[amsat-bb] APRS FD method

[Robert Bruninga]

I welcome Rules Feedback, but this is the OPTIMUM way to make FD contacts
via a satellite from an APRS radio with the least congestion.  DO NOT USE
MESSAGES.  They will choke the channel with retries and no one will get
through.

Set your path via the correct Satellite DIGI callsign and turn off
proportional pathing and auto-decay.  Set interval to 30 seconds.

Place your CATEGORY and SECTION in your STATUS text and set beacon time to
once a minute.  You don't need GRID since all APRS radios display that on
receipt based on the position.  SO here is your STATUS at the start:

CQFD 3AMDC  (category and section)

Then every time you see someone else's info, QSL them by pressing the F key
and SEL button 5 times and it will go directly to place the cursor at the
end of your status text for you to add the first contact call:

CQFD 3AMDC QSL WB4APR

And then when you see the next one, add the next call:

CQFD 3AMDC QSL WB4APR,W3ADO

And so on.  You can be acking up to 4 calls at a time.  And your CQ and
acks are all in a single packet.

You can only count the calls as 2-way if you also see your call in the QSL
list of the other station.

When you get to 4 calls, then ERASE the first one, and add the next one at
the end. and so on.

This method keeps the channel load low, automatically captures and records
other stations in your  STATION LIST and automatically sends your QSL's in
your next automatic beacon.  This lets you spend your time reviewing the
lists, deciding who you have received QSL's from and entering the next
calls in your STATUS text.

PRACTICE.  Yes, pressing F key and SEL key 4 times will get you there since
it will go to APRS, then STATUS TEXT, then SELECT the existing one, then
SELECT it for editing, and then the cursor goes to the end so you can edit
it.

You should WRITE down any packets that have your callsign QSLed in them,
since once that station has entered 4 more calls, yours drops off his
beacon and so your STATION list will no longer have a copy of your call,
just his latest 4.

In my mind, this is a legal 2-way.  You both exchanged grids, and category
and section and QSLed and saw your call acknowledged.

Again, NEVER us APRS "MESSGE" format via a satellite.  It is tremendously
inefficient and clogs the channel with retries because the ACKs just dont
get through.  That's why we invented APRS in the first place.  TO get away
from the abysimal success of ACKS on a crowded channel.

Bob, WB4APR