MAPS.txt ver 7.5b ALL ABOUT APRS MAPS SUMMARY: There are three other important MAP README's. MAPMAKIN.txt describes the format of APRS maps and how to make them. MAPS-CD.txt tells you how to make maps from the USGS CD ROMS. This is where all the action is. MAPS-HST.txt covers how to drive around, save a track history, and then use that track to add to an APRS map! ANYxxx.map APRS maps are DOS TEXT. Look at one! MAP DISTRIBUTION: The basic APRSxx.zip file contains the major regional maps that will cover the interstates and some major highways. The APRS distro disk also contains an additional XmapsVV.zip for your region. APRS uses special MAPLIST files to tell APRS which map to use for any given cursor location and range. The default is MAPLIST.USA. Use the MAPS-CHANGE command to select the alternate MAPLIST for your area. To see the boundaries of all the maps in a given MAPLIST, use the MAPS-BORDERS command. I maintain all of the following MAPLISTS and distro files. MAPLIST FILE DISTRO MAPS COMMENTS ------------ ----------- ------------------------------------- MAPLIST.USA APRSxx.zip World and regional maps MAPLIST.EAS Emaps11.zip Virginia and north, and East of Ohio MAPLIST.MID Mmaps06.zip Midwest Ohio through Illinois MAPLIST.CEN Cmaps11.zip Dakotas, NE, KS, TX to Wyoming & Colorado MAPLIST.WES Wmaps09.zip Idaho, Utah & Arizona and west MAPLIST.SE SEmaps11.zip Arkansas to east and south MAPLIST.EU EUmaps02.zip European maps MAPLIST.AK AKmaps02.zip Alaskan Maps OTHER DISTRIBUTION PACKAGES BY STATE COORDINATORS: There are numerous additional map distributions for many states which also have their own MAPLISTS. Look for them on your local area BBS's. Here are a few: Alabama Maryland Arizona Michigan California Minnesota Georgia Missouri Hawaii North Carolina Illinois Ohio Iowa Texas Virginia APRS STATE MAP COORDINATORS! The following list of individuals has either volunteered or been drafted as a point of contact for APRS in their area. All have demonstrated their acumen by having figured out how to make at least ONE APRS map. KE4EER Bill Nolle Huntsville AL ke4eer@ro.com (lots of streets!) N7QVU @K7BUC.AZ Tuscon AZ 602-492-2545(w) jwyatt@amex-trs.com WC7R @KB7FRV.AZ Prescott AZ BBS 520 778-9198. alanwc7r@primenet.com KD6MKS Silver Lake CA W7KKE @KA6EYH#nocal San Franciso CA Wrote Digitizer and CONV100! WA4MEJ Jaxonville FL KD4UYR Clearwater FL G3ZFJ @W4DPH.#TPA.FL Tampa FL has digitizer N4NEQ Atlanta GA Ralph Fowler rwf@mindspring.com WH6YC Honolulu HI Dave DObbins (ex KB5UBW fm TX) KG0DW & N0YKX & KI0Q IOWA IA N9LCI IL David Chesser AD4CR @WB4HFR.#MIDKY.KY KY KB5YRZ@N5SSY#METLA New Orleans LA W1KRU @KA1TUZ.MA Boston MA KD1E @N8NNN.#SEMI Michigan MI W8VPD Michign UPPER MI KU0G @KU0G#NWMO.MO Kansas City MO Lots of maps! KC5AUG MS 601-325-8553 cll4@ra.msstate.edu W4NMK Black Mtn NC WA1VJH Keene NH digitizer N2FET New Jersey NJ G3ZFJ/W2 Long Island NY Bob W2G3ZFJ@unix.asb.com KB8JXO@W8CQK.#CMH.OH Columbus OH Over 50 maps! KG8GE Narion OH wrote CAD APRS map program! N7ZKL @K7IQI.OR OR Oregon KD1HA @KA1RCI.RI Rhode Island RI (new england) KN4IM @N4CII#CHS.SC Charleston SC On HF. 803-552-0654 WB5DTW SanAntonio TX N5JXS Houston TX N5ZXD @N4QEP.#WTX.TX Lubbock TX good with Mapfixer! N4WJQ @ WA4TFZ.VA Charlottsvlle VA W8KVK West Va VA KB4XF @KC4ASF#NOVA.VAFredericsburg VA Wrote MAKEMAP! W9LZQ Onalaska WI WA7NTF@WA7NTF#TAC#WWA.WA WA gkohtala@halcyon.com ZR6ABC@ZS0DLD.TVL.ZAF.AF South AFRICA VK4TAB Brisbane Austrailia (digitizer) VE3SVE Ontario ON ONmaps01.zip @ 905-792-7890 PA0RYS Netherlands EUROPEAN APRS DISTRO. See REGISTER.DOC ALL APRS STATE MAPFILES SHOULD CONFORM TO THE FOLLOWING RULES: INDIVIDUAL MAPS: If you make a disk or FILE with individual maps in it, send it to your state map coordinator and include a piece of paper with the exact LAT/LONG/RANGE and insertion instructions so that he can edit it into his MAPLIST. Include instructions on where to insert the new map(s) in the heirarchical list. STATE MAP COORDINATORS: Please, DO NOT modify MAPLIST.USA, or any of my standard distribution MAPLISTS. Their integrity is my responsibility. Also, do not make any changes to MY maps without CHANGING the map name. When users unzip your files, there should be NO FILES in your files that can unknowingly replace my original distro files. I WELCOME your changes to MY maps, but send them to me (with a unique name) so that I can be the one to make the change to the distribution copy... ALL mapnames should begin with your two letter STATE abbreviation. Consider making the next five characters represent individual counties or metro areas. The last character can be N,S,E,W, or any of the other 26 letters or numbers. Of course other names like XXneast or XXsouth are also good for the larger maps. Your distribution files should contain ONLY YOUR maps, and NO OTHERS for which you are not responsible. Build your MAPLIST.XX to include ONLY your XX state maps and all larger maps that contain your state all the way up to WORLD.map. All XX state map distribution packages should be named consistently as XXmapsVV.zip, where VV is the version number. Everyone can use that list to see the extent of your efforts and responsibility. The version number lets everyone know whats new, and lets BBS SYSOPS know whats OLD and can be deleted. Distribute interim UPDATE files as XXaftrVV.zip. This file will contain all of the NEW maps and changes for state XX, AFTER version VV. If you want to try to maintain an overall MAPLIST directory which includes all maps that your users may be interested in, including maps outside of your area, then name it MAPLIST.xxA. The xx identifies the state, but the A on the end clearly identifies it as including ALL that your users might want. If you have room, you can actually begin with MAPLIST.USA, add all of your unique maps and save this new list as your MAPLIST.xxA. By keeping all the .USA maps in your maplist, then your local users will still be able to see most of the USA with reasonable resolution without having to change MAPLISTs. FINALLY, build your zip file by placing your MAPLIST.XX in a directory by itself with a SUB directory MAPS that contains all of your maps. Then use PKZIP -rp XXmapsvv.zip to zip up your package. This way the directory structure is preserved and when the user uses PKUNZIP -d XXmapsVV.zip, he will get the MAPLIST and the MAPS in the right places. If we are all consistent in our distribution packages, then the users will have a lot less troubles... CAUTION: When adding MAPS to any MAPLIST.xxx file, the location of the map in the list is VERY IMPORTANT. Your new map must go AFTER any other larger map covering the same area, and BEFORE any smaller maps which overlap or may be included in your map. THis includes the edges of surounding areas and states. Use the MAPS-HEIRARCHY or MAPS BORDERS command to see the effect.. I HAVE WRITTEN A PROGRAM CALLED MKmapLST.bas which will scan a given directory and will BUILD a maplist from the data in the files. This list will NOT be in the proper heirarchical order, but can be used with an editor to cut and paste together a list for your area. This program will only be useful to dedicated map makers. It reads the map CENTER coordinates in the various MAP files and builds a simple list of them. If SOMEONE would like to add to this program to give it the intelligence to properly overlap the heirarchical structure, PLEASE DO SO! COMMERCIAL MAP MAKERS: I would encourage anyone that has the time and the energy to consider going into business making APRS maps for hire. Since APRS maps are intended for the public domain, do not expect to get per-copy fees or royalties, but there should be many HAM clubs or groups that might like to HIRE you to make a map for them. If you are going into this business, please contact me. John Baum KB8JXO in Columbus Ohio is making detail street maps for acomparable contibution, see his 2 mile map around my house. 3909N 07636W. SEE ADDITIONAL FILES on how to make maps: MAPS-CD.txt, MAPMAKIN.txt