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Introducing APRS 2009. Automatic Packet Reporting System. APRS What is it?. Designed in the late 1980’s. It was designed to marry RF traffic with what, at the time, was the comparable bandwidth available on the POTS (Plain Old Telephone System).
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Introducing APRS 2009 Automatic Packet Reporting System
APRSWhat is it? Designed in the late 1980’s. It was designed to marry RF traffic with what, at the time, was the comparable bandwidth available on the POTS (Plain Old Telephone System). With the expansion of the Internet and the capabilities associated with it, the concepts have grown to accommodate more, faster information exchange.
APRSWhat is it? Automatic Packet Reporting System Original specification did not include GPS Original concept was primarily a way to show “objects” and “messages” (text messaging before people knew what text messaging was).
APRSWhat is it? Tactical Reliable Consistent For more info, contact Spencer Hamons via the BARK website at http://al7yk.org or my personal blog at http://itpodcast.org/blog
APRSTactical Messages Maps Situational Awareness 23 DigiPeaters in Range of this radio 8 Active Weather Broadcast Stations in Range of this radio 2 Mobile Radios in Range of this radio 7 Objects 31 Kenwood Radios in Range 9 Messages to this user received 7 Messages from this user transmitted 6 Messages have not been replied to yet
APRSTactical - Continued Nested Menus 12 APRS Stations, their frequencies and / or callsigns The last time the station was heard Frequency the station was on
What about maps? GPS Capabilities Added in 1992 1992 Capabilities were “local” only and DOS Internet Capabilities Increased Graphics Capabilities Increased Today, abundance of bandwidth Abundance of processing power Real-time global awareness
How is GeoTracking Tactical? Position tracking in itself is not “tactical” It is the combination of real-time information related to tracked objects that provides the tactical information important to operations.
APRSTactical - Continued What are these “objects”? Objects can be defined by any user on the network. Common use of objects are: • Rally Points for Search and Rescue Operations • Real-time weather events such as tornadoes or snowstorms • Non HAM users on the network such as marathon runners, bicycle racers, hot air balloons, or even dog sleds. • Meeting locations
APRSTactical - Continued Simple but effective bulletin board operations Can be displayed on computer, or radio display Potentially useful in our environment for: • Mass dispensing exercise • K-300 checkpoint times and health checks • SAR
How is it reliable? Digipeater Internet Multiple Hops
APRSConsistency Standard Message Format Standard Beaconing Standard Packet Type (AX.25)
How to Use APRSOption 1 Use any PC, even an old one (notice the picture above, I meant it). Put a TNC and an old radio out there, install free APRS software like UI-View, and start sending messages, bulletin board information and even emails between your computer and RF users around the world.
How to Use APRSOption 2 Use a radio with a GPS attached to send your position data. Some GPS units allow two-way communications between the radio and GPS device, and will map other users and objects on the GPS screen in real-time.
How to Use APRSOption 3 Get a handheld transceiver with built in APRS capabilities. Some even have built in GPS. With this option, all you need is in one device that can utilize most of the APRS capabilities.
How to Use APRSOption 4 You can even take that same old, nasty computer we used in example 1, add a weather station to it, and transmit weather data to the APRS network in addition to all the other features that APRS offers
Advanced APRS Features AVRS – Automatic Voice Relay System • Uses IRLP and EchoLink to enable VoIP (Voice over IP) conversations to occur. • User can “call” another user by callsign • AVRS engine acts as a connection agent, automatically connecting the nodes along the path to the called user
Advanced APRS FeaturesAVRS Internet IGate / AVRS agent looks at APRS system and finds where KL2RB is at and what Echolink or IRLP node is connected. Agent automatically opens link to that node. Remote node passes packet request for conversation to KL2RB on radio screen. Voice traffic passes as a normal EchoLink or IRLP call. User KL2RA requests to talk with KL2RB
Advanced APRS FeaturesEmail to Internet Address Centralized email engine on the APRS network will route outbound messages to any Internet valid email address. Only works one-way because unlicensed users cannot “key” the transmitter and move messages over RF network. Internet