I-gates save the world!
Glen, et al,
Every day I receive E-mails from customers who believe that their transmitters are not working, and time after time, I receive the unit back for testing only to find that they work perfectly. ( Of course, many new Hams are under the impression that Byonics owns the APRS network, and our stuff should work like cellphones or there will be **** to pay!)Okay, enough pitiful whining on my part, but it has made clear to me that one of Ham Radio's primary assumptions is that Amateur Radio will still work, even when the very fabric of society is in tatters and the Zombies are in charge. This may be true, but what I am finding over and over again is that in hot weather, Digipeaters crash because of fires, and in cold weather, digipeaters crash because of antennas being buried in ice and snow or power being unavailable, and many other reasons. They are not built to commercial, post-apocalyptic, standards. Ironically this leaves the far more robust Internet backbone as the Lifeline for APRS ( yes, I know I am speaking heresy here, and that I may face the rack and execution by draw and quartering.) I-Gates usually live where people do, and foul weather access is rarely an issue ( with the exception of having to climb up on your roof) But even an indoor receive antenna provides adequate service when nature conspires against us. That being said, I want to thank you for your service as an apostle of I-gates, and you (and Hessu from aprs.fi, Bob Bruninga, etc.) shall live in the halls of Ham Valhalla, where the brave (and creative shall) dwell forever!
73,
Allen AF6OF
VHS/Byonics