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
WB4APR               Maryland      MD  aprssig@tapr.org
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
?????                Nebraska      NE  dkaplan@pionet.net
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
KC5EJK               Dallas        TX  kc5ejk@onramp.com
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
Mike Tyrrell         England       100321.1327@compuserve.com


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.
Your distribution files should contain ONLY YOUR maps, and NO OTHERS for 
which you are not responsible.

     Build your MAPLIST.XX to include your XX state maps and all larger 
maps that contain your state all the way up to WORLD.map.  I have made
a MAPLIST.XX which contains all of the large maps that you can use as
the beginning point for your maplist.  It lists all 30 or so of the big
USA maps, so when you are using your maplist, you can still zoom to other
areas of the country to at least the detail of the USA distribution
without having to lad another maplist..

     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.


FINALLY, to build your zip file, perform the following steps:
1)  Create a temorary file (lets call it MYMAPS)
2)  Make MAPS and MAPLISTS subdirectories
3)  Copy all of YOUR maps in to the MAPS subdirectory
4)  Copy your MAPLIST.XX into the MAPLISTS directory
5)  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
