[amsat-bb] Re: iPhone APP for Sat Tracking

[Robert Bruninga]

>> ... is there a specific APP for the 
>> iPhone for Sat Tracking?
> 
> I'm building one. I'll be ready for 
> a few alpha testers before much longer, 
> I hope.

Great!  And if I could be so bold as to suggest...

Maybe, since your APP will know where it is, and since it will
probbly know the callsign of the user, then would you also
consider having your APP send out a PACKET to first.aprs.net (or
whatever is the best APRS server) so that then anyone in ham
radio community can see where he is an can communicate with that
person by callsign alone?

This is part of the "Universal Amateur Radio Messaging System"
initiative to make it possible for hams to communicate with hams
by callsign alone, anywhere, anytime, using any device (ham
radio or cellphone, or whatever).  For details, see:
www.aprs.org/aprs-messaging.html

> So far the only ham radio applications 
> I've seen for the iPhone are a callbook 
> lookup and a grid square converter, 
> plus perhaps a few Morse code programs.

Yep, and universal connectivity by-callsign has great potential
to keep our dwindling numbers in touch.

Thanks
Bob, Wb4APR