Automatic Packet Reporting System

APRS What is it? Designed in the late 1980s. It was designed to marry RF traffic with what, at the time, was the comparable bandwidth available on the POTS (Plain Old Telephone System). With the expansion of the Internet and the capabilities associated with it, the concepts have grown to accommodate more, faster information exchange.

APRS What is it? Automatic Packet Reporting System Original specification did not include GPS Original concept was primarily a way to show objects and messages (text messaging before people knew what text messaging was).

APRS What is it? Tactical Reliable Consistent For more info, contact Spencer Hamons via the BARK website at or my personal blog at

APRS Tactical Messages Maps Situational Awareness 23 DigiPeaters in Range of this radio 8 Active Weather Broadcast Stations in Range of this radio 2 Mobile Radios in Range of this radio 7 Objects 31 Kenwood Radios in Range 9 Messages to this user received 7 Messages from this user transmitted 6 Messages have not been replied to yet

APRS Tactical - Continued Nested Menus 12 APRS Stations, their frequencies and / or callsigns The last time the station was heard Frequency the station was on

What about maps? GPS Capabilities Added in Capabilities were local only and DOS Internet Capabilities Increased Graphics Capabilities Increased Today, abundance of bandwidth Abundance of processing power Real-time global awareness

How is GeoTracking Tactical? Position tracking in itself is not tactical It is the combination of real-time information related to tracked objects that provides the tactical information important to operations.

APRS Tactical - Continued What are these objects? Objects can be defined by any user on the network. Common use of objects are: Rally Points for Search and Rescue Operations Real-time weather events such as tornadoes or snowstorms Non HAM users on the network such as marathon runners, bicycle racers, hot air balloons, or even dog sleds. Meeting locations

APRS Tactical - Continued Simple but effective bulletin board operations Can be displayed on computer, or radio display Potentially useful in our environment for: Mass dispensing exercise K-300 checkpoint times and health checks SAR

How is it reliable? Multiple Hops Internet Digipeater

APRS Consistency Standard Message Format Standard Beaconing Standard Packet Type (AX.25)

How to Use APRS Option 1 Use any PC, even an old one (notice the picture above, I meant it). Put a TNC and an old radio out there, install free APRS software like UI-View, and start sending messages, bulletin board information and even s between your computer and RF users around the world.

How to Use APRS Option 2 Use a radio with a GPS attached to send your position data. Some GPS units allow two-way communications between the radio and GPS device, and will map other users and objects on the GPS screen in real-time.

How to Use APRS Option 3 Get a handheld transceiver with built in APRS capabilities. Some even have built in GPS. With this option, all you need is in one device that can utilize most of the APRS capabilities.

How to Use APRS Option 4 You can even take that same old, nasty computer we used in example 1, add a weather station to it, and transmit weather data to the APRS network in addition to all the other features that APRS offers

Advanced APRS Features AVRS – Automatic Voice Relay System Uses IRLP and EchoLink to enable VoIP (Voice over IP) conversations to occur. User can call another user by callsign AVRS engine acts as a connection agent, automatically connecting the nodes along the path to the called user

Advanced APRS Features AVRS Internet User KL2RA requests to talk with KL2RB IGate / AVRS agent looks at APRS system and finds where KL2RB is at and what Echolink or IRLP node is connected. Agent automatically opens link to that node. Remote node passes packet request for conversation to KL2RB on radio screen. Voice traffic passes as a normal EchoLink or IRLP call.

Advanced APRS Features to Internet Address Internet Centralized engine on the APRS network will route outbound messages to any Internet valid address. Only works one-way because unlicensed users cannot key the transmitter and move messages over RF network.