APRS is a real-time tactical digital communicatons protocol for exchanging
information between a large number of stations covering a large (local)
area.  As a multi-user data network, it is quite different from
conventional packet radio.

 EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT APRS (CLICK HERE) 		                
              
The Automatic Packet Reporting System was designed to support rapid, reliable exchange of information for local, tactical real-time events or nets. The concept is that each station with new information transmits his new data to everyone in the net and every station captures that information for consistent and standard display to all participants. 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      
    
      REAL TIME STATION POSITIONS:

           K9DRX Home Station
           K9DRX Nearby Stations
           K9DRX Weather Station
           K9DRX-14 Mobile Station       
           K9DRX-15 Portable Station
           
           		 
APRS is different from regular packet in four ways.  First by the 
integration of maps and other data displays to organize and display 
data, second, by using a one-to-many protocol to update everyone in real 
time, third, by using generic digipeating so that prior knowledge of the
network is not required,  AND FORTH, since 1997, a worldwide transparent   
internet backbone, linking everyone worldwide.  APRS turns packet radio 
into a real-time tactical communications and display system for emergencies 
and public service applications (and global communications).  Normal 
packet radio has only shown usefulness in passing bulk message traffic 
(Email) from point to point.  It has been difficult to apply conventional 
packet to real time events where information has a very short life time
and needs to get to everyone.
K   

AND IT'S FUN!!  For me, I get to combine computer skills with digital communications and put it all together with a GPS and Mapping.  That's like nerd paradise for me and I love it!  I use UI-View 32 Software with Precision Mapping V7 on my home station and Laptop which I use for traveling or when I am working around the garage or hanging out by the fire in the back yard.  Works very well as as a "non radio" APRS station using the Web for connection to a server which circulates real time, worldwide APRS data.  I have a LinkSys wireless network set up at home for broadband internet and local area network.   For Mobile operation, I use a Kenwood TM-D700A with a Garmin eTrex Vista GPS.   I can interface with the Laptop for mobile mapping at any time.