APRS

APRS is the Automatic Packet Reporting System. APRS is a digital communications protocol created by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for exchanging information among many stations covering a large area. The information is in the form of a packet. Information in the packets include position, status, messages, queries, weather reports and telemetry data. You can use APRS to track an object or person, send and receive data, including text messages from radio to radio or radio to phone and vice versa. Severe weather alerts can be sent out as an information packet that alerts a user on his/her radio to the possible danger. APRS is connected to the internet. This allows messages and other data to be sent out all over the world.

A common use of APRS would be to track your vehicle. Basically, you would need a TNC with a GPS receiver connected to it. The TNC connects to the two-way radio. Programmed by the user, a packet with the position could be sent every 60 mins if the car is stationary. As soon as it starts moving it could be set to transmit every 60 seconds, that way you could better see the current location of the vehicle as it moves.

So where is the data from the car going? Great question. The data is sent to a Digipeater/Igate that is located at a commercial repeater site. That Digipeater/Igate is a TNC connected to a radio receiver/transmitter that is also connected to the internet. So, in this example, the data packet from the car transmitted to the digipeater and is now on the internet. You can then go to the aprs.fi website, which is a large live mapping website and see your car’s location.

This was just one example of the many things you can do with APRS. Let your imagination lead the way to creativity.

Henry County APRS System

The APRS system here is on 144.390

I hope that you will enjoy using the APRS System here and I encourage you to get involved with all aspects of it. Thank you for visiting and enjoy APRS!