User Operational Guidelines

1. Set your DIGIPEATER PATH to "WIDE2-2" for fixed or "WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1" mobile stations.
2. Please do not exceed 1 location-beacon per 3 minutes. Controllers will automatically ignore more location-beacons in excess of every 2 minutes.
3. Enable the "MIC-E" transmission format, this is a compressed beacon format and is more effecient.
4. Limit your output power to 25 watts or less.

Digipeater Operational Guidelines

Already running a digipeater? Contact and we'll help convert your older controller to the newer APRS standards.

Requirements for APRS.RATS.NET member digipeaters:

1. High-Gain antenna at a minimum of 100 feet above ground, or any location suitable for a local-coverage VHF repeater
2. Radio with 25-30 watts output
3. Any controller
   1. Commercially available Rules-based controllers
      1. USmartDigi digipeater daughterboard for the TNC-X TNC. This is the recommend controller for the APRS.RATS.NET network
   2. Linux-based component
      1. Linksys NSLU2 or WRT54G device modified for LINUX with DIGI_NED software
   3. PC-based system
      1. Any KISS-mode TNC connected to a PC running DIGI_NED(cygWIN Linux emulator required)
4. Emergency Power (72 hours or more)

Controller Rules for APRS.RATS.NET nodes:

1. BEACON RATE: 15 minutes (30 for fill-in or smaller coverage nodes)
   
2. PATH: WIDE3-3,VA3-3(alias)
   
3. No single path may exceed 3 (ie: WIDE3-3) and no path count may exceed 5 (ie: WIDE2-2,WIDE3-3)
4. Excessive Paths are re-written to WIDE2-2 - IN BETA TEST
   
5. Coordinate Blocking of a defined NORTH/SOUTH/EAST/WEST boundary (Geo-Caching)<optional>
   
6. Throttling of LAT/LON beacons with intervals of less than 120 seconds -- NOTE: Message Packets are exempted from throttling rule. IN BETA TEST
7. No WIDE/RELAY/TRACE allowed
8. UITrace is limited to the "last heard station" (recommended)