1. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR APRS Adapted from Bob Bruninga’s FrostFest 08 presentation - by K9DCI July 2008 July 2008, K9DCI Introductory Overview

2. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR What is APRS? ● APRS = Automatic Packet Reporting System ● APRS was developed in the early 1990's for local tactical digital communications, situational awareness and TWO-WAY information exchange using Amateur radio. ● Not just Vehicle Tracking!!!

3. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR What is APRS all about? ● The APRS System was developed to provide immediate local digital and graphical information exchange between all participants in an event. This includes not only tracking and monitoring position data, but also status, messaging, bulletins all without having to maintain packet connections. ● Typical data: Positions of all stations and objects Status of all stations Messages, Bulletins and Announcements Weather data and telemetry DF bearings and signal strengths for quick transmitter hunting Local information of value to the traveler ● Typical applications are: Routine local awareness of all ham radio events and assets around you Marathons, races, events and public service Search and rescue Family communications and tracking and one-line emails Mobile-to-mobile global messaging Weather data exchange and display Efficient multi-user Satellite communications

4. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Scope of APRS ● APRS consists of a very large land based wireless network. Almost 30,000 users around the world. ● This network works via Repeaters every 20-30 miles called “digipeaters.” And Globally via IGates to the internet (APRS-IS). ● APRS is also used via some of the Amateur Satellites. ● It is also used to monitor telemetry values of weather stations for the National Weather Service (NWS) ● APRS has the capability to quickly relay telemetry values to research centers without the Internet. APRS stations in the US July 2008, K9DCI

5. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR APRS MisConceptions! ● That APRS is just Vehicle Tracking instead of a Real-Time Information Distribution System. ● That APRS is dependent on GPS for its value (GPS is not needed. See Objects). ● Failure to use the APRS built-in Mile-Marks (file) for tracking all other non-APRS mobiles. ● Using APRS clients that only do maps and ignored too many of the APRS fundamentals. ● Ignored the fundamental Decay Algorithm to accelerate new data, and decay old data! ● Failure to understand that APRS is all about OBJECTS:. See Objects 101 and Operations ● Failure to use real-time messaging:. See Messages 101 and Message Operations ● Failure to implement the original APRS Centralized Common Bulletin Board concept. ● Not understanding the APRS operator’s role as a Data Input (Objects, Bulletins and Messages) ● Not using the D7 and D700 as data entry and clipboard display units at field events. ● Failure to understand how to best use APRS Displays in support of real-time events. ● Failure to display APRS symbols with all their attributes and colors without clicking them ● Failure to manage the network by adjusting the local digipeater for the situation at hand. ● Not realizing the importance of Voice Operating frequencies in APRS. See APRS-tactical.html

6. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Various APRS Stations (two-way) APRS is a Network intended for real-time Tactical INFORMATION exchange. This means TWO-WAY.

7. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR What’s a TNC Radio Audio Modem uP Bytes, Words, Packets, Protocol TNC Bits Messages, Control, Mailbox, interface Packet Messages & Commands PC Terminal Node Controller End Point Packet Station Well... Controller APRS Client Software July 2008, K9DCI Control

8. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Comparison to Ordinary Packet PacketAPRS MOSTLY One-to-One (connected) Request, ACK, Confirm, Message Requires knowledge the RF network Must specify specific Call signs Must specify specific digipeaters. Smart nodes started to auto-rout. Can do (Ham) Broadcasts Has bulletin / Message groups APRS is a Group (subset) of Packet Fading out of usage MOSTLY (Ham) Broadcasts Send & Pray All APRS transmissions go to “APRS” Little knowledge of the RF network All digipeaters have the “same” call. Ham only specifies # of hops Standard Path Settings. Can do One-to-One Messages Sends 5 times or until ACK APRS is its own Supergroup Growing in Popularity & Functions DF assistance Satellite Digipeaters Internet Backbone Station location map/Image (Google) E-Mail (send only right now) QRZ Query CQ Server (world wide) For Ex-Packeteers and Newbies July 2008, K9DCI

9. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Kenwood TM-D700A ● 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. n ● Dual band 144/440 MHz 50/35 Watts ● Built-in 1200/9600 bps TNC including digipeater Kenwood TH-D7A(G) TM-D710 ● Adds operating Freq to every posit ! ● Auto tunes to others with Freq! ● Shows local Voice Repeaters ! Kenwood Discontinued as of June 2008 Discontinued July 2008, K9DCI

10. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Alinco DR-135T/EJ-41U ● Allows direct input from any standard GPS. ● Basic 1200/9600 bps TNC ● Basic 2 M Radio with optional TNC. (Opentrack makes a drop in tracker TNC) (Opentrack makes a drop in tracker TNC) equires a PC to set it up, and there is no APRS display directly on the radio. ● Unlike the Kenwood radios, it requires a PC to set it up, and there is no APRS display directly on the radio.

11. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Yaesu VX-8R Quad band Updated Oct 2008, K9DCI Due out July-Oct 2008 Preliminary ● TX Range: 50-54 144-148 222-225 440-450 ● Power max: 5 W FM 1 W AM 5 W 1.5 W 5 W ● RX: AM FM WFM 500 kHz - 999.99 MHz. (Cell blocked) ● Dual Independent Ham Receive (V/V, V/U, U/U ) ● Simultaneous AM/FM stereo broadcast Rx ● CTCSS DCS Encode & Decode ● APRS 1200/9600 bps (B band only) ● Weather Receiving with Weather Alert ● Barometric (altitude) and Temperature sensors ● 1267 Memories (some are frequency specific) ● Memory name 16 characters ● Spectrum Display ±50 channels ● Time domain display (O-scope) of received modulation ● Submersible IPX57 (3 feet for minimum of 30 minutes) ● 7.4 V 1100 mAh 1800 mAh Lithium-Ion batteries 3.7” x 2.4” x 0.9” ● VOX, ARTS, AM Band Bar Antenna, CW Practice, Emergency CW Tx, Rx Atten Clock timer, TOT, APO, Mic gain, Bat saver, Fixed Tx offsets. Int/Ext Charge ● Options: ● 3x AA battery pack (reduced Tx power 1.5W 50/144/440 0.5W 222) ● Bluetooth hands-free with BU-1 and BH-1 (stereo) or BH-2 (mono) ● GPS unit [Requires Bluetooth mic or remote mic]

12. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR APRS – is Local Info! Last 100 stations! Direction & Distance Frequency and Tone Mobiles and HT are 100% compatible

13. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR TRACKERS (two-way) 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. One-way APRS is not normally recommended. APRS is a Network. We want good communications among all participants for maximum utility.

14. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Voice Alert! ● Effectively a 3 rd Radio channel. For the D7, D700, D710 APRS radios. ● Great for meeting APRS users while traveling. For Mobiles Only. Fixed stations don’t send Tone (shouldn’t). ● Set Mobile APRS Rx (144.39) to PL-100 CT (in U.S.), but keep the volume turned up: You’ll only hear nearby mobile Beacon squawks on 144.39 Answer and QSY to a voice channel. ● Fixed stations may listen for transient APRS mobiles. But NOT transmit APRS beacons. This is a “Human Listening” signal. Automatic CQ for Traveling APRS Mobiles Also usable by NON-APRS mobiles! July 2008, K9DCI

15. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR APRS Event Mesaging Score Message Score = 42 for troop 874 Score Data Received July 2008, K9DCI Scores being reported

16. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR users per degree of lat/long July 2008, K9DCI

17. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Software “Clients” add features APRSDos Has the Most Features

18. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR ALOHA circle and digipeater hops [Your ALOHA circle is your 100% saturated channel range]

19. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Range Circles

20. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Range circles and Path tracing

21. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR DFing by signal strength Gray = Not heard (phg circles) Colored Heard circles = inverse signal strength. July 2008, K9DCI

22. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Solo DF Fade Circle Technique Solo DF Fade Circle Technique white dots are fade-out locations July 2008, K9DCI

23. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Solo DF Fade Circle Technique Alternate display in APRSDos

24. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR 3D views for Balloon tracking This is part of APRSdos software July 2008, K9DCI

25. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Tracking with Milemarks

26. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Traffic Speed Posts Shows speed of traffic past special points (captures APRS mobile’s speeds)

27. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR APRS Event Data Entry Arial Map View Compare carefully with next slide. July 2008, K9DCI

28. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR APRS Event Data Entry Flip between the two But this is only HALF of the APRS function! July 2008, K9DCI

29. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR The New-N Paradigm 2005 ● APRS Generic Paths evolved over 13 years and the presence of many old legacy formats and procedures were really bogging down the network making it saturated and unreliable in busy areas. ● In 2005 all old paths were declared obsolete (RELAY & WIDE) and the entire APRS system in the US was then focused only on the WIDEn-N type of generic paths with small values of N. ● A WIDEn-N path goes N hops outward in all directions. ● WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 Currently Recommended Path concept ● Users NEED to understand this. Factor of 3 to 5 improvement! July 2008, K9DCI IMPORTANT

30. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Aa The APRS Land Network Multiple Hops And to the Internet Gateway Digipeaters

31. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR IGates (Global APRS!) ● An IGATE is a local APRS station that utilizes the APRS-Internet network to pass all packets heard on their local RF back to the Internet. (Gives global views to local activity.) ● Also act as two-way gateways for ALL APRS MESSAGES worldwide (Internet RF). ● Also act as two-way gateways for ALL APRS MESSAGES worldwide (Internet  RF).

32. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Global Mobile & Portable Com = APRS July 2008, K9DCI WHO-IS server CQ server Other Sats QRZ WHO-IS server APRSLink server WinLink E-Mail

33. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR APRS-Internet System (APRS-IS) Situational awareness + Internet services

34. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Internet tracking developed by Steve Demise – K4HG Findu.com etc. Mapping July 2008, K9DCI

35. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR WeLCARS Tech Fest Image from DB0ANF site July 2008, K9DCI

36. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR FINDU – Stations Near List

37. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR FINDU – Stations Near Map

38. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR FINDU - Messages

39. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Findu.com Weather Data Temperature & Dew Point Rainfall Rates

40. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Locate on Weather Radar July 2008, K9DCI

41. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Long Term Tracking July 2008, K9DCI My travels in December 06 through May 07. Note lack of coverage areas.

42. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR APRS for Special Uses ● Bicycle rallies, races ● Walk-a-thons, Parades ● Skywarn ● Weather Nets ● Crime prevention patrols ● Tornado recovery ● Damage assessment ● Direction Finding – Foxhunts ● Voice for communications, APRS for visual mapping ● Now integrating into APRN (Automatic Picture Relay Network)

43. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Buoys & Stuff German Buoy and Balloon projects BUOY 4

44. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Findu.com Telemetry Plots Google for “USNA Buoy” Select USNA-1 Google for “USNA Buoy” Select USNA-1

45. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Other (APRS-IS) Services ● World-Wide real-time one-to-one Messages - Via Internet. Very short one-to-one messages. Between any two active stations. Send TO: Callsign-SSID ● EMAIL - Goes into the Internet e-mail system. Very short messages. Send only. Send TO: EMAIL Email address first in message. Server sends ACK. (Tnx Sproul Brothers) ● WHO-IS or WHO-15 (some Digis require number SSID) Send TO: WHO-IS or WHO-15 Call sign is the message. License class, name, state & country are returned. (Tnx Sproul Brothers) ● CQ - World-wide real-time one-to-many messages. Send TO: CQSRVR Msg is CQ {groupname} Used on Field Day [CQ FD CQ FD...] Stays valid for 12 hours. (Tnx Pete, AE5PL) ● APRS <>. ● APRS <> Winlink 2000 Radio e-mail system. Send TO: Send TO: WLNK-1 or WLNK-2 Multi-APRS messages required. See the command list http://www.winlink.org/aprslink July 2008, K9DCI

46. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR APRS is in Orbit ● APRS space frequency is 145.825 MHz ● Also via GO-32 on 435.225 downlink, 145.85 MHz up July 2008, K9DCI

47. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR ● The Prototype Communications Satellite, is a US Naval Academy Aerospace student project. ● APRS space frequency is published as 145.825 ● As of June 2008 ● As of June 2008 currently useable: ISS, GO-32, ECHO and PCSAT when it is in good sun. ANDE and RAFT in Dec 2006 Into Space..PCSAT

48. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR PCSAT Satellite ● Launched Sept 2001 from Kodiak Alaska ● The first APRS satellite, and has since been joined by 5 other such satellites ● Can capture Emergency /Priority messages from THD7 / D700 radios anywhere on the globe and retransmit these signals on the USA VHF 144.39 APRS frequency. See live downlink on http://pcsat.aprs.org

49. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR International Space Station ●ARISS supports APRS on its 145.80/145.99 packet system. ●Use digipeater path VIA ARISS. ● PCSAT2 was also on ISS 2005-2006 ● Also has FM voice repeater capability See live downlink on www.ariss.net PCSAT2, was the second APRS digipeater satellite.

50. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Now GO-32 TECHSAT-1b ●GO-32 now supports APRS on its 435.225/145.85 packet system. ●APRS up on 145.85 (PC’s and messages) ● Mic-E up on 145.93 (D7 and D700’s) See live downlink on www.ariss.net 9600 Baud!

51. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR GO32 -EZ - MOBILE Satellite Prediction and Tracking ●No computer needed ●Two or more solid TX/RX passes every day ●Two additional TX passes 100m before and after! Fri 26 Oct is day8

52. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Tracking ECHO (AO51) too! ●No computer needed ●Two or more solid passes every day Friday October 26 th is day 4!

53. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR LEO Pass Geometry Bottom line: ● 10 dB gain Horizon-to-horizon ● 98% of all in-view times ● Using $75 TV rotator only

54. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Omni SatGates Up coming satellite strength in next two hours. 10 minute ticks. July 2008, K9DCI

55. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Omni Antenna Gain 7 dBi ! Anyone can be a SATgate! 1% 70% 30% Best elevation for reception Data from omni antenna & GPS satellite strength. Percents are passes in each region. 3/4 1/4 July 2008, K9DCI Set the D700 or D710 to digi from B side Sat freq to A side 144.390 The 2 meter 1/4 antenna has good gain at satellite elevations on both 144 & 440. NO Sat tracking necessary!

56. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Omni SatGates This is with a 3/4 wave vertical. Below 25 degrees, satellites are further, thus 6-10 dB weaker. July 2008, K9DCI Packets Received Per Minute vs. Satellite Elevation

57. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR ASatLogger APRS Satellite Tracker Current Ver 0.6.1 Beta 0.6.2 July 2008, K9DCI

58. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR ASatLogger Features ●Facilitate comms with APRS and Packet Satellites. ●Control Kenwood D7, D700, D710's - serial port. ●Adjust D7 and D700 radio's automatically for Doppler shift - not the D710. ●ASatLogger reconfigures D7/D700/D710 in seconds for different satellite. ●Relay satellite packets to the APRS-Internet System and FindU.com. ●Log Packets to disk for a permanent record. ●Allow others to monitor Satellite communications via your station. ●Control a D7, D700, D710 and operate AsatLogger via Internet. ●Files for common satellites and radios included. ●Track multiple satellites - requires a Nova DDE Server and D7, D700, D710.

59. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR APRS Emergency Comms Satellite-Simulated Emergency Test – SSET - Send an emergency Email via Satelilite Meteor-Scatter Monitoring Network (6 meters) - Dozens of Igates monitoring 50.62 MHz - Message Throughput in minutes - Using surplus 110 Watt 6m radios - Simple 100’ long wire gain antennas

60. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Other Items ●Local Info ●Local repeater Freq & PL sent by digi. ●Meetings, Nets & Hamfest location & talk-in freq. ●Packet Cluster D700, D7 & D710 display them. ●HF APRS 300 baud. Subject to normal skip. 30 Meter HF APRS frequency. Caution: Carrier out of band (10.151). APRS Boat and RV Tracking Net. ●HF APRS Boat and RV Tracking Net. Carrier Mode NORMAL USAGE 7.085 LSB Regional HF tracking nets 10.151 LSB National HF tracking freq 14.100 LSB DX tracking freq 14.105 LSB Packet Keyboarding freq - Keyboard interface for the TM-D700 ●Ken-Key - Keyboard interface for the TM-D700 John Hansen W2FS www.coastalchipworks.com/Kenkey.htm Does NOT work with the D710 according to John. July 2008, K9DCI

61. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR APRS Emergency Power 200W Solar Power - Continuous 10 kW gas Generator 220 VDC - Auto-runs as needed - lightweight wires Low Cost Bob Bruninga’s Solar augmented Prius July 2008, K9DCI

62. APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Questions ? ? ? Slides from Bob Bruninga except as noted. Many were modified for this presentation July 2008, K9DCI shows modified slides WHO-IS server CQ server Other Sats QRZ WHO-IS server APRSLink server WinLink E-Mail