Alabama APRS Coordinator AMSAT Area Coordinator The Power of APRS Huntsville Hamfest Aug 16, 2014 Presented by: Tim Cunningham - N8DEU Alabama APRS Coordinator HUNTSPAC Chairman AMSAT Area Coordinator n8deu@arrl.net

Things happen every day... Situational Awareness? Storm Seasons come and go… Things happen every day... Are you Equipped for Situational Awareness?

APRS - What is it ? APRS = Automatic Packet Reporting System Alabama Packet Radio System APRS = Automatic Packet Reporting System Created by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, early 1990’s Local Tactical data communications system Adds value to HAM radio in emergency situations or public service events Provides Situational Awareness Delivers Messaging Capabilities It is a mobile information network

APRS - What is it ? Delivers instant NWS weather bulletins and coordinates Informs you how close you are to the Area of Maximum Concern See where everybody is located without asking, especially SKYWARN weather spotters (GPS not required) Virtually any 2M or HF radio can be used for APRS more than just a simple tracking system…

National APRS Frequencies 144.39 MHz 2m FM (primary) 10.151 MHz LSB

The New n-N Pardigm It Is not new anymore We are 9 years into the plan (2005) Still a number of non-compliant digi's TRACE is obsolete RELAY was replaced with WIDE1-1 WIDE was replaced by WIDEn-N WIDEn-N traceable using UITRACE SSn-N state, section, or regional routing SSn-N used with UIFLOOD

Generic Digipeater Routing IGATE No need to know any Call Signs N8DEU > APRS, WIDE1-1, WIDE2-1 WIDEn-n N8DEU WIDE1-1 WIDEn-n WIDEn-n WIDE1-1 WIDEn-n This picture depicts how signals are relayed via a network of WIDE digipeaters, home stations, and the Igate’s connected to the internet. Internet gateways give us the magical resource to greatly extend our range on APRS when Digipeaters do not have the coverage. The Internet gateways also help reduce the amount of traffic on the RF channels with their intelligent capability to find the path required to make its destination. This picture can help you visualize and explain how paths of RELAY,WIDE,WIDE or RELAY,WIDE2-2, and other routings pass through the system. WIDEn-n WIDEn-n N8DEU > APRS, DIGI1,WIDE1*,WIDE2-1: DIGI1,WIDE1,DIGI2 ,WIDE2*: WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1:

Generic Digipeater Routing IGATE No need to know any Call Signs N8DEU > APRS, WIDE2-2 WIDEn-n N8DEU WIDE1-1 WIDEn-n WIDEn-n WIDEn-n This picture depicts how signals are relayed via a network of WIDE digipeaters, home stations, and the Igate’s connected to the internet. Internet gateways give us the magical resource to greatly extend our range on APRS when Digipeaters do not have the coverage. The Internet gateways also help reduce the amount of traffic on the RF channels with their intelligent capability to find the path required to make its destination. This picture can help you visualize and explain how paths of RELAY,WIDE,WIDE or RELAY,WIDE2-2, and other routings pass through the system. WIDEn-n WIDEn-n N8DEU > APRS, WIDE2-2: DIGI1*,WIDE2-1: DIGI1,DIGI2,WIDE2*:

Generic Digipeater Routing No need to know any Call Signs IGATE N8DEU > APRS, AL2-2 ALn-n N8DEU ALn-n ALn-n WIDEn-n ALn-n This picture depicts how signals are relayed via a network of WIDE digipeaters, home stations, and the Igate’s connected to the internet. Internet gateways give us the magical resource to greatly extend our range on APRS when Digipeaters do not have the coverage. The Internet gateways also help reduce the amount of traffic on the RF channels with their intelligent capability to find the path required to make its destination. This picture can help you visualize and explain how paths of RELAY,WIDE,WIDE or RELAY,WIDE2-2, and other routings pass through the system. ALn-n WIDEn-n State Boundary N8DEU > APRS, AL2-2: AL2-1: AL2*:

Local Suggested APRS paths Mobile WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 Home WIDE2-2 Use common sense or whatever it takes to reach an IGATE or intended station in your area or the application requires These are general path settings that can be suggested as a starter for most users.

WIDE1-1 fill-in digipeaters Be a part of the solution If your home station still supports an obsolete RELAY alias, please change it to WIDE1-1 That is all there is to it Your home station is a WIDE1-1 (fill-in digi) If your area is already covered by a digipeater or another WIDE1-1, your WIDE1-1 is not necessary

APRS Voice Alert! (For all APRS mobiles!) Voice Alert is effectively a 3rd Radio channel for the APRS equipped radios By setting the APRS Band, A, to PL-100, but keeping the volume turned up: You wont hear any packets on 144.39 * You will hear a voice call using PL-100 on 144.39 And you will hear* an occasional Ping packet if another APRS equipped comes in line-of-site to you, like a proximity radar alerting you to local presence. Great for long haul traveling and meeting other APRS users.

Local Frequency Info Initiative Information for the local area Objects created to inform everybody Voice Repeater freq, tone, range SKYWARN net announcement Echolink and IRLP nodes Hamfest objects Local on the air Nets Kenwood D710 and Yaesu FTM-350R can autotune a repeater object Great for out of town travelers

APRS – IS - Local Info! Last 100 stations! Mobiles and HT are 100% compatible Direction & Distance Frequency and Tone

APRS – IS - Local Info!

APRS – IS - Local Info!

APRS – IS - Local Info!

APRS – IS - Local Info!

Send E-Mail from APRS Send messages from APRS to Internet EMAIL. The EMAIL (OpenAPRS) Method The EMAIL-2 (javAPRSEmail) Method Send a message address to EMAIL or EMAIL-2 instead of a callsign. In the message field, the Internet Email address should appear first followed by a space and the message you wish to send. Address: EMAIL or EMAIL-2 Message: n8deu@qsl.net Hello Huntsville The EMAIL server will acknowledge receipt of the message and it will return a message, "Email message delivered OK", in response if the message was delivered properly. APRS users can get near real time data that is transmitted from the NWS via EMWIN and repacketized for APRS in a special format. This format allows various APRS packages to display counties highlighted in red and yellow to depict the severity of the warning or watch.

WHO-IS Callbook Server Send message to WHO-IS Message just needs to contain a callsign or “f callsign” for full details Callbook server will return details Great for those stations you know, but have a senior moment Send a quick message to WHO-IS Nobody will know you forgot their name

NWS Weather Bulletins NWS messages are generated by Pete Loveall, AE5PL NWS message format can be found at: http://www.aprs-is.net/Wx WX county watch boxes can be hi-lighted with Red, Yellow, or Green colors to visibly indicate WX activity type FinduU Server collects WX station data via APRS-IS FindU Server dumps WX data every 15 minutes to MADIS Server MesoWest gets data from MADIS Server APRS users can get near real time data that is transmitted from the NWS via EMWIN and repacketized for APRS in a special format. This format allows various APRS packages to display counties highlighted in red and yellow to depict the severity of the warning or watch.

NWS Weather Bulletins APRS users can get near real time data that is transmitted from the NWS via EMWIN and repacketized for APRS in a special format. This format allows various APRS packages to display counties highlighted in red and yellow to depict the severity of the warning or watch.

APRS is Clear and Concise The Severe Weather Warning is immediate on APRS The message is clear and concise Relativity is crystal clear Maximum area of concern is immediately transmitted on the APRS network Location of spotters is known Nothing is ambiguous! No repeats required!

APRS displays everything Spotter Locations NWS Bulletins WX Stations Digipeaters Repeaters plus frequency and tone Even non-APRS stations

APRS users can add objects or other observers to the map Data is transmitted for all stations to see any object or non-APRS user on the map K4QF is added by N8DEU when his location is given on the Voice Net Objects can be added for flooded areas Objects can be added for downed power lines Objects can be added for house fires Everyone on the APRS networks gets the information with no ambiguity

APRS - 06-MAY-09 Alabama Packet Radio System The weather net was activated around 6:30am on 06-MAY-09 Every county in the HUN NWS area in North Alabama had pending warnings except for 2 that had watches posted As the net became active some of the pending bulletins were announced With APRS we have a full view of what was active instantly to augment the Voice Net It was a busy morning All those on the Voice Net did an outstanding job

N4JDB requests how long it will be before the storm reaches Lawrence County. Net control does not have this information and things are getting busier.

Remember Sonny, N4JDB, who requested how soon the storm would reach Lawrence County. His home APRS weather station is right in the path of the NWS bulletin at 1213z, but Sonny does not know it yet and things are so busy nobody remembers his request. With APRS the message is clear and concise. This is information Sonny needs immediately. With APRS we know it immediately!

A spotter reports a Tornado heard near Browns Ferry Rd and Balch Rd A spotter reports a Tornado heard near Browns Ferry Rd and Balch Rd. An object is placed on the map titled TOR_SPOTD. Just click on the location, select Object Editor from the Action menu, and enter the data and the symbol type. If we know the course and speed of the Object we can make it move and update automatically. This is what APRS does when a beacon is not heard from a moving mobile station if enabled. A new post puts it back on course.

The storm spotter report results in immediate action by the NWS to issue a Tornado Warning at 1405z. Now we visibly see what is potentially in the path of the box. It is clear, concise, and immediate on APRS.

A Tornado sighting in the sky is reported at Moores Mill Rd and Winchester Rd on the Voice Net. This report is intercepted by an APRS user and placed on the map. The path starts to visibly take shape. The third damage report comes in on the Voice Net and intercepted by an APRS users who places object DAMAGE3 on the display for everybody on the APRS network to see. It is tagged with WB8ELK voice report of trees and out-buildings down.

APRS – Get the Picture? It should be clear APRS delivers real time information We know where the NWS bulletins are located We know where the spotters are located We know where damage has been reported The picture of danger is clear and concise APRS fills in the missing gaps of the picture Messages can be sent via the APRS data network when the voice repeater is out of range for some spotters APRS augments the SKYWARN Voice Net A Voice Net can be up an running quickly with all the NWS bulletins at their fingertips with APRS Why wait until somebody staffs the NWS station The time between danger and death is too short

APRS – Get the Picture? Situational awareness is key to precise and timely information What happens when an area is so devastated and there are no street signs With APRS we know where you are Reports can be plotted easily Information is immediate Want NWS bulletins with more meaning to situational awareness? Get on the APRS tactical communication data network

The Balloon Chase using APRS

Space Applications International Space Station APRS digipeater is active on the International Space Station Frequencies Packet: 145.825 MHz Packet uplink : 145.990 MHz Voice uplink : 144.490 MHz ISS ground station Internet Gateways are feeding APRServe with ISS digipeated signals APRS has been very active on the International Space Station. The ISS has been an excellent wide coverage digipeater available up to 6 times a day as it circles the Earth every 90 minutes.

Space Applications Designed for: Frequencies country travelers PCSat Designed for: country travelers sea travelers travelers in remote areas of the world mobile or handheld users equipped with GPS Frequencies 145.825 MHz downlink 145.825 MHz uplink for HT’s (1200 baud) 435.250 MHz uplink for mobiles (9600 baud) Launched on 30-SEP-01 from Kodiak Alaska Launch Complex APRS now has its own dedicated satellite that was built for about $35K. Other amateur radio satellites that have been used for APRS are AO-16, IO-26, UO-22, KO- 23, and KO-25. Use APRSAT or W3ADO-1 for the digipeat path.

Alinco DR-135T with T2-135

Next Step? Who needs a radio when you have the Internet ? No Radio required with a computer and the Internet What about Software Requirements ? What about Hardware Requirements ?

Watch APRS live on the Web at: http://www.aprs.fi

APRSISCE It is FREE ! Yahoo GROUPS Developed by Lynn, KJ4ERJ Windows Mobile Phone WiFi Internet enabled phone Will not support Windows Phone 8 Moving to Android

APRSIS32

What were all those symbols ? Map Symbols Automobiles Emergency Vehicles Satellite Stations Weather Stations Houses Red Cross Ham Store too many to list...

How active is APRS ? APRS MAP CELL MAP

Various APRS Stations (two-way) APRS is a Network intended for real-time Tactical INFORMATION exchange. This means TWO-WAY.

TRACKERS (two-way) One-way APRS is not normally recommended. APRS is a Network. We want good communications among all participants for maximum utility. Trackers have no APRS data display. So the receiver should be tuned to a beaconed Voice frequency so the operator can be involved in the Net! The only value for these units are tracking some non-manned assets at large movement events such as marathons, bike-a-thons, parades and other community events, and maybe search & rescue teams.

Mobile/Portable Satellite Terminals Kenwood TM-D700A Dual band 144/440 MHz 50/35 Watts Built-in 1200/9600 bps TNC including digipeater Built-in screen display of other APRS stations and front-panel send/receive messaging. Other APRS station locations are sent to the attached GPS map for display. Kenwood TH-D7A(G) TM-D710 Adds operation Freq to every posit ! Auto tunes to others with Freq! Shows local Voice Repeaters !

The Alinco DR-D135TP Supports APRS 2 serial ports for computer and GPS No message display Works as basic tracker 1200/9600 baud built-in TNC option (Argent makes a T3-135 drop in TNC to add functionality)

Alinco DR-135T/EJ-41U Basic 2 M Radio with optional TNC. (Argent makes a T2-135 drop in TNC) Allows direct input from any standard GPS. Basic 1200/9600 bps TNC Unlike the Kenwood radios, it requires a PC to set it up, and there is no APRS display directly on the radio.

Argent Data Systems Tracker2/3 https://www.argentdata.com KISS Support WX Station support Free Firmware updates Advanced APRS features Intelligent digipeater support Smart beaconing Remote Configuration Built-in voltage and temp monitor Small 5-watt VHF transceiver with integrated Tracker2 available The Tiny Trak is a small low cost tracker that is quite popular for portable tracker and mobile installations. Just add a GPS and a radio and you are ready to go.

Byonics Tiny Trak III Plus http://www.byonics.com $33 kit / $42 built Adjustable TX rate Based on PIC 16F628 Carrier detect to avoid collisions Normal APRS or MIC-E operation Time slotted reporting or SmartBeaconing Can power a 5V GPS (Byonics GPS1, Garmin GPS18 or a Deluo GPS WAAS) $98 kit or $107 built with Byonics GPS2 small GPS The Tiny Trak is a small low cost tracker that is quite popular for portable tracker and mobile installations. Just add a GPS and a radio and you are ready to go.

Byonics Tiny Trak4 http://www.byonics.com/tinytrak4 $65 kit / $75 built Field upgradeable TX and RX packet data Analog telemetry support Supports NMEA, MIC-E, and Tracker modes Based on ATMEGA324P20U (40 pin DIP) microcontroller Time slotted reporting or SmartBeaconing Can power a GPS DSP Packet Decoding – 300/1200/9600 baud packet, DTMF, and new demodulation techniques can be added since it is not hardware based Most of TinyTrak3 functions added The Tiny Trak is a small low cost tracker that is quite popular for portable tracker and mobile installations. Just add a GPS and a radio and you are ready to go.

Byonics WX Trak http://www.byonics.com $33 kit / $42 built Based on Tiny Trak III design Supports connected WX Stations Radio Shack WX200 Oregon Scientiic WM-918 Peet Brothers U100, U800, U2000, U2100 Davis WX station with WeatherLink APRS adapter The Tiny Trak is a small low cost tracker that is quite popular for portable tracker and mobile installations. Just add a GPS and a radio and you are ready to go.

OpenTracker+ (OT+) Kit $32 or assembled $46 http://n1vg.net/opentracker Kit $32 or assembled $46 Based on the Freescale MC908JL16CSPE microcontroller Supports the following features: Free firmware upgrades RX capability Analog inputs APRS Telemetry output Supports 1-wire and Peet Bros WX station SmartBeaconing PSK31 support for PropNet^31 Operation On-board temperature and voltage sensors The Tiny Trak is a small low cost tracker that is quite popular for portable tracker and mobile installations. Just add a GPS and a radio and you are ready to go.

TNC-X KISS only TNC $48 kit http://www.tnc-x.com/ $48 kit Based on Microchip PIC 16F628A and a CML MX614 Bell 202 modem Supports the following options: uSmartDigi X-Digi X-Track Rasbery Pi Bleak Beagle TNC can be powered by the USB port BlueTooth now available The Tiny Trak is a small low cost tracker that is quite popular for portable tracker and mobile installations. Just add a GPS and a radio and you are ready to go.

The Kenwood TM-D700A Supports APRS 1200 / 9600 built-in TNC Displays symbol and distance from other stations Display up to 40 messages 2 serial ports for computer and GPS to display waypoints The Kenwood TM-D700A is another popular radio for mobile operation. Many APRS functions can be accomplished without the need of a computer.

The Kenwood TM-D710A APRS® ready (position / message / operation frequency etc.) 1200 / 9600 built-in TNC AX.25 Dual receive on same band (VxV, UxU) 1,000 memory channels Support for EchoLink system Decay algorithm when sitting still NMEA0183 GPS port APRS weather station ready SmartBeaconing implemented Auto Tune Repeater Objects (freq, tone, offset) The Kenwood TM-D700A is another popular radio for mobile operation. Many APRS functions can be accomplished without the need of a computer.

The Kenwood RC-D710A Add Kenwood TM-D710 APRS like capabilities to virtually any 2M FM radio APRS® ready (position / message / etc.) 1200 / 9600 TNC AX.25 Provides full control of TM-D700A and TM-V71A Replaces TM-V71A control head Decay algorithm when sitting still NMEA0183 GPS port APRS weather station ready Requires PG-5J cable interface or equivalent The Kenwood TM-D700A is another popular radio for mobile operation. Many APRS functions can be accomplished without the need of a computer.

The Kenwood TH-D7A Supports APRS 1200 / 9600 built-in TNC Displays symbol and distance from other stations Display up to 40 messages 2 serial ports for computer and GPS to display waypoints

The Yaesu VX-8R Quad Band HT 6m,2m,220,70cm 5W, 1.2W on 222MHz Slimmer than the VX-7R Dual receive (V+V or U+U) AM/FM broadcast receiver Supports APRS 1200/9600 baud (B band only) Weather Alert receiving High-rez spectrum analyzer +/- 60 channels Optional Accessories Bluetooth headset support GPS unit and antenna

The Yaesu VX-8DR Dubbed a devoted APRS user version of the VX-8R Smart beaconing added Updated digi path settings from 1 to 7 Updated message buffer from 20 to 30 Updated station list from 40 to 50 Added digi path route indiaction Optional Accessories Bluetooth headset support GPS unit and antenna

The new Yaesu FTM-350R An excellent competitor of the Kenwood D-710 GPS/APRS Bluetooth features Dual band 144 (220) / 430 MHz 50W Built-in barometric pressure sensor 500 independent memory channels Smartbeaconing Cross band repeat 12000 / 9600 baud

APRS WEB Sites www.aprs.org www.openaprs.net www.aprs.fi www.findu.com www.tapr.org www.qsl.net/n8deu www.sv2agw.com/ham/default.htm www.xastir.org www.eskimo.com/~archer/aprs_capabilities.html www.ui-view.org

News Groups APRS News APRS SIG APRS HT APRS Spec APRS Sat Sign up at http://www.tapr.org APRS News APRS SIG APRS HT APRS Spec APRS Sat

Software for APRS APRSdigi UIView (old) APRSPoint AGWTracker Software downloadable from the Web APRSdos MacAPRS (old) WinAPRS (old) javAPRS palmAPRS (old) Waypoint (old) APRS Plus (old) APRSdigi UIView (old) APRSPoint AGWTracker AGWTracker PPC XASTIR APRSISCE

APRS Coordinators Commissioned by WB4APR State Name Call Alabama Tim N8DEU Arkansas Richard Steve Travis KB4YTM N5JPL KB5ILY Florida NA Georgia Mississippi (north) Jeff KB5NMB Tennessee (east) William KI4HDU Tennessee (west)

How can APRS Help ? It is clear and concise Repeat of information not required once heard No words need to be spoken or repeated Response time is immediate Beats NOAA WX radio alert every time Beats Voice Net Alert every time Relativity is always known How far am I from the storm Key spotters are instantly identified Non-APRS users can be placed on the map Every APRS user views the same data (RF or Internet) Nothing compares to the speed of information Tactical Communications Network Augments a Voice Net with critical Real Time Information

Alabama APRS Coordinator AMSAT Area Coordinator The Power of APRS Presented by: Tim Cunningham – N8DEU Alabama APRS Coordinator AMSAT Area Coordinator n8deu@amsat.org n8deu@arrl.net