[drats_users] Some D-RATS questions (mostly AX25 related)

[Dan Smith]

> 1) Is there a way to repeat APRS position reports onto a D-RATS net? For
> example, if I have some SAG wagons with APRS tracker kits, can I get
> their position reports to display on the D-RATS map and other D-RATS
> users I am communicating with? (I know there is a gateway for DPRS to
> APRS, but I haven't found anything on the other direction.)

No, D-RATS currently doesn't understand anything about raw APRS itself.
The APRS spec is fairly messy and properly parsing the hundreds of
variations is a lot of work that I haven't seen the need to add. I may
add basic parsing (i.e. just lat/lon/symbol) at some point, but it's not
currently supported.

> 2) Is there anything "bad" about using a TNC connected to 144.39,
> setting the PATH to some WIDEn-n, and using the existing digipeater
> infrastructure for D-RATS? We have a fairly large area to cover, but
> fortunately there is OK digi coverage, and the channel isn't heavily loaded.

Well, it depends on your infrastructure, users, and other such factors.
Around here, you'd become rather unpopular extremely quickly if you did
this.

You should note that D-RATS' support for using TNCs is really basic and
certain things won't work properly, such as transferring any block
longer than what the TNC can handle. TNCs have different limits
depending on model, age, and the mode you put them in. D-RATS was
designed for D-STAR radios, which can stream data continuously, and thus
it doesn't currently have the necessary logic to arbitrarily break
things up into tiny pieces for digest by a 1980's-era device. Most chat
messages are small enough and the file/form transfers already break
things up so you just have to make sure the block size settings are such
that they'll never get too large for the TNC.

The TNC and AX.25 support are mostly tools for gaining acceptance and
doing testing at the moment. I'm not sure if anyone is really using it
effectively for production work. Maybe someone will speak up here and
prove me wrong. My real point is: make sure you test what you're
planning to do before you commit to doing it :)

-- 
Dan Smith
www.danplanet.com
KK7DS

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