APRS Automatic Packet Reporting System Scott Honaker N

APRS Automatic Packet Reporting System Scott Honaker – N 7 WLO

What is APRS? ► Ad-hoc, connectionless network able to relay position reports and messages § No routing information is required § Packet delivery is not guaranteed § Packets contain position, status or short messages § Most stations can automatically digipeat § IGates make data available to the world N 7 WLO 2

APRS Use ► Originally intended for events § Provides basic location and message handling § Can communicate between base, mobile and portable stations § Allows assets to be plotted on map whether moving or fixed in near real-time § Simplifies deployment N 7 WLO 3

Other APRS Uses ► Web page eliminates “Where are you” cell phone calls ► SAR/EOC – Many now have APRS capability because it is nearly custom tailored ► Messaging – Ability to reach someone live ► Email – Can send Email via an IGate ► Weather – Current weather reports available from connected weather stations N 7 WLO 4

APRS Uses - Continued ► Security – Can send emergency message when broken down ► Tracking – Use like a low-jack system ► Direction finding – Several packages support DF capabilities by triangulation with multiple stations simultaneously ► Extra Field Day points – post your score ► Anything you can think of… N 7 WLO 5

How to connect to APRS ► http: //map. findu. com/callsign ► 2 m nationwide on 144. 390 MHz § With DOSAPRS, Win. APRS, Mac. APRS, etc ► HF on 10. 151 MHz LSB ► Winlink 2000 (HF Email) ► Satellite via PCSat or International Space Station (ISS) N 7 WLO 6

APRS Network ► APRS Station Types § Basic – Transmit and receive § Tracker – Transmit only § RELAY – Provide basic digipeating § WIDE – Dedicated digipeaters with specific coverage areas § IGate – Internet gateways to repeat APRS packets to servers on the Internet N 7 WLO 7

APRS Network Diagram Tracker RELAY Digipeater Internet N 7 WLO WIDE Digipeater and IGATE 8

APRS on the Internet FINDU Server APRSServe WU 2 Z Mail Server IGate User on map. findu. com IGate N 7 WLO IGate Email user 9

APRS Routing ► NWAPRS Default – RELAY, WIDE 3 -3 § One generic digipeater hop and 3 WIDE § Covers area with good WIDE support § Good coverage with minimal traffic ► Little Infrastructure – RELAY, WIDE § Uses two generic digipeaters to get to WIDE ► Fixed Station – N 7 WLO-0, WIDE 3 -3 § Minimizes traffic if path known N 7 WLO 10

APRS Naming ► Callsign-SSID § N 7 WLO-7 is car with Kenwood TH-D 700 A § N 7 WLO is home station § N 7 WLO-8 is boat ► Tactical Callsigns § CAMANO, SKAGIT, SEATAC, MV 911, MSEOC § More informative § Callsign included in status text N 7 WLO 11

Secondary Station Ids - SSID N 7 WLO SSID Symbol NWAPRS Station Type -0 Dot Home Station -1 Ambulance Home PBBS -2 Bus -3 Firetruck -4 Bicycle -5 Yacht -6 Helicopter -7 Aircraft TH-D 7/D 700 Station -8 Ship Secondary Automobile -9 Car Primary Automobile -10 Motorcycle Primary WIDE -11 Balloons Secondary WIDE -12 Jeep -13 RV -14 Truck -15 Van TCPIP Only 12

Typical APRS Station ► 2 m FM Radio § Units with packet data ports are more reliable ► TNC – Kantronics KPC-3+ is the standard ► GPS with NMEA support ► Computer – Most anything ► Software – For nearly any platform N 7 WLO 13

APRS Station Diagram GPS-Optional RS-232 Serial Cable Computer running APRS Software N 7 WLO TNC Cable – Unique to Radio/TNC Combination VHF TNC - like Kantronics KPC-3 144. 390 2 m Radio 14

Minimal APRS Station ► 2 m FM Radio ► Windows computer with a sound card ► AGW Packet Engine (software TNC) ► AGW-Compatible software (like APRSPoint) ► Optional GPS – not required for fixed station operation ► A laptop and HT can work well N 7 WLO 15

Soundcard TNC Interfacing N 7 WLO 16

Simplified Soundcard Interfacing N 7 WLO 17

Dedicated APRS Stations ► Kenwood TH-D 7 A/G § Dual Band HT with internal TNC § Includes APRS software internally § All position/message functions available § Jacks for PC/Laptop and GPS input/output ► Kenwood TH-D 700 A/G § 50 w Dual Band Mobile with internal TNC § Adds digipeater and other features to TH-D 7 § Voice synthesizer option N 7 WLO 18

Kenwood APRS Radios N 7 WLO 19

Kenwood D 7 and Garmin e. Trex N 7 WLO 20

APRS Map from APRSPoint N 7 WLO 21

APRSPoint Detailed Map N 7 WLO 22

APRS Position on Find. U. com N 7 WLO 23

APRS Messages on Find. U. com N 7 WLO 24

APRS Weather in Find. U. com N 7 WLO 25

APRS Tracking on Find. U. com N 7 WLO 26

APRS Technologies ► MIC-E (Mike Encoder) § Short (~100 m. S) APRS burst at the beginning of voice transmissions § Provides APRS support through voice repeaters § Available in Kenwood D 7/D 700 § Rarely used ► APRStt (APRS Touch Tone) § Latest from Bob Bruninga § Make APRS available on ANY radio with DTMF N 7 WLO 27

APRS via Satellites Satellite Downlink Uplink Routing ISS 145. 800 145. 990 PCSAT-A 145. 828 RS 0 ISS, SGATE, Wide W 3 ADO 1, SGATE, Wide PCSAT-B 144. 390 N/A UO-22 435. 120 (9600 baud) N 7 WLO 145. 975 UOSATS 28

Satellite Tracking with a D 700 N 7 WLO 29

APRS Trackers Tigertronics Tiger. Trak ► Basic location data ► Balloon experiments (with altitude profiles) ► Telemetry – River levels in Lewis County Ham. HUD Kantronics KPC-3 Plus N 7 WLO Byonics Tiny. Trak II 30

SAR/EOC Use of APRS ► “Real-time” tracking of assets ► GPS and radio standard equipment ► APRS and voice available with D 7 ► All other stations visible on GPS displays ► APRStt will provide access for everyone else ► Messaging to/from units with D 7 ► Message traffic and positions logged ► Messages/positions available on Internet ► Email available for stations via IGate N 7 WLO 31

APRS Software Platforms ► DOSAPRS ► Win. APRS/APRS+SA/APRSPoint/UI-View ► Mac. APRS ► Pocket. APRS (Palm devices) ► APRSce (Windows CE devices) ► Xastir (Linux) N 7 WLO 32

Windows Software ► Win. APRS § Oldest, feature-rich, confusing interface ► APRS+SA § Good features, Street Atlas maps, two programs ► APRSPoint § Limited features, cleanest interface, no better maps ► UI-View § Good features, must create maps N 7 WLO 33

APRS Resources ► map. findu. com ► www. TAPR. org ► www. NWAPRS. org ► www. APRSPoint. com ► www. QSL. net/soundcardpacket ► www. Packet. Radio. org. UK N 7 WLO 34

Manufacturer Links www. kantronics. com TNCs – KPC-3+ www. tigertronics. com Soundcard interfaces, trackers and GPSes www. byonics. com Tiny. Track II interface www. hamhud. com Ham. HUD device in development www. mfjenterprises. com TNCs, cables and interfaces www. packetradio. com Rascal soundcard interface www. westmountainradio. com Rig. Blaster interfaces www. gpscity. com Great deals on GPS units N 7 WLO 35