WrightwoodCalif.com Forum
Public Forums => Radio Talk => Topic started by: ak7v on Jan 08, 11, 06:25:55 PM
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I have just set up an APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) station here in Wrightwood at my house. If you haven't heard of APRS, it's "an amateur radio-based system for real time tactical digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area." (from Wikipedia).
Practically speaking, the APRS system is a network of ham radio stations listening to and transmitting digital beacons on 144.390 MHz (usually). These beacons contain things like GPS coordinates, weather conditions, "text messages," emergency info, etc.
Many hams have transmitters in their vehicles that transmit their GPS positions on the APRS frequency. Home stations pick up these transmissions and send them to the APRS servers on the internet. You can see current APRS activity on the web. http://aprs.fi is a good site to use.
Lots of home stations also send out packets in addition to receiving them and sending them to the internet. Some send out weather conditions, some send emergency info, some send text messages from one APRS user to another.
You can outfit your 2m transceiver for APRS by purchasing a TNC (terminal node controller) or using a computer with a sound card. There are some handheld transceivers, like the Yaesu VX-8R, that have APRS capabilities built in. There are also dedicated APRS transmitters ("trackers") that will send your position automatically.
So when I go out on a hike and carry my VX-8R, I can set it to transmit my position, altitude, and bearing every few minutes. My home APRS station, or any other that can hear my signal, will post that information to the internet. This could be useful if I were to get into trouble. I can also send and receive text messages with the HT.
APRS coverage in Wrightwood was spotty -- I have taken the radio out on hikes with me and none of my position packets were received by anyone on the APRS network. Hopefully my home station, AK7V-1, will pick up at least some local APRS traffic. My antenna is not in a great location, so we'll see how it works.
I am using a Yaesu VX-170 HT as the APRS station transmitter and receiver. I am also using a PacComm PicoPacket TNC to decode the digital signals and UI-View32 software on the computer to route the information. The antenna is an aluminum J-pole outside the house.
If you use APRS, I'd love to hear whether my station is helping. Or if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Thanks,
Jason
AK7V
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I've got a TNC that I used for my packet/aprs node, before I moved up here... I should dig the thing out of the closet and get it back online one of these days.