MOREMAPS.txt ver 65a     ALL ABOUT MORE MAPS


To handle the ever increasing number of maps, the APRS distro disk now
will include the basic APRSvv.zip file plus an additional Emaps, Cmaps,
SEmaps, or Wmaps ZIP file appropriate for your area.  Only the most
common maps will be in the basic APRSvv.zip file.  Files posted on APRS
BBS's will include these and additional State XXmapsVV.zip files.  To
understand the organization of MAPLISTs and MAP files, the following
summary is provided:

MAPLIST.USA  -  Common maps included in all distro versions.
MAPLIST.EAS  -  DISTRO maps, with more small E.coast maps
MAPLIST.CEN  -  DISTRO maps, etc
MAPLIST.WES  -  DISTRO maps, etc
MAPLIST.SE   -  DISTRO maps, etc

MAPLIST.AK   -  Unique maps for Alaska   
MAPLIST.CA   -  Unique maps for California *
MAPLIST.MI   -  Unique maps for Michigan   *
MAPLIST.MN   -  Unique maps for Minnesota
MAPLIST.MO   -  Unique maps for Missouri
MAPLIST.OH   -  Unique maps for Ohio
MAPLIST.TX   -  Unique maps for TEXAS      *

   * These maps are currently included in the WEST and CENTRAL standard
distribution, so will NOT need to be separately obtained... (for now)



The above MAPLISTS simply LIST the maps and tell APRS which map to use when.
When you unzip your distribution disk as directed in INSTALL.txt, then you
will initially be using MAPLIST.USA.  Use the FILE-CHANGE command to choose
one of the other maplists for your area.  Your distro disk will contain the
major distro maps for your area.

The following map distribution packages will CONTAIN the different groupings
of maps themselves:

APRSvvvv.zip   Standard distro, has most USA maps above 64 miles
Emaps___.zip   Only the unique EAST
Cmaps___.zip   Only the unique CENTRAL
Wmaps___.zip   Only the unique WEST
AKmaps__.zip   Only AK maps               (currently in Wmaps)
CAmaps__.zip   Distributed by W7KKE in CA (Currently in Wmaps)
OHmaps__.zip   Distributed by KB8JXO in Columbus
MOmaps__.zip   Distributed by KU0G   in Missouri
TXmaps__.zip   Distributed by N5JXS       (currently in Cmaps)

NEWmapVV.zip   Will be used to distro new individual maps submitted to me
               You will have to add them to your maplist as desired.
     

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.

KA7UUS @ K7BUC.AZ      Tuscon         AZ
KD6MKS                 Silver Lake    CA
W7KKE  @ KA6EYH#nocal  San Francisco  CA Wrote Digitizer and CONV100!
WA4MEJ                 Jaxonville     FL
KD4UYR                 Clearwater     FL
G3ZFJ @ W4DPH.#TPA.FL  Tampa          FL has digitizer
N4FOR                  Savannah       GA
WH6YC                  Honolulu       HI Dave DObbins (ex KB5UBW fm TX)
KG0DW & N0YKX & KI0Q   IOWA           IA
N9LCI  David Chesser                  IL
KB5YRZ @ N5SSY#METLA   New Orleans    LA
W1KRU  @ KA1TUZ.MA     Boston         MA
KD1E   @ N8NNN.#SEMI   Michigan       MI
W8VPD                  Michigan UPPER MI
KU0G   @ KU0G#NWMO.MO  Kansas City    MO  Lots of maps!
KC5AUG cll4@ra.msstate.edu            MS  601-325-8553
W4NMK                  Black Mountain NC
WA1VJH                 Keene          NH  digitizer
N2FET                  New Jersey     NJ
KB8JXO @ W8CQK.#CMH.OH Columbus       OH  Over 50 maps!
KG8GE                  Narion         OH  wrote CAD APRS map program!
N7ZKL  @ K7IQI.OR                     OR  Oregon and (for now, WASH)
KD1HA @ KA1RCI.RI      Rhode Island   RI  (new england)
WB5DTW                 SanAntonio     TX
N5JXS                  Houston        TX
N5ZXD @ N4QEP.#WTX.TX  Lubbock        TX  good with Mapfixer!
N4WJQ  @ WA4TFZ.VA     Charlottsville VA
W8KVK                  West Va        VA
W9LZQ                  Onalaska       WI
VK4TAB                 Brisbane       Austrailia (digitizer)

For those that like statistics, as of Mar 95, I have a total of 290 maps
(including APRS distro (which has CA, TX, and AK maps included), plus the
separate OHIO and MISSOURI maps.  The total full-up APRS system takes
6.6 megs on my HD.  (big on a 20MB drive, but trivial on a 250MB drive!

ALL APRS STATE MAPFILES SHOULD CONFORM TO THE FOLLOWING RULES:

INDIVIDUAL MAPS:  If you send me a disk or FILE with individual maps in it,
include a piece of paper with the exact LAT/LONG/RANGE and insertion
instructions so that I can edit it into my MAPLIST.  If you put this in a
file, then DO NOT PUT ANY OTHER LAT/LONG/RANGE data in the same file that
will confuse me, unless it is needed for heirarchical purposes.  Include
instructions on where to insert the new map(s) in the list.


STATE MAP COORDINATORS:  Please, DO NOT modify MAPLIST.USA, E,C,W and SE since
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 so that
I can be the one to change the name and replace my copy...

     ALL mapnames should begin with your two letter STATE abbreviation.
I know its hard, but is absolutely necessary for all of us to be able to
make sense out of our ever growing MAP directories!

     Maintain a MAPLIST.XX which contains ONLY your XX state maps and
all larger maps that contain your state all the way up to WORLD.map; nothing
else.  This file should always be in your zipped up map packages.

     All XX state map distribution packages should be named consistently as
XXmapsNN.zip, where NN 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 XXaftrNN.zip.  This file will contain
all of the NEW maps and changes for state XX, AFTER version NN.

     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.  They
can use this MAPLIST.xxA and still have most of what everyone else has,
without having to switch back and forth.

With this standard nomenclature we can all keep track of whats going on.!



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.

It simply 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 REPEATER groups or other HAM
groups that might like to HIRE you to make a map for them.  I think there
is a BIG market out there for people that need maps.  Again, this is NOT to
commercialize APRS maps, but simply to make available expertise where needed.
If you are going into this business, please contact me.  I suggest that
the DIGITIZER method is far less labor intensive than the CD ROM, at this
point, since you can make ANY map from a paper map supplied by the customer.

