APRS

 With all the buzz about the new Kenwood TH-D7A handheld, and the TH-D700 Mobile, many Hams are discovering APRS. But many have questions about this portion of the Amateur Radio hobby. This article addresses some of the basic FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions).

 

“What is APRS.”

The Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) is a method which uses amateur radio to transmit position reports, weather reports, and messages between users. The basic components of an APRS system consist of a computer, TNC, radio and APRS software along with a mapping program for fixed station operation. The software is the heart of the system. For mobile operations a GPS is needed and a the computer is optional except to program the TNC.

 

In 1992 Bob Bruninga (WB4APR) introduced a DOS software version of APRS called APRSDOS. His software has undergone massive changes but is still a popular version. A big benefit of the APRSDOS version is the fact it is far less demanding than other versions in terms of computer hardware needs. And, APRSDOS can run on cheaper computers that are considered outdated by today’s standards (APRSDOS is free from the TAPR web site). Today there are APRS programs for Mac, Windows, and Handheld Pocket PCs. (I personally recommend Ui-View for the APRS program used with Precision Mapping Map software. It will provide street level tracking maps. Go to the Ui-view web page for more information.)

 

“What can APRS be used for?”

This radio system can be used for tracking objects, including people, vehicles, boats, aircraft, manned/unmanned balloons, weather systems, or just about anything, using unconnected packets. Useful applications for APRS include disaster response, race/parade support, high altitude balloon tracking,

mobile tracking, message distribution, and weather tracking.

 

“How can I find out more about APRS?”

A good source of information is the internet. Many websites exist with information ranging from software available for download to lists of elmers. Two good sites are the Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR) site and the Northwest APRS Group site. Their addresses are www.tapr.org and www.nwaprs.org respectively. Both organizations sponsor SIG reflectors. These reflectors allow members of the SIG to post messages to all the members easily in order to further everyone’s knowledge.