KU5E

What is APRS?

The Automatic Packet Reporting System was designed to support rapid, reliable exchange of information for local, tactical real-time information, events or nets. The concept, which dates back to the mid 1980’s, is that all relevant information is transmitted immediately to everyone in the net and every station captures that information for consistent and standard display to all participants. Information was refreshed redundantly but at a decaying rate so that old information was updated less frequently than new info. Since the primary objective is consistent exchange of information between everyone, APRS established standard formats not only for the transmission of POSITION, STATUS, MESSAGES, and QUERIES, it also establishes guidelines for display so that users of different systems will still see the same consistent information displayed in a consistent manner (independent of the particular display or maping system in use).

APRS provides situational awareness to all operators of everything that is going on in his local area, whether it be Weather reporting, traveler info, Direction Finding, objects pointing to ECHOlink and IRLP, or Traffic reporting and emergency response. All of this while providing not only instantaneous operator-to-operator keyboard messaging capability for special events, but also an always-on Voice Alert backchannel between mobiles in simplex range. There is even an APRS interface to the WinLINK system called APRSlink, so that mobiles can send and receive Email without needing a PC. Think of APRS as a signalling channel to reveal ALL amateur radio resources and live activities that are in range of the operator at any instant in time.

APRS was developed by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, as a real-time local tactical communications system for rapidly exchanging digital data of immediate value to operations. This really took off when GPS became available and MAPS were integrated into the system for tactical situational awareness of everything in the net. In the 13 years since its introduction, (see history) it has grown to encompass just about every aspect of Amateur Radio.

APRS, The Big Picture: . APRS is not just vehicle tracking. . It was designed to be a resource for the local and traveling ham to show him surrounding local information of immediate value. . Not only does this mean having all digipeaters and the local reccomended voice frequency show up, but other information as well. . This page attempts to link you, the potential traveler, to APRS information in your region.

My Setup

Kenwood TM-D710, AvMap G5, Comet 5 inch Magnet Mount, Diamond SG7500, all in a 2004 Sebring Touring Convertible.

Tracking APRS

APRS Activity in and around Orlando, Fl

Tactical Operations

Great Video Illustrating the capabilities of APRS

Neat Stuff to Do

Sending Email on APRS

You can send internet EMAIL from an APRS station to any email account. This may be of particular interest to mobiles with APRS running, or TH-D7A or TM-D700/D710 radios that can process APRS one-liner formatted messages.

To send email, start the APRS message send window. In the destination field, where you would normally just enter the recipient’s callsign, you type in EMAIL, all in caps, as indicated. (67 total characters maximum)

In the body of the message, you first type the intended recipient’s email address, then leave a blank space, then begin typing the message. When done typing, click on SEND to get the message on its way.

You must be w/i range of an internet gate in order for the message to continue on via the internet. The message is routed by APRSERV to the mail server in New Jersey, where it is reformatted into a internet email message, and then sent.

You should receive an acknowledgement from the New Jersey email server, over the air. If you get this, you can count on your message getting onto the internet, and on its way to the recipient.

More Information

APRS From the Horses Mouth