Basic APRS Information
The Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) is a two-way tactical real-time digital communications system between all assets in a network sharing information about everything going on in the local area. On ham radio, this means if something is happening now, or there is information that could be valuable to you, then it should show up on your APRS radio in your mobile. APRS also supports global callsign-to-callsign messaging, bulletins, objects email and Voice because every local area is seen by the Internet System (APRS-IS)!
One of its most practical application is the ability to report your position automatically, and for this reason, it is often called by mistake the Automatic Position Reporting System. My primary interest in this system is its ability to report my position. I have built such a system, and use it in my car when I am county hunting so that you can see where I am actually located most of the time.
The APRS system operates on 2m using a frequency of 144.39. All information is exchanged on this fr equency using short packet formats. The controller of the system is a specially designed Terminal Node Controller (TNC) which is connected to both a GPS and you 2m transceiver. Periodically, the TNC reads the position data from the GPS and causes the transceiver to transmit the data. Because of the relatively short range of the 2m operations, many hams operate digital repeaters, called digipeaters, to receive and retransmit the packet. Using this arrangement, packets can travel 500 or more miles.
If you want more information about APRS, use this link: APRS: Automatic Packet Reporting System
Normally, you need an APRS system to receive and decode this information. However, a recent addition to the APRS capability is the addition of Internet gateway features where the position data is available on the internet, where it can be displayed for specific calls. The purpose of the page is really to describe how to access this data from any internet connection.
Viewing the position data the first time is a three step procedure, which is outline below:
1. Start your internet browser and enter the this address in the address line. Or you can just use this link: http://www.aprs.org/. The picture shown below should be displayed.
2. There is a text box near the top labeled "Callsign or nickname:". You can enter your callsign, or any thing else. It does not really matter. Use my callsign if you want. After you enter the callsign, click on the "Login" button. The display will change to something like what is shown, although the map center will not be LaGrange, GA.
3. The left side of the screen is a map and will display position data. The right side of the screen has several text boxes, and various hyperlinks for addition presentation and other data. Using the small arrow on the top box labeled "Show last:", change the text to read "6 hours". In the second text box labeled "Track Callsign", enter my call, "K3IMC". Then click on the "Search" button to the right of the text box. When you do this, the display will change to something like what is shown below. This display was created during my recent trip to Bibb county for N4AAT for his last county that I made on June 25. If I am actually out county hunting, it will show my current position and my recent track.
