[wxqc] Intermittent Missing Data

[dick at kb7zva.com]

List members,

>I see a lot of large gaps, this suggests a problem with your internet  
>connection, as things are working fine for the majority of users, for  
>example....

It also suggests another problem.

I'm getting a lot of complaints from WX users stating that their
data is NOT getting to findU. It is NOT a findU problem.

I don't see this as a 'internet connection' problem, for all the
wide-spread complaints globally. 

The 4 Core servers (rotate.aprs.net) have been working 
for less than 1 day combined. During these outages, 
some data is not flowing to findU. This not only affects your
individual WX reports but also affects our sub-level APRS-IS
servers. It's not working for some of WX users. Lost data is 
universally happening at the same time Core Servers go down.

http://www.met.utah.edu/mesowest/monitor/APRSWXNET.gif

THIRD.aprs.net dropped 600 WX stations the last few hours and
'rotate' doesn't seem to help matters, as some of you have
pointed out. By the time rotate assigns a different server, data
is lost. Rotate can't detect a downed or intermittent server. By the
time a new DNS is assigned to your PC, data hasn't gone anywhere.

http://www.wxqa.com/checkservers.html

If the servers can't stay operational, there will be lapses in data
and findU won't process as expected.

Maybe it's time to admit there is a problem and face up to the
fact that something isn't as 'reliable' as originally thought. The
burden shouldn't be placed on WX users that have little control
or guarantees that their data will end up where it is supposed to.

We are having a hard time getting data to the Main Core because
the core doesn't appear to be working as reliable as it once was.
So what's the problem? 

Please listen to list members... there is a problem and they
deserve straight answers...

Use what works. Don't be fooled into thinking it's your individual
problem or that you are doing something wrong. 'Rotate' is in fact, 
a single point of failure. Sorry, but WX authors are being told to
hard-code 'rotate' into their programs. IMHO, That is a huge mistake
and I am addressing the issue with many of them.

Solution: Don't use rotate.aprs.net. It doesn't work on all PC's
as advertised. Assign individual servers, and rotate between
them. Hopefully, WX programs have the ability for a user to
select individual servers. I don't see many complaints from
people NOT using 'rotate.aprs.net'.

Send data to multiple servers. Many WX users flip-flop
between 2 servers. Example, these are:

aprswest.net port 23
socal.aprs2.net port 23

Data appears at findU like this:

WB0TAX-1>APRS,TCPXX*,qAX,T2APRSWST:@121636z3223.44N/09334.45W_147/000g000t070r000P000p000h31b10181v31
WB0TAX-1>APRS,TCPXX*,qAX,T2SOCAL:@121646z3223.44N/09334.45W_123/000g000t071r000P000p000h28b10181v31
WB0TAX-1>APRS,TCPXX*,qAX,T2APRSWST:@121656z3223.44N/09334.45W_088/003g003t071r000P000p000h24b10179v31
WB0TAX-1>APRS,TCPXX*,qAX,T2SOCAL:@121706z3223.44N/09334.45W_156/001g002t071r000P000p000h24b10177v31

It works great. I'd suggest 5 min. intervals. If a server breaks, 
your data will appear at findU in 10 min. intervals. I'd also suggest
using alternative servers that you have had success using, despite
rumors and being told not to. Choice and what works is what it's all
about. 

Hope this information helps some of you.

Dick Stanich, KB7ZVA
APRSWEST.NET WX port 23 - Tier 2 Network
http://www.aprs2.net/ (Alternate Tier 2 Servers)