March 5,
2003y
March 5,
2003y
  
    
   
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On Getting APRS On The Air NOW!! by Arte Booten N2ZRC (packet: N2ZRC@KB2VLX.#BRONX.NY.USA.NA) (E-mail: n2zrc@weca.org) First things first. In order to run APRS, you first have to get it. If you have access to anonymous FTP simply navigate to the following URL: and look for the latest version. In this example I'll use the nonexistent APRS version 9.99, which would be called "APRS999.zip." Substitute the appropriate file name for this. If you're using PkZip204g, put your APRS disk into the floppy drive of your choice (I'll call it drive A) then expand the APRS files by using the following commands on the hard drive of choice: Change to this directory........CD \APRS Switch to the A drive...........A: Run PKUNZIP with directories....PKUNZIP -d APRS999.zip C: Don't forget to use that "-d" switch, which lets it create the necessary subdirectories. If you use WinZip, PkZip250 (or some other Windows-based zip utility, change to drive A and double-click on APRS999.zip, click expand button, tell it where you want it and follow onscreen directions. Make sure your TNC is in Terminal or Command mode (whatever it's called by the manufacturer) and that parity is set to 8-N-0. At the C:\> prompt, go to your chosen APRS folder and invoke "APRS99.exe". If you're using Windows, simply double-click on that folder. This brings you to the LOGO screen. Enter your callsign and ssid, if any. Tell it what kind of TNC you're using. Answer the other various questions. When you're done, the main map screen will appear. Now press M(aplist) then C(onfigure) and C(hange maplist), tell it you want to use the appropriate maplist for your area, either EAS(t), CEN(tral), WES(t), NE(ast), SE(ast), etc. Use the arrows or mouse to bring the cursor to your approximate location (keep your eye on the up- per left part of the screen which shows the latitude/longitude of the cursor.) Then press HOME to center your screen on it. Use the PgDN key to zoom in a few screens and tweak the cursor to your EXACT QTH. You may have to zoom in to a very small scale to get the necessary resolu- tion. Once the cursor is at the right spot hit the HOME key again. Press I(nput) M(y) P(osition) and confirm your lat/long, choose a symbol for yourself, type in a brief comment, and verify it. Once you've pres- sed that "Y" you're essentially ready to go on the air. In it's most basic form, you're configured! Tune the radio to 144.39 (in most parts of the country), hook it up and see what you can see. It might take a few minutes for other stations to appear (assuming there are some) but if you get a little impatient, try pressing O(perations) Q(uery) and give it a radius such as 64 to force position reports from others. Look for stations whose symbol is a green star. THESE ARE THE WIDE DIGIPEATERS! Is there one fairly close to you? If there is, press the "D" key. If an asterisk (*) appears next to a callsign (hopefully that nearby WIDE) then you're hearing it directly. Make a note of that near- by WIDE station's digipeater path. Now you're going to set YOUR digipeater path. Press O(perations) D(igipeaters). If you heard that WIDE station directly, enter it's callsign and ssid, if any. Follow this with a comma then type in "WIDE". For example: N2MH-15,WIDE would be how I'd enter it here in The Bronx, but the nearest WIDE to YOUR QTH is what YOU'RE looking for. Next you want to set your Power-Height-Gain figures. Press I(nput) P(ower) and tell it how many watts you're using, your antenna's height above AVERAGE terrain (look at a topographical map of your area,) the gain in dBd and the antenna's directional pattern in degrees or 0 (zero) for an omnidirectional antenna. Finally, set your Beacon Text by pressing I(nput) M(y) S(tatus) and typ- ing in a short comment, different than the text you used for your Posi- tion Text earlier. At this point, you're about as far as you need to go for now. I hope to see you all on my screen in the VERY near future. Look for me at cruise missile coordinates 4052.71N/07354.06W. 73
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