     VK3FJTS (3FJTS-7)
>
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