[drats_users] D-RATS RSS Feeds

Wed Oct 8 12:28:11 PDT 2008

Barry,
Fransens GPS gate (franson.com) will allow you to output your GPS
information to at least 3 different programs. They have ways to expand
beyond 3, but I've never looked into it. 
Gerry Singer
KC0CAT

-----Original Message-----
From: drats_users-bounces at lists.danplanet.com
[mailto:drats_users-bounces at lists.danplanet.com] On Behalf Of Barry A.
Wilson
Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 1:02 PM
To: 'Discussion of D-RATS'
Subject: Re: [drats_users] D-RATS RSS Feeds

Dan,

   It would be greatly appreciated if you add individual port speeds to the
COM ports on D-RATS.

   My Sprint 3G CDMA Wireless Merlin Novatel EV-DO Modem card has three COM
outputs which only one allows you to change speed on the Communication Port.
The GPS on the Xpress Card puts out the NMEA format signal but only at 9600
baud with no apparent way to change it's output rate. It does work with
online mapping programs like Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest and
Microsoft Live. It also works well with my StormLab Professional Weather
Software. Besides the GPS Output it has a COM port for Status and a
Communication Port which is set at 230400,N,8,1  Here in Denver my
connection averages between about 960-1200kbs or nearly T1 Speeds.  

   I am hopeful to figure out how to get AGWSoft Packet Engine Pro to work
with the multiple communications programs so things like GPS Output can be
used by more than one application at a time. I just need a way to take one
COM Input to route out to multiple outputs. I'm not a programmer so I have
to yield to others expertise like yourself to help those of us much more
challenged by such things.

Thanks for such a rapid response... and 73

Barry
KA0BBQ

-----Original Message-----
From: drats_users-bounces at lists.danplanet.com
[mailto:drats_users-bounces at lists.danplanet.com] On Behalf Of Dan Smith
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 6:14 PM
To: Discussion of D-RATS
Subject: Re: [drats_users] D-RATS RSS Feeds

Hi Barry,

> I don't think it prudent to try to load down D-STAR with data feeds 
> already developed for other systems like the NOAA Weather feed. We 
> already have EMWIN which is available to parse out weather data from
> the National Weather Service tailored to your individual needs.

I am not trying to "load down" D-STAR with anything.  I'm just trying to
create a useful tool for myself and others.  RSS support has been a
requested feature since literally the very first time I presented D-RATS
to a group of hams.  There are an enormous number of uses for feed
support other than weather alerts.

> I actually use the program InterWarn by Storm Alert Inc. which does 
> pretty much the same for the weather feeds as does RealEMWIN. Since 
> these programs already make the data available via radio, users could
> adapt those programs to meet their own needs. Perhaps users could 
> just use the output of one of these programs to parse out local 
> severe storm and weather related warning via D-STAR... but again we 
> already have EMWIN and NOAA Weather Radios!

InterWarn is neither free nor cross-platform.  There are lots of ways to
get information into D-RATS from external applications, and I'm adding
more all the time.  If you would rather use output from your app for
your QSTs, please do.  That's why I added the "Exec" QST type :)

> I for one would rather see you using your energy in perfecting chat, 
> message and file transfers in the D-STAR arena. Perhaps including 
> forward error correcting, multiple message addressees etc.

Thanks for that input.  Adding the RSS and CAP stuff was about half a
plane ride.  The work I have planned for multicast is several orders of
magnitude more work.

Also, the recent RSS feature request came from someone with a
substantial amount of karma and was prioritized appropriately.

> I know you have the Colorado D-STAR Group on the edge of our seats
> with every release checking out and testing your software. I really
> like your position look up feature... I just haven't been able to get
> the program to see my AirCard GPS data feed because the port speed 
> doesn't appear to be configurable to different rates on different COM
> ports.

As was previously discussed on this list, 4800 baud is the NMEA
standard.  If your GPS uses a different baudrate, then it's quite likely
that it doesn't conform to the standard and won't work anyway.  However,
I will be sure to add a speed selection box in the next beta so you have
the opportunity to test it.

> I have also caught wind of something called CHIRP but couldn't find 
> it anywhere. Is this a program which will allow transfer of 
> programming data between and IC-92AD and other D-STAR radios>

Yes (with the current exception of the 2200).  It's very early in
development, but you can get it here:

  http://chirp.danplanet.com

Be gentle, patient, and forgiving with it.  Oh, and backup your radios
first :)

Thanks!

-- 
Dan Smith
dsmith#danplanet.com, s/#/@/
www.danplanet.com
KK7DS
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