Replying to BB. > I was really kind of surprised to find people > in MI using pagers [for APRS messages], up until > then I wasn't sure if they were premitted via Part 97.
Since pagers are available for peanuts as the cell phone industry steamrolls over them, it is frustrating to me that we hams have not jumped on these truck loads of text-messaging devices that can be converted over to a frequency in our bands and used for this kind of amateur radio text messaging capability. > Pagers are very easy to understand - > the only thing is you need a radio > that is capable of sending the page Yes, and the Kantronics 9612 TNC's for the last many years can generate the POCSAG Pager formats, so it is easy to do. I'm sure it could also just be done in soundcard software too if we just found someone motivated to do it. > A database could be made simular to dstar that > holds your "personal" capcode - that would equal > your call sign - so sending a page to one pager > should be fairly easy to do > > But the great thing is most pagers can have > 4 5 or 6 or more cap codes - if the cap codes > are the same then all of the pagers that "hear" > the paging signal will display the same > information at the same time Yes group codes can be very versatile. > Anyways, I would welcome you to take a look > at my site, and or my blog.... > http://www.box.net/shared/f20sjvtxyf Using paging devices on Amateur Radio is perfectly legal like any other radio. It all boils down to use. If you use it for setting up a one-way systemm for a pizza delivery service, it is clearly illegal. If you use it as part of your overall local communications network of amateur radio volunters it is just one more tool in the tool box. You just have to ignore the curmudgeons who have nothing better to do than nit-picking ways to prevent other hams from developing useful applications of technology. A pager is simply the text-to-user device integrated into the normal local 2-way amateur radio communications system. My Universal Text Messaging Web page (www.aprs.org/aprs-messaging.html) has a link to a web page that highlights the conversion of these pagers to amateur use. UNFORTUNATELY, the pager site activity appears to have dried up since nothing new has been posted in a year or so. Just too many people buying blackberry's I guess. But I'd sure like to see a revival. These devices are out there by the millions. An amateur satellite would make a great downlink to these pagers. Again, the goal should simply be, any message, any time, anywhere using any device to any user by callsign alone. Bob, WB4APR >-----Original Message----- >From: "Bob Bruninga " <[email protected]> > >Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 19:15:19 >To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; John B. >Stephensen<[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; 'rupert >red'<[email protected]>; <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: dream .. Universal Text > Messaging > > >> I had an idea of setting up a pager network. >> That could be used for national or local >> emegrancy.... There is a man in MI doing this >> with his APRS group and emegancy coms now. >> I like the idea of being able to text any call >> sign by just knowing the call sign - > >Yes, that is the goal of the Universal Text Messaging Initiative. >www.aprs.org/aprs-messaging.html > >> doesn't DStar offer a way to do this? > >Yes via client software called D-Rats. It cross connects messages from D-Rats >laptops to the APRS system, where for years text messages are delivered to the >front panel of any APRS mobile or hand held radio, cellphones, pagers or >anything via any callsign @ARRL.net or @AMSAT.org etc > >> It would or shouldn't be too hard to setup >> a way for someone to know the call and have it >> routed to a pager. > >Yes, that is the goal, any message to any call, using any device for sending >or receiving. > >> It is still an idea but at this point it >> is just an idea. > >No it is more than that, it is an Initiative that we hope more authors and >systems will get on board. We have been trying to get an article into QST on >this subject since last November, and it will finally appear in the Septermber >EMCOM issue of QST. (initiall they rejected it because it was not "broad >enough to appeal to a majority of readers" or something like that. > >But with over two dozen text messaging systems in Amateur Radio already, we >have just got to start linking them otogether seamlessly! > >> LeRoy, KD8BXP >> http://www.HamOhio.com >> Sent on the Now Network? >> from my Sprint® BlackBerry > >Yes! That's the idea! > >Bob, WB4APR > >>-----Original Message----- >>From: "Bob Bruninga " <[email protected]> >> >>Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 18:01:25 >>To: John B. Stephensen<[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; 'rupert >>red'<[email protected]>; <[email protected]> >>Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: dream your own sat >> >> >>> Any interest by the Red Cross would not be in the >>> satellite but in human volunteers that might come >>> with it. Unfortunately, the LEO satellites that >>> hams can afford generate little interest in this forum. >> >>I wish we could some how better influence the dozens of cubesat satellites >>being built with AX.25 packet comm systems to at least consider a backup >>digipeater comm system. If just six of these allowed for a possibility of >>user digipeating, we would have a constellation that would provide worldwide >>text messaging capability from mobiles and handhelds with delays no more than >>30 minutes. >> >>What a fantastic emergency comm system we could have. If ten of them were >>available, then the coverage would be nearly continuous. >> >>Amateur Radio needs to recognize its trememdous legacy of over a century of >>wireless text messaging and our ability to bring that connectivity to the >>field any time anywhere. We simply need to link them together to meet our >>overall "Universal Amateur Radio Text Messaging Initiative", that is, any >>ham, any where, any time, able to text message any other ham anywhere using >>any hardware device, commercial or amateur by callsign alone. >> >>Please see www.aprs.org/aprs-messaging.html >> >>I count over 2 dozen existing amateur radio text messaging systems few of >>which are currently crossconnected. Most talk only within their own >>constituents. APRS and some others are already cross connected at the email >>level which then connects to cellphones and other wireless devices. So >>crossconnecting at the APRS internetwork or at the email level is easy to do. >> We just need all authors to consider transparent cross connection as a goal >>as per the above web page. >> >>This has already been done for all APRS satellites and even the ARISS system >>when it came over the the Satellite APRS channel 145.825. When ARISS is in >>packet mode, it enables text messaging and Email to and from the front panel >>of any APRS radio in the world via our existing network of APRS ground >>stations. See the downlinks on www.ariss.net >> >>We have tried to get other packet satellites on that channel, SUNSAT, PCSAT1, >>PCSAT2, ANDE, RAFT and ISS all of which supported this universal text >>messaging. We need more, and longer lived satelites. And most any AX.25 >>cubesat could do it as a secondary mission. We need to look for >>opportunities there. >> >>We had GO32 also for a year or so until its recent demise, though it's >>frequency was different. >> >>Bob, WB4APR >> >>_______________________________________________ >>Sent via [email protected]. 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 _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
