UPDATE: I am no longer running this digi see here for details.

As some of you may know, I run an APRS UIDigipeater.

I wanted to articulate, to the best of my ability; as to why I run such a thing and dedicate a radio to such a task.

Sometimes we local amateur radio operators get caught up in our locality and we sometimes forget that there are travelers who use amateur radio.

The fact is there are many people who are amateur radio operators, who travel the Country and take the radio equipment with them; these people are truck drivers, traveling businessman, RV’ers and more.

These people are a community unto themselves, especially amongst the truck drivers. The fact is that truck drivers are some of the most misunderstood people, they are reviled by most drivers of cars. They were exploited by Hollywood in the 1970’s.

But, yet, these people bring everything that you could possibly imagine. Everything that you come in contact with; your clothes, your food, the house that you live in….everything is delivered by truck. The fact is that the American truck driver is the backbone of this nation and its economy.

There are many of these truck drivers travelers and even users of recreational vehicles that are licensed amateur radio operators who use APRS.

I noticed in this local area that APRS activity was rather light. I also notice that in the mobile that the wide area DIGIpeaters that supposedly cover this area; their reception in this local area was rather bad.

So, I thought about those recreational vehicle users, the truck drivers and the traveling business people who have families at home; that wonder where they are and want to be able to track their movements across the United States… this is when I decided to dedicate a radio to the use of APRS.

Sure, sometimes using this radio for that service can be a Royal pain in the butt. yes my muffin fan does run constantly and sometimes diging in the same thing over and over and over, can be a bit annoying. but every time I see a truck that comes to this area… a driver of a 18 Wheeler who has an amateur radio license and is using the APRS system… I think about who might be tracking him and the fact my digi is playing a small part in making sure that his family knows where he is.

This is why I run a APRS DIGIPEATER.