[Xastir-dev] Re: Destination or Waypoint (note 1)

[Bob Bruninga]

More on the new WAYPOINT SYMBOL:

As Keith pointed out and as I had implemented it, the way I keep the
WAYPOINT separate from the STATION itself is to MUNGE the callsign on
receipt by overlaying "-WP" onto the 9 byte callsign field.  Thus, the
WAYPOINT has the name MYCALL-WP to differentiate it from MYCALL-SS.

As a refinement, I overlay "-W#" if the waypoint has an overlay character
of "#", so that say 3 way points become MYCALL-W1, MYCALL-W2, MYCALL-W3
and so forth.  And since this is done on reecipt, it is legal, because
this will never go over the air.  It is only for distinguishing the
waypoint in your system...

One note:  the D700 cannot enter overlays on new ICONS that were not
programmed into it back when it was made, so from the D700 and probably
the D7, you can only uplink one waypoint (this is probably good!).

The best way to use this feature on the D700 or D7 is to progarm one of
your PM's with the WAYPOINT SYMBOL and GPS OFF.  Then you can enter in any
one of the 5 fixed positions as any of your 5 favorite or immediate
Waypoints.  One for Grammas, one for inlaws, one for DCC, etc...

then to uplink it, simply change PM to it, BEACON a few copies of it, and
then resume normal operation in your nomral PM..

Bob
 On Thu, 1
Jan 2004, Bob Bruninga wrote:

> Authors,
>
> If no one objects, I intend to add a new SYMBOL called a WAYPOINT or
> DESTINATION.  It will look like a red and white TARGET symbol or Bull's
> eye...  (does someone already use this for somthing else?)
>
> It repsents the TARGET or destination of someone who is mobile.  THus, it
> is also a "waypoint".  It will accept OVERLAY charagcters so that it can
> be used with up to 9 waypoints if needed in special appliactions.
>
> But it has the following unique feature.  ALthough it can be sent as an
> OBJECT as normal, it can also be sent as a position from the mobile itself
> by a simple one-time change of SYMBOL.  Then receiving software will KEEP
> that copy of that position and not replace it later when his symbol
> returns to his normal APRS sysmbol.
>
> THus, in a D7 or D700, you can simply go to MENU, enter the POSIT for your
> destination, and change to this SYMBOL and then BEACON one or two packets
> to be sure you got out, and then change your MENU back to your normal APRS
> symbol and your GPS position and drive on.
>
> All APRS clients will capture the TARGET ICON position report and keep it
> spearate from futher instances of positions from the same station.
>
> But if a new TARGET is transmitted with the same overlay (if used) then it
> will replace the old one.
>
> I suggest the alternate "/" symbol for this WAYPOINT symbol.  Thus:
>
>    "\/" would be just the target
>    "F/" would be the target with an overlayed "F" for finish line
>    "1/" would be the first waypoint....
>
> etc...
>
> Finally, if I had enough code space, when I receive one of these
> WAYPOINTS, I would draw a line between the mobile that sent it and the
> waypoint...
>
> I do NOT intend to enourage every mobile to start using this symbol just
> because it is there.  But I do think it is needed in our tool kit...
>
> de WB4APR at amsat.org, Bob
>

de WB4APR at amsat.org, Bob

PCsat WEB  page     http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pcsat.html
ISS-APRS FAQ:       http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/iss-faq.html
CUBESAT Designs     http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/cubesat.html
APRS LIVE pages     http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/aprs.html
APRS SATELLITES     http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/astars.html
MIM/Mic-E/Mic-Lite  http://ssdl.stanford.edu/mims/