APRS

[AC0RV]

Can some one point in the right direction for getting info on APRS for Ham and such.

Major thanks

 

[AK9R]

There are lots of web pages and YouTube videos that talk about APRS. Have you looked at those?

Kenwood published a pretty good guide to APRS. You can download it here: https://www.kenwood.com/i/products/info/amateur/pdf/TM-D710A_E_GA_GE_IDM.pdf

 

[n5ims]

Can some one point in the right direction for getting info on APRS for Ham and such.

Major thanks

This --> APRS: Automatic Packet Reporting System <-- would be a good place to start.

There are several routes to operate APRS on the ham bands and like many things, the easy way probably costs the most and the harder ways probably cost the least.

The easiest way is to purchase a radio with build-in APRS (especially those with built-in GPS). One example (there are others but since W9BU posted the Kenwood .pdf, I'll use their radio as my example) is the Kenwood TM-D710GA. You unpack the radio, connect the pieces together (base, head, and microphone), connect a dual-band VHF/UHF antenna, connect a 12v DC power supply with at least 10 amp continuous supply (often that will indicate one rated for at least 15 amps), make a few menu settings (like your call sign, and a few APRS specific settings detailed in the .pdf), tune your radio to 144.39 MHz (simplex, no tone*), set the radio for APRS12 as the TNC option, wait for the GPS indicator on your control head to start flashing (indicating it has a good signal from the GPS satellites) and your radio should start beaconing (this may depend on those APRS specific settings as to if and how often to automatically beacon). Wait a bit and check Google Maps APRS for your station (you'll need to search for your call as you entered it into the settings) to find your station (note: you must be in range of an iGate station for your information to appear, but in most areas with significant population there are several). Also (depending on those settings) you can watch the display to see what APRS beacons your radio is picking up.

* I said "no tone", but there's an option that can be set in those pesky settings where you can set a tone for 100 Hz to allow a station to call on the APRS frequency and allow you to hear them without hearing the digital APRS signals. This isn't often used, but can be good while traveling. Details of this operation should be in that .pdf as well.

On the other extreme, you get a 2 meter radio (it can be a low end since you don't even need tone) and antenna, a Packet TNC (this can be hardware or software), a GPS unit that interfaces to your PC (optional for a base station since you can hard-code your location information), and APRS software for your PC (think Windows PC here for the largest selection, but if you hunt, you can find versions for Linux or Mac). Connect all of the hardware to your PC. Load all the software on your PC. Configure the software and hardware with the needed settings and try your new mode!

 

[Firebuff880]

Also this yahoo group -- Yahoo! Groups

 

[needairtime]

Speaking of aprs, seems a lot of equipment it's easy to accidentally bump the transmit frequency? Or is it?

Seeing (or rather, hearing) people sending APRS packets on a voice repeater...gets annoying fast!

 

[AK9R]

Here's what I think happens:

You have your APRS radio, such as a Kenwood or Yaesu dual-band radio with APRS, set up to transmit APRS beacons on one "side" of the radio and you have that side of the radio set for the local APRS frequency. Then, without disabling the APRS beaconing, you change that side of the radio to a local repeater frequency. The radio isn't hard-coded to use the local APRS frequency, so it just beacons on whatever frequency that side of the radio is set for.

It boils down to operator error caused by not really understanding what the radio is doing or simple carelessness.

 

[W5lz]

There are a number of ways to get into APRS. Maybe the simplest is a radio that's dedicated to it, an el'cheapo 2 meter radio? Set the thing up and let it go to town. And then it get's a bit more complicated. A two-sided radio with one side that's only APRS. I think all the manufacurers make one, take your pick. Then you can use almost any 2 meter radio (for instance) and do APRS though a conputer connected to that radio. There are too many different ways for me to even think about laying them out, so do some digging and decide for your self...

 

[RadShackFan]

If you would like to play around with APRS before buying equipment, download the free computer software at www.pinpointaprs.com. (You will have to type in the address, for some reason the link doesn't work.) I use it to broadcast my position via the internet so I don't tie up my HT.

 

[AK9R]

I use it to broadcast my position via the internet so I don't tie up my HT.

To which I will ask, why? Why does the Internet need to know where you are via APRS? If you have a smart phone that includes a GPS receiver, the Internet already knows where you are.

Why tie up the APRS-IS with information that provides no value? Using the Internet to put your location into the APRS-IS does not help local hams who do not have Internet connections. Most I-gates do not transmit Internet-sourced APRS position reports back out over RF. While you may be injecting your position report into the APRS-IS, it goes no where beyond the Internet.

APRS is supposed to provide local, tactical information transmitted over amateur radio so that other amateur radio operators, who aren't connected to the Internet, can glean information about the local situation. Local amateur radio operators who can be contacted via amateur radio, local weather, local voice repeaters, local club meetings, local nets, local hamfests.

You do what you want, but I don't understand the need to clutter up the aprs.fi map with Internet-sourced position reports.

 

[RadShackFan]

W9BU, bless your heart.

 

[WQ2H]

That's a bullseye right there.

I use both an FTM-400, and a FT2DR, for APRS both of which are dual band/channel.

With either radio you have to be mindful of the "active channel" because if the beacon control is set to active - it will beacon regardless of what the active channel or mode is set to. With the FT2DR you have to be especially careful when you send C4FM images (with the camera-mic) because that could tie up a channel for a minute or two.

So.......if you hear an APRS signal on, say a repeater someday, chances are someone got a new radio.....

73
Jim, WQ2H / WK2XAH

Here's what I think happens:

You have your APRS radio, such as a Kenwood or Yaesu dual-band radio with APRS, set up to transmit APRS beacons on one "side" of the radio and you have that side of the radio set for the local APRS frequency. Then, without disabling the APRS beaconing, you change that side of the radio to a local repeater frequency. The radio isn't hard-coded to use the local APRS frequency, so it just beacons on whatever frequency that side of the radio is set for.

It boils down to operator error caused by not really understanding what the radio is doing or simple carelessness.

 

[AK_SAR]

You have your APRS radio, such as a Kenwood or Yaesu dual-band radio with APRS, set up to transmit APRS beacons on one "side" of the radio and you have that side of the radio set for the local APRS frequency. Then, without disabling the APRS beaconing, you change that side of the radio to a local repeater frequency. The radio isn't hard-coded to use the local APRS frequency, so it just beacons on whatever frequency that side of the radio is set for.

It boils down to operator error caused by not really understanding what the radio is doing or simple carelessness.

Mea Culpa.
I've done that once or twice with my Kenwood TH D74A, due to carelessness. Fortunately, I was only switching to a simplex channel, not a repeater. Another operator on the simplex channel said something like ".....it sounds like someone is beaconing?" and I soon realized it was me. One of the mistakes one can make when buying a new radio and learning to use APRS.

 

[W5lz]

...everybody makes mistakes. The idea is to not make the same mistake over and over. No mistakes setting up APRS the first time? Pure dumb luck, good for you.

 

[vagrant]

Mea Culpa.
I've done that once or twice with my Kenwood TH D74A, due to carelessness. Fortunately, I was only switching to a simplex channel, not a repeater. Another operator on the simplex channel said something like ".....it sounds like someone is beaconing?" and I soon realized it was me. One of the mistakes one can make when buying a new radio and learning to use APRS.

It happens to the best of us. Until we get a dedicated APRS beacon fixed on frequency. Thank you Byonics. I use their RTG device with an on/off switch. This leaves my dual monitoring radio free to monitor one frequency and the other side to scan.

 

[jwt873]

Mea Culpa.
I've done that once or twice with my Kenwood TH D74A, due to carelessness. Fortunately, I was only switching to a simplex channel, not a repeater. Another operator on the simplex channel said something like ".....it sounds like someone is beaconing?" and I soon realized it was me. One of the mistakes one can make when buying a new radio and learning to use APRS.

I've done it too with other radios..

For the TH-D74, there's an APRS lock feature.. (It's in the APRS Menu -> Basic Settings). You can lock the frequency, PTT and APRS key.

I lock the frequency. This prevents me from changing the VFO frequency when APRS mode is selected. If I want to change from the APRS frequency to another one, I have to turn APRS off in order to remove the lock. This ensures that I'm always be out of APRS/Beacon mode when switching to other frequencies.

PTT lock disables the PTT switch so you can't talk on the frequency when the VFO is set to APRS mode.

APRS lock disables the APRS switch. That way you can't turn off APRS if you bump the switch. (If this is set, you need to go into the menu and unset it before the APRS switch is set).

 

[Firekite]

Can some one point in the right direction for getting info on APRS for Ham and such.

Here’s a good start. Even if you don’t actually do the steps, by the time you’re done reading you will have gleaned a ton.

Build an APRS IGate

Why build an IGate? There are two fundamental parts of the APRS network that enable communications beyond simple peer-to-peer transmissions. They are Digipeaters and IGates. Digipeaters are just li…

wcares.org

 

[vagrant]

I disagree. Reading about building an APRS IGate is not a "good start". The link to the aprs.org website above is best and the Kenwood PDF is informative as well. If one has a Yaesu radio, their specific APRS manual for the model of radio would also be a good start...after reviewing the aprs.org website or finding an Elmer that could answer questions...after reviewing the aprs.org website.

I have an IGate and while it has its purpose, most people happily using APRS will never know what an IGate is. I do agree that page would be a good start for learning about an IGate.

 

[W5lz]

I have to agree with Vagrant, leanring about an Igate much less setting one up is just not something a 'beginner' needs to go through to start with. Get things going correctly and then you -might- want to look into an Igate...

 

[N4DJC]

I just set my D74 APRS settings and frequency on the A band VFO and switch to the B band VFO to scan or use the memory groups on my D74. Seems to avoid the issue in my case.

 

[Firekite]

I disagree. Reading about building an APRS IGate is not a "good start".

My bad. I thought he was wanting to learn more about what APRS is and how it works, not just how to enable it on a given radio.