What is APRS APRS stands for Automatic Packet

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What is APRS? • APRS stands for Automatic Packet Reporting System or Automatic Position

What is APRS? • APRS stands for Automatic Packet Reporting System or Automatic Position Reporting System. • APRS was developed in the early 1990's by Bob Bruninga, WB 4 APR, for tracking and digital communications with mobile GPS equipped stations utilizing Amateur two-way radio.

APRS is not a vehicle tracking system. • It is a two-way tactical real-time

APRS is not a vehicle tracking system. • It is a two-way tactical real-time digital communications system between all assets in a network sharing information about everything going on in the local area. On ham radio, this means if something is happening now, or there is information that could be valuable to you, then it should show up on your APRS radio in your mobile.

How It Works • APRS uses a simplex 2 meter frequency • Operates at

How It Works • APRS uses a simplex 2 meter frequency • Operates at 1200 baud • APRS is on 144. 39 throughout the North American Continent • Can be used on other frequencies for events

Basic Capabilities • • Position Reports Weather Reports Telemetry Data Messages, Bulletins and Announcements

Basic Capabilities • • Position Reports Weather Reports Telemetry Data Messages, Bulletins and Announcements

Uses of APRS • • Public Service Events Emergency Operations Weather Station Reporting SKYWARN

Uses of APRS • • Public Service Events Emergency Operations Weather Station Reporting SKYWARN

Public Service Events • Coordinate Volunteers • Information Gathering • Graphical Representation of Event

Public Service Events • Coordinate Volunteers • Information Gathering • Graphical Representation of Event Coverage

Emergency Operations • Coordinate & Organize help • Gather Information – Quickly – Graphically

Emergency Operations • Coordinate & Organize help • Gather Information – Quickly – Graphically • Decrease response times to location • Increase efficient deployment to location

APRS Stations • There a variety of APRS Station types, just like a voice

APRS Stations • There a variety of APRS Station types, just like a voice ham station: – Home – Mobile (trackers) – Portable – Weather – Repeater (digipeaters) – IGate

Station Basics • • Transceiver TNC Display GPS

Station Basics • • Transceiver TNC Display GPS

Various Mobile Setups Mobile Tracking Installations utilize a GPS connected to the radio through

Various Mobile Setups Mobile Tracking Installations utilize a GPS connected to the radio through the TNC interface, Although the new “APRS Ready” transceivers like Kenwood’s TM- D 700 have their own built in TNC.

Various Portable Setups A Portable Tracker is usually low powered and may need a

Various Portable Setups A Portable Tracker is usually low powered and may need a nearby digipeater. These units work well with bike-a-thons, parades and other community events, along with search & rescue operations and weather nets.

Weather Station Setups Weather station setups with APRS are similar to the normal setups,

Weather Station Setups Weather station setups with APRS are similar to the normal setups, but the GPS unit is usually replaced by outside Weather Monitoring Equipment.

APRS-IS • IGATEs are stations that feed data to and from the internet •

APRS-IS • IGATEs are stations that feed data to and from the internet • APRServers are stations that IGATES send data to and redistribute them to the IGATEs • www. Findu. com is a database archiving weather, position, telemetry, and message data. The primary source of data is APRS. This database is constantly updated and is accessed via a number of dynamic web pages.

Definitions • A tracker is a mobile station • Posits are position reports •

Definitions • A tracker is a mobile station • Posits are position reports • Digipeaters are stations that act as a simplex repeater except in a digital format • GATES are stations that take the HF APRS data and retransmits them on VHF and possible the internet.

Resources • APRS Overview by WB 4 APR: http: //www. aprs. org • Find.

Resources • APRS Overview by WB 4 APR: http: //www. aprs. org • Find. U. com: http: //www. findu. com • Tucson Amateur Packet Radio http: //www. tapr. org/ • APRS SIG mailing list https: //lists. tapr. org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aprssig • 2003 North Texas APRS Workshop http: //www. n 5 oom. org/2004_hamcom/presentations. htm

Software • • Xastir (an open-source APRS-compatible system under development for Linux and other

Software • • Xastir (an open-source APRS-compatible system under development for Linux and other X-capable systems) http: //www. xastir. org APRS for DOS (original, requires 8088 or better, 640 K RAM, VGA) ftp: //ftp. tapr. org/aprssig/dosstuff/APRSdos/ Win. APRS (32 -bit Windows program, needs Win 95/98 or Win 3. 1 plus Win 32 s extensions) ftp: //ftp. tapr. org/aprssig/winstuff/Win. APRS/ Mac. APRS (available for 68 K or Power PC Macintosh computers) ftp: //ftp. tapr. org/aprssig/macstuff/Mac. APRS/ APRS Plus SA (allows you to run Win 95/98 Delorme Street Atlas 4 or later with as an APRS station) http: //www. tapr. org/~kh 2 z/aprsplus/Download. htm UI-View (A Win 3. 1/95/98 APRS-compatible system that supports BPQ- and AGWcompatible devices) AGW Packet Engine for Windows 9 x adds support for Baycom modems, KISS TNCs and even sound cards to Win. APRS, APRS Plus SA, and other programs. http: //www. soundcardpacket. info

Projects/Kits • Ham. HUD (APRS-Compatible Display/Control Unit for TNC-based Trackers) http: //www. hamhud. net/

Projects/Kits • Ham. HUD (APRS-Compatible Display/Control Unit for TNC-based Trackers) http: //www. hamhud. net/ • Tiny. Trak 3 (GPS position encoder which, when connected to a serial GPS and a radio, will transmit its location at an adjustable rate) http: //www. byonics. com/tinytrak/