wd8chl wrote: >Ed Yoho wrote: > > > >>Site prefixing (with supervisory lock down commands) is used by every >>medium to large network I know of. >> >>Having both control methods available allows the system management to >>choose whichever method they prefer. Not having the ability for site >>prefixing eliminates those controllers for applications where it is >>desired / implemented as part of the system structure. >> >>Ed Yoho >>WA6RQD >> >> > > >The point I was getting at is you can make the macro commands anything >you want them to be. If you want a structure like that, just punch it in. > >There's more then one way to skin a....fly... > >------ >Jim Barbour > > The basic difference is on systems with site prefixing as part of the command structure, different inputs get different command requirements. Using macros to simulate site prefixing is pretty inefficient. As an example, a user wants to enter command 12345. From the main mobile input he would enter ##12345. From down link somewhere if the site prefix was 55, he would enter *#5512345. To replicate this functionality without site prefixing capabilities, the controller would need two functionally equivalent commands (12345) with ##12345 accessible only from the mobile input while *#5512345 being accessible only from the link ports. Each command would need to be replicated (one for the mobile input and the other from the link inputs). If a site has X commands, with site prefixing it would take X + 2 macros (the two are needed to cover the ## mobile site prefixing and *#55 link site prefixing). Without site prefixing, the controller would need X * 2 macros to perform the same task(s). Without site prefixing, the macro requirements double and the controller needs to mask what commands are available on a port by port basis.
Users on systems with site prefixing always know that to command the local system with command 12345, they just need to enter ##12345 no matter what site they are currently using. Having site prefixing may not be desired by all repeater owners. For those that do want to use it, it is a major limitation within some controllers and becomes a make or break situation when deciding on what controller will fit their requirements. Ed Yoho WA6RQD
