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APRS

APRS. Introductory Overview. Adapted from Bob Bruninga’s FrostFest 08 presentation - by K9DCI July 2008. July 2008, K9DCI. What is APRS?. APRS = Automatic Packet Reporting System APRS was developed in the early 1990's for local tactical digital communications, situational awareness and

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APRS

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

  2. 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-WAYinformation exchange using Amateur radio. Not just Vehicle Tracking!!!

  3. 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. 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 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 Displaysin support of real-time events. Failure to display APRS symbols with all their attributesand 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 Operatingfrequencies in APRS. SeeAPRS-tactical.html

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

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

  8. Comparison to Ordinary Packet For Ex-Packeteers and Newbies Packet APRS • 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) July 2008, K9DCI

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

  10. 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) • Unlike the Kenwood radios, it requires a PC to set it up, and there is no APRS display directly on the radio.

  11. Yaesu VX-8R Quad band Due out July-Oct 2008 • 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] Preliminary Updated Oct 2008, K9DCI

  12. APRS – is Local Info! Last 100 stations! Mobiles and HT are 100% compatible Direction & Distance Frequency and Tone

  13. 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.

  14. Voice Alert! Automatic CQ for Traveling APRS Mobiles Also usable by NON-APRS mobiles! • Effectively a 3rd Radio channel. For the D7, D700, D710 APRS radios. • Great for meeting APRS users while traveling. For MobilesOnly. 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 NOTtransmit APRS beacons. This is a “Human Listening” signal. July 2008, K9DCI

  15. APRS Event Mesaging Score Message Score = 42 for troop 874 Score Data Received Scores being reported July 2008, K9DCI

  16. users per degree of lat/long July 2008, K9DCI

  17. Software “Clients” add features APRSDosHas the Most Features

  18. ALOHA circle and digipeater hops[Your ALOHA circle is your 100% saturated channel range]

  19. Range Circles

  20. Range circles and Path tracing

  21. DFing by signal strength Gray = Not heard (phg circles) Colored Heard circles = inverse signal strength. July 2008, K9DCI

  22. Solo DF Fade Circle Techniquewhite dots are fade-out locations July 2008, K9DCI

  23. Solo DF Fade Circle TechniqueAlternate display in APRSDos

  24. 3D views for Balloon tracking This is part of APRSdos software July 2008, K9DCI

  25. Tracking with Milemarks

  26. Traffic Speed Posts Shows speed of traffic past special points (captures APRS mobile’s speeds)

  27. APRS Event Data Entry Arial Map View Compare carefully with next slide. July 2008, K9DCI

  28. APRS Event Data Entry Flip between the two But this is only HALF of the APRS function! July 2008, K9DCI

  29. The New-N Paradigm 2005 IMPORTANT Factor of 3 to 5 improvement! • 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. July 2008, K9DCI

  30. The APRS Land Network Aa Digipeaters And to the Internet Gateway Multiple Hops

  31. 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 Û RF).

  32. Global Mobile & Portable Com=APRS E-Mail APRSLink server WinLink Other Sats QRZ WHO-IS server WHO-IS server CQ server July 2008, K9DCI

  33. APRS-Internet System (APRS-IS) Situational awareness + Internet services

  34. Findu.com etc. Mapping Internet tracking developed by Steve Demise – K4HG July 2008, K9DCI

  35. WeLCARS Tech Fest Image from DB0ANF site July 2008, K9DCI

  36. FINDU – Stations Near List

  37. FINDU – Stations Near Map

  38. FINDU - Messages

  39. Findu.com Weather Data Temperature & Dew Point Rainfall Rates

  40. Locate on Weather Radar July 2008, K9DCI

  41. Long Term Tracking My travels in December 06 through May 07. Note lack of coverage areas. July 2008, K9DCI

  42. 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. Buoys & Stuff German Buoy and Balloon projects BUOY 4

  44. Findu.com Telemetry Plots Google for “USNA Buoy” Select USNA-1 Google for “USNA Buoy” Select USNA-1

  45. 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 <> Winlink 2000 Radio e-mail system. 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 in Orbit • APRS space frequency is 145.825 MHz • Also via GO-32 on 435.225 downlink, 145.85MHz up July 2008, K9DCI

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

  48. 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. 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 PCSAT2, was the second APRS digipeater satellite. See live downlink on www.ariss.net

  50. Now GO-32TECHSAT-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) 9600 Baud! See live downlink on www.ariss.net

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