March 5, 2003

aprs automatic position reporting system introduction As the Internet and email have made inroads into the information available on the packet BBS system, APRS is fast becoming the next big thing for packet radio. This is not to say that the BBS system using software such as FBB, RLI, MSYS, and others is dead. APRS is known formally as the Automatic Position Reporting System. It's a system which, unlike PBBS's, nodes and DX clusters, uses an UNCONNECTED protocol to transmit your exact position, a symbol denoting the type of station you're running and a brief comment about it. It also uses direct keyboard-to- keyboard "chatting", has direction-finding capabilities and much more. With interest growing, and with the technical nature of APRS as it stands now, we have added APRS coverage to the SEITS pages. information Arte Booten, N2ZRC was been kind enough to allow us to reprint his Overview and Introduction to APRS to help get us started on the subject. From there you can go to Getting APRS On The Air NOW!, Using APRS, and Figuring Out The Best Digi Path. Thanks Arte!! Precision Mapping Version 3 and 3.5 map work very well with WinAPRS. You can also use the $10.00 product from Radio Shack called Precision Streets Maps. It is bundled by Cosmi / Swift Jewell and is on the "cheap" software rack. pocketAPRS is fully functional APRS software for the Palm series of hand held organizers. Here is a javAPRS map showing active stations in the Mid West as seen by APRServe by Steve Dimse, K4HG. A special thanks to the Miami Museum of Science for allowing server space on their network and museum floor for Steve's APRServe which is the source for the info you see. A very special THANKS to Steve not only for APRServe and javAPRS but also for the time he took to answer some question we had in getting javAPRS running on this site for your enjoyment!! downloads Here are sites for downloading the latest version of your favorite APRS program: Tri-State APRS Working Group has many up-to-date links for current APRS information. APRSdos by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR. WinAPRS for Wintel boxes by Mark Sproul, KB2ICI and Keith Sproul, WU2Z. MacAPRS for Macintosh by Mark Sproul, KB2ICI , and Keith Sproul, WU2Z. APRS Plus for use with Street Atlas USA by Brent Hildebrand, KH2Z. palmAPRS by Mike Musick, N0QBF. APRS/CE in Beta form for Windows CE 2.0 and up by Rob Wittner, KZ5RW. SEITS HomePage - Web Links - Ham Radio Dealers - Computer Dealers Maps - Features - Newsletters - Repeater Info Comments or submissions for publication can be sent to muldoon@seits.org. © 1998-2003 SouthEast Iowa Technical Society