APRSdirect.com may now be dead

[GlobalNorth]

I recall reading something about the owner wanting to shutter APRSdirect.com back in January. It appears that it may have occurred.

 

[jeepsandradios]

I noticed this over the weekend also. Looks like now they want to give you the code to do the site but don't want to host one. Sucks becasue I preferred it over aprs.fi

Maybe someone will take the info and build a new site - APRSDirect

Also noticed on Social Media this -

 

[AK9R]

https://aprs-map.info

 

[jeepsandradios]

https://aprs-map.info

Site is OK but doens't let you search by wild card like direct did. Still I like it over aprs.fi but be nice to have a wildcard.

 

[AK9R]

To search by trailing wild card, just leave off the trailing letters. For example, to search for AK9*, just search for AK9.

 

[ve2ihs]

@AK9R thx that link is nice. Just wondering ; is it possible for aprs.fi admin to actually blackout the reported stations in specific areas or is it the reporting system that is different? I'll leave the reasons out, nothing nefarious. PM if questions

 

[AK9R]

Any website that pulls information from the APRS-IS can display the information as the web developer chooses. They may be able to filter information using the filter commands that are built-in to APRS-IS.

 

[belvdr]

In our metro area, all I see from APRS are weather stations, digipeaters, and a few cars moving about. Is APRS used beyond that elsewhere? Seemed like an interesting technology that never found a real need.

 

[AK9R]

APRS filled a need at one time. APRS was developed in the early 1990s before smart phones with built-in GPS receivers, mapping apps, and device tracking apps. The only way for an average individual to know where someone was in 1995 was APRS. Even today, if there is APRS digipeater coverage, but no cell phone coverage, APRS serves a purpose. APRS is also "amateur radio" for those who believe that we must exercise our privileges to justify keeping them.

Also, packet radio was all the rage in the late 1980s, early 1990s. But, as the Internet became more commonly-accessible, packet radio died. Bob Bruninga WB4APR SK thought about all those 1200 baud TNCs out there and came up with a way to put them to use--APRS.

Most of the weather stations you see on web-based APRS maps are not APRS stations and they may not even be amateur radio operators. They are Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP) stations that inject weather data into the APRS-IS using the Internet, not amateur radio. In fact, CWOP stations were bogging down the APRS-IS servers so much that a separate server network was set up for them. Some web-based APRS maps have a way to filter out the Internet-only weather stations.

As for whether or not APRS is used outside of the stations you mention, where I use it the most is for public service events that are supported by amateur radio. APRS provides a way, that is not reliant on the Internet, to track assets during an event.

 

[jeepsandradios]

Same here as said above. I hate all the objects on APRS.fi. You can create a filter and get rid of most but you wont see alot. I've run APRS for 20+ years as I got into it for the SAR aspect. Our SAR Team put the first Digi on the air in CNY at the time and continue to have one present. It never jumped off the charts for SAR in the day because of the tech at that time. radio to tnc to gps was just more stuff to carry. With new tech like the FT1D it started getting used more. We still use it for some events we provide communications and runner tracking. Our command post has the ability to decode but its still not a perfect technology for us. Definately has its purpose.

I run APRS in both my vehicles more for my own interest and have Digi at home. In the sticks I see alot of nothing on the sites other than the xyl going to work or something.

 

[edweirdFL]

My favorite filter shows just Digipeaters, iGates, AIS ships, and things moving > 2 MPH

 

[tweiss3]

In our metro area, all I see from APRS are weather stations, digipeaters, and a few cars moving about. Is APRS used beyond that elsewhere? Seemed like an interesting technology that never found a real need.

Most of the club run digipeaters advertise the local repeater. I've used that in more than one instance where I know where I am, but not in reference to nearby repeaters. Its the easy way to jump repeaters in an "unknown" area. In fact, it is the sole reason I keep the FTM400 in the car.

 

[belvdr]

Most of the club run digipeaters advertise the local repeater. I've used that in more than one instance where I know where I am, but not in reference to nearby repeaters. Its the easy way to jump repeaters in an "unknown" area. In fact, it is the sole reason I keep the FTM400 in the car.

That's a neat idea I hadn't thought of. I recall having a 710 in the car and was excited when SmartBeaconing was released.

 

[K4APR]

https://aprs-map.info

I just checked it out, but I got a pop-up message about every 5 seconds telling me I was disconnected and asking if I wanted to re-connect.

 

[belvdr]

I just checked it out, but I got a pop-up message about every 5 seconds telling me I was disconnected and asking if I wanted to re-connect.

For what it's worth, I don't see that here.

 

[KB3KBR]

APRS is not about vehicle tracking. It is a single information resource channel where everything that is going on in ham radio in the surrounding area can be announced and updated in real time. It presents to the viewer on his APRS radio front panel all that is happening right now, where it is, and all the info he needs to participate whether it is an event, happening, net, activity, announcement, future activity, or situation. The APRS channel is his one-stop look at everything that could be going on in the local area, and his one-stop place to post what he might be doing that might be of interest to others. APRS is not about GPS positions, it is about a situational map display of everything that is happening, and most of that is OBJECTS containing INFO on the activty and how to contact other operators.

APRS Tactical Real-time Events

I think APRS is underutilized as the way Bob had envisioned it.

 

[belvdr]

APRS Tactical Real-time Events

I think APRS is underutilized as the way Bob had envisioned it.

For certain. In my area, people didn’t want to drop $600 on the D700 or D710 back in the day to have APRS. I did and my wife was able to locate me during my commute. However, since not many others bought the radios, that was pretty much all we could do.

 

[AK9R]

A tracker from Argent Data or Byonics plus a used 2m radio would accomplish the APRS tracking function without buying an expensive Kenwood or Yaesu dual-band APRS radio. Granted, another radio means another antenna.

 

[belvdr]

A tracker from Argent Data or Byonics plus a used 2m radio would accomplish the APRS tracking function without buying an expensive Kenwood or Yaesu dual-band APRS radio. Granted, another radio means another antenna.

True but that only transmits your position. It doesn’t allow you to participate in the other functions of APRS.