[CRAPRS] $50 APRS Subversion Challenge

[Jerry Pasker]

One of the golden rules is that he who has the gold, makes the rules.  So here's the deal:  I'll either pay out directly, or make a contribution to the charity (or ham radio club) of the winner's choice of a contest that I'm sponsoring.  $50 is up for grabs.

In less than 24 hours, I will be taking down KB0QCL as I will be moving the shack, and I'm not sure when it will be set up again.  Due to  lack of elevation at the new home, I may not ever set it up again.

KB0QCL is running a Kantronics TNC, and has a mailbox on it.  Back in the day, before any 'normal' people had email, I'd arrive home and see a blinking MAIL LED knowing that someone had left me a message.  I miss that.

So here's the deal... before I take down KB0QCL, whomever leaves me an email, wins the contest, and $50 for themselves or a charity of their choice.

The idea is to demonstrate that the APRS network in place today could be pressed in to service with no further configuration to pass actual two way text traffic in a bone fide zombie apocalypse.

The rules:

1)Using the APRS network, leave me a mail message.  Make it at least 161 characters.  This isn't about eeking one word through the network, or even something that would fit in a tweet or an SMS, it's about passing some actual traffic.

2)Direct connections are not allowed.  You must subvert the APRS network and use APRS digis as repeaters.

2b)It is assumed you'll shut down the APRS station, and just use the TNC/radio/antenna combination that's in place.  Extra kudos if you can keep your APRS station running while also using it as a TNC.

Or not 2b)  You are not allowed to be mobile, you have to do this from a currently operating fixed APRS node.  No driving closer to KB0QCL just to connect directly. (see 2) Or driving close enough to just be one hop out.  You've got to use the network as it is now, from a fixed APRS station now.  

3)The proof of success will be the mail LED light.

4)To prove that you earned the payout, capture the text from the session, and email to me.

5)The contest ends when I notice the mail LED lit, or when I take down the station.  I'm not sure how much longer the station will be up, it might be later today, it might be in a day or two.... my schedule is hectic and we're in a scramble mode to empty the house and deep clean everything, so I'm not sure, and won't say because I can't say.

6)I have not tested any of this so.... so if the TNC doesn't allow mail to be left, the session text capture will be proof that a connection was made to KB0QCL, if it doens't allow mail to be left, whomever emails me first with proof will be the winner.  I will post back to this list when that happens.  As I will not be tied to my computer, it might be tens of hours later when I finally do.

Looking at aprs.fi I see that 145.390 is showing up, meaning that propagation is such that KB0QCL is getting in to an igate directly. (KC9RGZ-10 according to aprs.fi)  So while it may be easy to hit it directly, it's not allowed.  Subvert those digis and reach out across the APRS network to pipe an AX.25 connection back to your station, and send a message the old fashion way.... via a packet TNC mailbox!

(Then remember to send me the capture of how you did it via the not so old fashion internet!)