SMS Spotting

[wk2s]

Does WWFF support spotting via SMS?
ParksnPeaks does attempt to send spots but I just get database errors.
For example:
! wwff kff-2144 14.044 cw
returns PNPERROR:kff-2144 NOT IN DB
while
! POTA US-2144 14.044 cw
posts a properspot on pota.app.

[OH6KZP]

Hi Art,

This sounds like an issue that could best be answered/debugged by the developers of ParksnPeaks, where the SMS interface is.

The WWFF Spotline spotting service has a documented API that is used by other software for integration. Without knowing the details, my impression is that Parksnpeaks.org intends to use it (see https://spots.wwff.co/info under “Apps that integrate with Spotline”), but perhaps there is something with the SMS that still needs work.

73
Kim OH6KZP

[wk2s]

Hi Kim,

Sadly, ParksnPeaks SMS spotting is only for POTA and WWFF(AU). That is the reason for the database errors. I did contact ParksnPeaks but they are focused on the AU/NZ needs.
I do use WWFF Agenda when possible but this doesn’t always work. SMS seems like a good alternative when cell service is poor. The latest generation of smart phones can even SMS directly to a satellite constellation if terrestrial service is not available. In the US, T-Mobile offers satellite service (StarLink) for $US10/month. Of course this is of no use if there isn’t a gateway.

73,
Art WK2S

[OH6KZP]

Hi Art,

Thanks for your investigative work!

From a software development perspective, the easiest approach by far would be for the ParksnPeaks developers to include WWFF (also outside AU) in their SMS spotting service. So I encourage you to keep pushing there 🙂

Developing another service from scratch instead is a lot of work (by unpaid volunteers). I also suspect that motivation to do that would not be very high, since it would essentially be about duplicating something that already exists.

73
Kim OH6KZP

[Author]

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