Automatic Position Reporting System / Automatic Packet Reporting System
Used by permission of Bob Bruninga — WB4APR. Thanks Bob for your permission and suggestions.
Definition: A packet radio application for tracking real-time events by graphically displaying information on maps displayed on the user’s computer screen.
Software Available for APRS
APRSDos DOS
MacAPRS Macintosh
WinAPRS Windows
javAPRS
paImAPRS uses Palm III Organizer
XAPRS Linux
Xastir Linux
Windows CE
UI — View
APRS Plus (APRS+) uses DeLorme Street Atlas for maps
Software available for download from: www.tapr.org click on “Latest APRS Software”
Go to “Software” and download software of your choice.
APRSDos can run on an old computer that has 8088 processors and as little RAM as 640 Kb.
Publications available on APRS:
Getting On Track with APRS; ARRL Publication, 1996
APRS Tracks, Maps and Mobiles; ARRL Publication, 1999
Frequencies in Use:
2 meters 144.39 USA/Canada/Most of Europe
145.825 PCsat APRS satellite at 1200 baud up and down
Space Station 145.800 downlink
(ISS) 145.990 uplink
70 cm 445.925
HF
30 meters 10.151 LSB most commonly used
20 meters 14.103 LSB
17 meters 18.107 LSB
A GPS Receiver is not required and does not have to be hooked up for a home(QTH) or a fixed station, all that is required is your known position (Latitude/Longitude) which can be found on DeLorme Street Atlas, DeLorme Topo State maps, any USGS Topo map, or by someone with a GPS receiver!
| Internet Sites: | |
| WB4APR | http://www.ew.usna.edu/bruninga/aprs.html |
| Northwest APRS | http://nwaprs.org |
| Kansas City APRS | http://www.kcaprs.org |
| Northern Illinois APRS | http://nian.aprs.net |
Internet Sites Regarding the PCsat APRS satellite:
| PCsat WEB page | http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pcsat.html |
| ISS-APRS FAQ | http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/iss-faq.html |
| APRS LIVE pages | http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/aprs.html |
| APRS SATELLITES | http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/astars.html |
Live APRS activity on the Internet
| This is live APRS activity in North America or you can specify a Region you wish to view, this takes awhile to load so be patient. |
http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/find.cgi?
| This site gives you 3 views of a stations location and a few other options. Remember to end this url with the station you want to view callsign. i.e.http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/find.cgi?KI0BJ |
New Hardware for APRS
| Kenwood TH-D7A | 2m/440 MHz handheld radio with built-in 1200/9600 tnc, built-in APRS software, can send messages and view other APRS stations. |
| Kenwood TM-D7OOA | 2m/440 MHz mobile radio with built-in 1200/9600 tnc, built-in APRS software, built-in 9pin D connector to connect to computer. |
APRS Stations in Montana, Northern Wyoming
| KI0BJ | Yellowtail, MT (Ft Smith) | Gateway, Trackers, Portable Station |
| K7MT | Helena, MT | I-Gate, Trackers, Digi, Portable Station |
| AC7DE | Helena, MT | Fixed Station |
| KC7VCY | Helena, MT | Fixed Station |
| BZNLAN | Bozeman, MT | Fixed Station at High Flats |
| KD7MFJ- 11 | Bozeman, MT | High Altitude Balloon — MSU Physics Dept. |
| N7VMR-1O | Billings, MT | Digi |
| N7VMR- 1 | Billings, MT | I-Gate |
| K7ETT | Billings, MT | Fixed Station |
| K7LEW | Billings, MT | Fixed Station |
| KC7QBR | Billings, MT | Tracker |
| N8BMA | Sheridan, WY | I-Gate, Trackers |
| KC7ZRU | Casper, WY | I-Gate, Tracker |
We are always looking for future Digipeater sites. If you know of a good site and the name, email address & telephone number of a contact person, please let us know.
If you have questions about APRS or how to set up an APRS station we can be reached at the following e-mail addresses:
KIOBJ Rex Blaine email: jblaine@nemontel.net
K7MT Bill Erhardt email: erhardt@mt.net
Hope to see you on APRS soon!