Packet APRS HELP - Pulling my hair out trying to figure out what I’m doing wrong!

[enb16]

Hello all,

I’m a relatively new ham trying to set up APRS on my radio(s). I must have watched and read tutorials and guides for a total of what feels like a hundred hours. I consider myself pretty technologically-savvy so I’m really frustrated here and hoping this community can help me solve this issue.

Let me set the stage: I’ve got an Anytone 878UVII Plus as my HT and a 578UVIII Plus in my vehicle. According to all the videos I’ve watched, settings I’ve changed, and tests I’ve done, my signal seems to be transmitting out fine. (I saw my location on APRS.fi yesterday and even received packets a few times on my HT). The website seems to be able to track my mobile just fine, but not my HT.

Even though my HT is showing “sending Ana APRS data” on the screen, there’s no indication it’s being received, and I can’t find any raw packet info from my HT.

For reference, I’m KR4BXG and for my mobile I set it to -9 and for my HT I have it set to -7. I can see the -9 when I’m out driving, and I do see a marker with my call sign and no indicator at the end, but it appears to be when I used my phone to view the BM Hose Line yesterday.

I also first opened up APRS.fi on my phone before sending anything from my radio, so could it have something to do with it recognizing my phone as the primary? Can I safely delete my account and start again?

Current on all CPS and FW, using a code plug given to me by a local club. Changed every channel setting to the proper APRS mode (digi vs ana), have APRS rx checked off on all of them, path I’ve been using that was previously working for me is WIDE2-2. Was hitting the two local digipeaters yesterday and this morning with my mobile.

If you need more info please let me know, my brain is pretty fried right now so I’m sure I may have left out something important. I’ve been troubleshooting all day long and feeling pretty worn out of bridgecom videos 😅

Thanks in advance!
KR4BXG

 

[AK9R]

Sometimes, it's best to step away and go back to the problem later.

I know nothing about programming the Anytone radios for APRS other than, to someone like me who has experience with Kenwoods and Yaesus, the Anytones are "weird".

Take a "divide and conquer" approach. Looking at APRS.fi, I see that the KG2MM-10 I-gate has picked up 6 packets from KR4BXG-9 over the past few days. That's good. KR4BXG-9 appears to be your handheld, not your mobile. Are you sure you have the handheld set for -7 and the mobile set for -9?

A little primer on how the APRS-IS works. It's not a database. Stations feed the APRS packets they receive into the APRS-IS and other stations monitor that feed. OTOH, websites, like APRS.fi, monitor the APRS-IS and save packets for a time.

If you can, take screen captures of the APRS configuration screen in the CPS for both your mobile and your handheld. Maybe we can see something that is temporarily blinding you.

 

[enb16]

That’s precisely what I’m going to do. Take another look at it tomorrow as it’s pretty late here now.

I did notice my -9 is listed as my HT but I don’t bring my HT with me and today’s tail matches the route I drove today. I’ll have to bring my mobile inside tomorrow and compare the two settings, I must have changed one tiny thing and don’t remember.

 

[enb16]

So, I plugged in my mobile and reset everything and did everything exactly as I did with my 878 yesterday and it is showing up exactly as intended. I see it on aprs.fi with the correct equipment displaying. I suppose I’ll take screenshots of my 578 settings and make triple sure everything is set the same.

 

[jeepsandradios]

Also remember not all APRS digi's or igates are created equally. In my area HT's are usesless, unless your within a couple miles form my Digi. Its a mobile only area for sure. Our SAR Digi we maintain has decent HH coverage but its on a 2500' hill with a clear view of the city.

 

[K5MPH]

You may be to far from the APRS IGate for an Ht ......