[Xastir] APRS-IS without authentication?

[Rick Green]

Sometimes, I'd like to bring up xastir on my laptop and connect to an 
internet server just to see what's going on in the neighborhood.  I've 
found, however, that I don't get any data from the aprs-is unless I 
'authentacate' myself with my callsign and passcode.  I thought that was 
only supposed to be necessary in order to inject data to the APRS-IS, but 
I find that I get no stations at all displayed unless I authenticate. 
This is both on port 23000 and 14580.  Is this by design, or am I missong 
some critical piece of information?

-- 
Rick Green, N8BJX

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little
temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
                                   -Benjamin Franklin