APRS and Amateur Radio in Hawaii
APRS, or Automatic Position Reporting System is a means of adapting computer and digital communications to regular voice FM radios for the purpose of sending and receiving information. APRS has many uses. It was developed by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR. Information on using APRS in Hawaii is listed on this page.
Hams can use APRS to pass short instant messages on ham radio. When the station is equipped with GPS, it will automatically beacon status and position reports at regular intervals so others can track the progress. The information can be overlayed onto maps or satellite photos.
By connecting an APRS station to the Internet, messages can flow through the Internet to other parts of the world, and can be visible on the Internet. These characteristics makes it ideal as a foundation for emergency communications status and position reporting using computers and amateur radio.
APRS is perhaps the simplest and easiest digital packet communications mode to setup, operate and enjoy. Its a stepping stone to more functional and challenging modes, such as IP (Internet Protocol) mailbox systems such as Telpac/Winlink and JNOS.
I've found UI-View32 to be an excellent-to-use APRS client. It is very robust and well featured.
Aloha and mahalo to Dave Dobbins, WH6YC who fostered a lot of APRS interest in the early 1990s and coded the APRS DOS maps for Hawaii, and Rick Ching, KH7O who is the current advocate and enthusiast.
These links open up into maps that display the APRS activity on each island.
This map displays recent activity on Oahu.These maps show APRS activity that were relayed by satellites orbiting overhead.
Dave Dobbins K7GPS offers tips on operating APRS in Hawaii. Additionally, he documents APRS operations at Hawaii State Civil Defense during the Sendai earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011.
These are sample configurations of APRS stations. APRS communications occurs on 144.39 Mhz with 1200 baud AFSK, AX.25 packets.
Hardware TNC configuration
- A PC with Windows/XP
- Kantronics KPC-3 Plus TNC
- Two Meter Radio and antenna
- TNC-to-radio microphone and speaker interconnecting audio cable
- TNC-to-PC RS-232C cable
- A client PC program such as UI-View32
Software-based configuration
- A PC with Windows/XP and extra sound card
- SV2AGW Sound Card Driver (substitute for TNC)
- Two Meter Radio and antenna
- Tigertronics SL-1+ PC-to-Radio interface
- Cables for PC-to-radio interface
- A client PC program such as AGWTracker
Radio-based configuration
- Kenwood TM-D710A Dual Band mobile radio with built-in APRS TNC
- Dual-band antenna
- For PC or Mac operations, use Radio-to-PC RS-232C cable PG-5G
- PC with Windows/XP
- A client PC program such as UI-View32
Mobile Tracker configuration
- A tracker, such as the Byonics TinyTrak tracker
- Two Meter Radio
- Two Meter antenna
APRS Network
Transmit: 144.39 Mhz, Receive: 144.39 Mhz- West Kauai:
- East Kauai:
- North Kauai:
- Oahu: WIDE2-2
- Maui: WIDE2-2
- West Hawaii: WIDE2-2
- East Hawaii:
Hawaii APRS Digipeaters and Internet Gateways
- West Kauai Digipeater: None
- East Kauai Digipeater: None
- North Kauai Digipeater: None
- South Kauai Digipeater: None
- West Oahu Digipeater: AH6MG
- East Oahu Digipeater: KH7O
- South Oahu Digipeater: KH6MP
- South Oahu IGate: KH7UK
- South Oahu IGate: KH7UK-2 Kaiser Moanalua
- East Maui Digipeater: AH6GR
- East Maui IGate: AH6GR
- West Hawaii: None
- East Hawaii: None
- North Hawaii: None
- South Hawaii: None
International Space Station (ISS) (ARISS)
Transmit: 145.990 Mhz, Receive: 145.800 Mhz- State-wide: ARISS,WIDE2-2
International Space Station (ISS) (PCSAT2, now retired)
Transmit: 145.825 Mhz, Receive: 435.275 Mhz- State-wide: ARISS,WIDE2-2
PCSAT Satellites
Transmit: 145.825 Mhz, Receive: 145.825 MhzAmateur Radio Stations heard via ANDE, PCSAT, RAFT
- State-wide: ARISS,WIDE2-2
More APRS Configuration Reference Information
Hawaii APRS Links
General APRS Links
UI-View32 Links for Windows
- UI-View32 Site
- UI-View Registration
- UI-View Downloads
- UI-View32 Setup
- UI-View Support FAQ
- UI-View32 Maps
- UI-View32 Setup for Internet Connection - See Step #8, 9
- APRS IS Filter Settings for Internet Connection
- UI-View Setup for Victoria, Australia
- UI-View Setup for Hamburg, Germany
- UI-View32 Setup for Satgate
Satellite APRS Links
- APRS packets digipeated through the International Space Station (ARISS)
- APRS Satellite Tracking and Reporting System
- ISS/APRS Satellite Frequency Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How to setup an ARISS to APRS-IS Satgate Satellite-to-Internet Gateway
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