Stephen, I appreciate your experience & response. I certainly agree with my document format; I realized it a little after I posted it - PDF has been added.
Ref #2: A number of us use APRS over radio, and I posted here because people, like you, are experts and can help me formulate information most accurately. However, the fact exists that not everyone in my rural community has/can afford equipment to do APRS via RF and maintain voice comms. Also, not everyone is convinced of the value of APRS regardless of the mode (especially at the home station), and I am trying to show them the additional utility. If they can use it & practice with it on their phone app, I hope this will promote APRS' significance to operators and make them more likely to upgrade. It certainly is about radio, so I have to disagree with your statement.
We have many radio/internet interfaces that are in regular use, so this is not unique. Also, we are a rural area where digipeater coverage is limited. I have no desire to exclude information or participation just because one is not in the range of a digipeater.
For our net during the Blizzard, I made a concerted effort to exercise our APRS capabilities, which was the genesis for the instructions. First, we had the tactical information of who was participating in a visual format using an APRS mapping view.
Second, stations were asked to update their symbol with their numerical snowfall total, use the comment to timestamp (and their total if they couldn't change their symbol), and I placed Objects for locations where the operator did not have APRS capability. This was quite a distinctive APRS visual that I have not seen used in my 20+ years in amateur radio.
Third, we established a group message ID, and sent messages to share with the group. Some RF/ some IS; that's simply my reality. But we had good participation and there were learning curves overcome. That's a positive.
Finally, the information I am working on includes APRS to SMS. I can't imagine a situation where that would be uniquely useful except when the is no cell service and the operator is using APRS RF.
I think all of these combined definitely show a radio utility for my project.
REF #3. We are encouraging practice & utilization of Winlink as it has mult attributes useful for EmComm, but it is a connection-based link. Those who run APRS can get notification each day that one has pending Winlink emails (this morning, I found I have 4 msgs to retrieve). That makes APRS more useful, and promotes continued use of Winlink. It's a win/win.
As well, I understand there is some capacity to send & receive Winlink emails over APRS. Any process which make it more than "position" reporting is what, I believe, will get my operators more interested in APRS, and enhance our communication connectivity.
REF #4. If they don't have it on their phone and find utility of APRS, they won't get it, period. It's a curve, not a square wave. Also, many of them are on APRSDroid, and as you noted, with a cable & UV-5R - they've got a good inexpensive APRS station (I have 2). But, back to #2 - I have to show them the utility of APRS before the spend the $/effort. Our Blizzard net, I believe, was successful in that respect.
From my pew, you're preaching to the choir, . I've run APRS for about 15 years, established our digipeater here (CHILLI), use UI-View32 @ home/mobile continuously including storm-spotting or participating in public service events, add Overlays and Objects, and use messaging. But I can't force other amateur operators to do what I think they should; I am working on carrots.
Again, I appreciate your experience & knowledge in APRS.
So, my ask for everyone: is the information in the (new) attachment correct & understandable? Are there any other specific features which broadly appeal to operators?
Joe,KC0NOX
