MAPS.txt ver 7.2e          ALL ABOUT APRS MAPS

SUMMARY: This file used to be moremaps.txt but has been renamed. There
are three other important MAP README's.  MAPMAKIN.txt describes the format
of APRS maps and how to make them.  MAPS-CD tells you how to make maps 
from the USGS CD ROMS, and MAPS-HST tells you how to make maps simply
by driving and saving a track history!


MAP DISTRIBUTION:

The APRS distro disk now includes the basic APRSvv.zip file and regional
USA maps plus an additional XmapsVV.zip for your area.  The following
MAPLISTS 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.

The following lists the currently known MAP distributions.  Look  for
them on your local area BBS's.  To see the boundaries of these regions,
use the MAPS-ALT command when centered on the USA map.


MAPLIST FILE  DISTRO MAPS   COMMENTS
------------  -----------   -------------------------------------
MAPLIST.USA   APRSxx.zip    World and regional maps
MAPLIST.EAS   Emaps01.zip   Virginia and north, and East of Ohio
MAPLIST.MID   Mmaps01.zip   Midwest Ohio through Illinois
MAPLIST.CEN   Cmaps01.zip   Dakotas, NE, KS, TX to Wyoming & Colorado
MAPLIST.WES   Wmaps01.zip   Idaho, Utah & Arizona and west
MAPLIST.SE    SEmaps04.zip  Arkansas to east and south

OTHER DISTRIBUTION PACKAGES BY STATE COORDINATORS:

MAPLIST.AK    AKmaps01.zip  Alaska   
MAPLIST.CA    CAmaps03.zip  California (Currently in WES)
MAPLIST.MI    MImaps01.zip  Michigan   
MAPLIST.MN    MNmaps01.zip  Minnesota
MAPLIST.MO    MOmaps02.zip  Missouri
MAPLIST.OH    OHmaps03.zip  Ohio
MAPLIST.NC    NCmaps01.zip  North Carolina
MAPLIST.ON    ONmaps01.zip  Ontario


NEWmapVV.zip   Will be used to distro new maps that I find.  You will
               have to add them to your maplist as needed.      

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.

N7QVU  @ K7BUC.AZ      Tuscon         AZ 602-492-2545(w) jwyatt@amex-
                                         trs.com
WC7R   @ KB7FRV.AZ     Prescott       AZ north BBS on 520 778-9198
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
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                  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 
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              Charlottsville VA
W8KVK                  West Va        VA
KB4XF  @ KC4ASF#NOVA.VA Fredericsburg 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

As of Mar 95, I have a total of 290 maps, 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 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
the 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.  I dont think
this program will ever need to be used by the average user.

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 HAM clubs or 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.  John
Baum KB8JXO in  Columbus Ohio is making detail street maps for a
comparable contibution, see his 2 mile map around my house. 3909N
07636W.


See MAPMAKIN.txt for the DETAILS on making APRS maps.

See MAPS-CD.txt for details on using the USGS CD ROMS to make maps.

See MAPS-HST.txt for how to make maps from GPS Track Histories.

See any APRS map with a text utility to see what the data looks like.
