APRS 101 APRS in Emergency Comms Automated Packet Reporting System A Communications Tool Developed by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Our Neighbor in Glen Burnie and USNA APRS 101 - 2018

This Workshop: Basic APRS 101 Emergency Comms using APRS Convenient routine uses for APRS Do’s and Don’ts to help the network. Individual station set-ups. Making it all play nicely together. APRS 101 - 2018

APRS is a communication support system To facilitate all forms of local HAM Comms Who, What, When, Where, Why & How! Call Freq Now Map Status Msg Position, course and speed Information on Antenna and Range Text Messages, Email, Bulletins AND Voice! The maps are just so you can SEE the Network and know how to Communicate! APRS 101 - 2018

APRS Voice Alert! * (Simultaneous Voice and Data channel) (Automatic Proximity Alert) Voice Alert is effectively a 3rd & 4th Radio channel for APRS radios with internal TNC’s Set APRS Band A to CTSS-100, Volume UP! All packet-racket is MUTED You are available for a voice call using PL-100 on 144.39 And you will hear* a Ping ALERT if another VA-station comes in line-of-site to you… (a proximity radar alert!) Great for long haul traveling and meeting other APRS users. Also great local Backchannel for APRS coordination APRS 101 - 2018

APRS Channel MUTE Set APRS Band A to CTSS-XXX, Volume UP! (Voice alert with personal CTCSS) Set APRS Band A to CTSS-XXX, Volume UP! All packet-racket is MUTED All other Voice Alert Proximity pings are muted You are available for a voice call using PL-XXX on 144.39 MUTES APRS, but allows for backdoor (PL-XXX) voice contact Include “V-Alert Txxx…” in your Status Text APRS 101 - 2018

This Workshop, 28 January 2018 Anne Arundel Radio Club Davidsonville, MD Topics: 1 Basic APRS® 101 2 Emergency Comms using APRS 3 Convenient routine uses for APRS 4 Do’s and Don’ts for a healthy the network 5 Individual station set-ups 6 Making it all play nicely together APRS 101 - 2018

APRS 101 APRS is a communication support system. It uses the common AX-25 Amateur Radio Data Protocol “Packet” refers to an encapsulated stream of data elements. APRS 101 - 2018

The APRS Network Common APRS network: 144.390 MHz, simplex We can and will use other simplex channels for special purposes (144.990 MHz today) APRS 101 - 2018

The APRS Network APRS is an “Unconnected Protocol” Transmitted without a verified connection to another station. Includes validation check-sums. Receiving stations set as digipeaters may retransmit (repeat) the packet according to the content of its “digi-path.” APRS 101 - 2018

The APRS Network “Digipeaters” repeat packets on RF. “IGates” relay packets to or from the Internet. A station may be either or both. Digipeater or Igate. Packet “collisions” corrupt both packets. One station should not transmit while it hears a transmission from another. APRS 101 - 2018

Emergency Comms with APRS This is not “a tool looking for a use!” The system is mature but still being enhanced. APRS 101 - 2018

Emergency Comms with APRS How we can make use of APRS: Transmit our position coordinates. First use of APRS. Include status information in our packets. Show what type of station or service we are. Transmit beacon packets to groups Reach all or self-selecting users. APRS 101 - 2018

What’s in an APRS packet? 2017-10-14 07:08:51 EDT: WJ3K-9>SY0T6W,WJ3K-10*, WIDE1*,WIDE2-1, qAR,WA3NHK-10: `h;pl <0x1c>>/] 449.125MHz T107 -500 V/ALERT= WOW! What a pile of stuff!! APRS 101 - 2018

What’s in an APRS packet? 2017-10-14 07:08:51 EDT: Date and time, per time zone set in radio or software SY0T6W, Type of APRS data system at transmitting station. WJ3K-10*,WIDE1*,WIDE2-1, Digipath with WJ3K-10 inserted as first digi. qAR,WA3NHK-10 The Igate that inserted the packet into APRSIS APRS 101 - 2018

What’s in an APRS packet? 2017-10-14 07:08:51 EDT: WJ3K-9>SY0T6W,WJ3K-10*, WIDE1*,WIDE2-1, qAR,WA3NHK-10: `h;pl <0x1c>>/] Condensed position string. (Lat/Lon) 449.125MHz T107 -500 V/ALERT= QSY Info plus free-form text (more on this) APRS 101 - 2018

Automated QSY Recent (> 1998) APRS integrated radios. Who is out there? Where are they? How can I contact them? You can read this info on your APRS radio. Their position, time and motion. Frequency, PL tone setting*, Freq. offset*. All incorporated in an APRS beacon. APRS 101 - 2018

Automated QSY Recent (> 1998) APRS integrated radios. Some Kenwood and Yaesu Mobiles & HT’s Automatically transmit beacons showing voice channel Freq, PL Tone, and Offset. Automatically (when asked) will tune their voice channel to the data in the received beacon. And likewise will tune to a proper Repeater Object! APRS 101 - 2018

Automated QSY Some Kenwood Mobiles & HT’s - From my experience, so far – KWD TM-D710A will tune to the frequency, but not tune the PL tone and offset. It will transmit the frequency data only KWD TM-D710GA, TH-D72 and TH-D74 will tune to the frequency, PL tone and offset in an APRS beacon. Also transmit their frequency, PL and offset data. APRS 101 - 2018

Automated QSY Some Yaesu Mobiles - From my experience, so far – FTM-350 and 400D will tune to the frequency, PL tone and offset in an APRS beacon. Also transmit frequency, PL and offset data. Yaesu HT’s don’t have auto QSY feature. But – they can be set manually if you know what you are doing! APRS 101 - 2018

Automated QSY Radios withoug auto QSY can can be set manually if you know what you are doing! To work correctly, the data has to be entered correctly. Examples: 147.105MHz T107 +060 442.300MHz T107 +500 APRS 101 - 2018

Automated QSY Examples: Explanation: 147.105MHz T107 +060 442.300MHz C107 +500 Explanation: Frequency is 10 places, with the decimal at 4 and “MHz” at 8,9,10, followed by a space. The upper and lower case in “MHz” is critical. APRS 101 - 2018

Automated QSY Examples: Explanation: 147.105MHz T107 +060 442.300MHz C107 +500 Explanation: T107 is 4 places, followed by a space. C107 indicates station transmits PL tone as well. 107 means “107.2” APRS 101 - 2018

Automated QSY Examples: Explanation: 147.105MHz T107 +060 442.300MHz C107 +500 Explanation: T107 means “Requires PL 107.2 Hz to open the receiver.” C107 means “Requires PL 107.2 Hz to open the receiver and transmits PL 107.2.” APRS 101 - 2018

Automated QSY Examples: Explanation: 147.105MHz T107 +060 442.300MHz C085 +500 Explanation: We drop the decimal place, and pad the first place with zero when necessary. “C085” means 85.5 Hz. APRS 101 - 2018

Automated QSY Examples: Explanation: 147.105MHz T107 +060 442.300MHz C085 +500 Explanation: +060 is Positive Offset, 600 kHz. +500 is Positive Offset, 5 MHz. The automated radios do this correctly. This text can also be entered manually. APRS 101 - 2018

Automated QSY Examples: 147.105MHz T107 +060 442.300MHz C085 +500 This is much more useful than just “Listening on 146.520 except maybe when I’m asleep or doing something else, and my battery voltage is 13.2541 Volts.” A short free form note can be appended. APRS 101 - 2018

Automated QSY Examples: A short free form note can be appended. 147.105MHz T107 +060 442.300MHz C085 +500 A short free form note can be appended. 147.105MHz T107 +060 V/Alert RX APRS 101 - 2018

Automated QSY Repeater objects use the exact same format. 442.300MHz C107 +500 KB3CMA C4FM AMS The frequency must be the first characters DO NOT insert Power-Height-Gain. It messes up the works It doesn’t work with Yaesu radios. And, who cares how high your tower is? APRS 101 - 2018

APRS Messaging Messages can be originate on a keyboard or within the radio. Message beacons (try to) find their own way through the network. A message addressed to an APRS station will travel until it runs out of its digi path. The addressed station should return an “ack.” APRS 101 - 2018

APRS Messaging The addressed station should return an “ack.” Addressed station is specified by call sign and SSID (KC3XYC-12). All operating KC3XYC stations should receive and store the message, but Only KC3XYX-12 will “ack.” APRS 101 - 2018

APRS Messaging If the addressed station out of the local network, even on the other coast, and If the message reaches an Igate, and If the addressed station has been heard recently (registered) through a local Igate, THEN APRSIS will try to route the message to the addressed station, and return the “ack” beacon. THIS IS NEAT! APRS 101 - 2018

APRS Messaging - Email You can send APRS messages to any Email address. Just enter “EMAIL” in the address field, and enter the full Email address as the first word of the text. Keep it short – 67 characters max. This has just scratched the surface. APRS 101 - 2018

APRS Messaging If the addressed station out of the local network, even on the other coast, and If the message reaches an Igate, and If the addressed station has been heard recently (registered) through a local Igate, THEN APRSIS will try to route the message to the addressed station, and return the “ack” beacon. THIS IS NEAT! APRS 101 - 2018

APRS Voice Alert Voice alert uses PL tone 100.0 on the transmitted digital signal, and Tsq 100.0 to filter the received signal for V/A. WHY? First, just for kicks  You’re driving along and wondering if somebody wants to talk. You hear digital gratch on the APRS channel. That shows that someone else is playing V/A. Give them a call if you want to chat. APRS 101 - 2018

APRS Voice Alert WHY? More importantly, consider a real, serious, heavy duty emergency. Here I am with my radio. Who else is out there? Where are they? How can I reach them? Can they help me? Can I help them? APRS 101 - 2018

APRS Voice Alert WHAT? You don’t even need an APRS radio. Transmit voice on 144.390 with PL 100.0 If we all get on board, someone will hear you. Listen for a voice response, or for a data signal. If you have an APRS radio, even just an HT, you will probably get into the APRS data net. APRS 101 - 2018

APRS Voice Alert WHAT? The Kenwoods can TX and RX PL Tone on the digital signal. Yaesu mobiles do, but their HT’s do not superimpose PL on data. But you can still use the voice channel on 144.390 PL 100.0 while sending APRS beacons on the data side. APRS 101 - 2018

To Wrap it Up This is a LOT of stuff. There is a LOT of info on the ‘Net. Don’t believe everything you see or hear. APRS 101 - 2018

To Wrap it Up Help is literally Just Around the Corner. When you get started or make changes, ask someone to look and tell you - What your beacons look like. How far they are traveling. If the info is accurate and useful. APRS 101 - 2018

To Wrap it Up Help is literally Just Around the Corner. We have some fixed stations that transmit their battery voltage every two minutes with a digipath of WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2. They blanket the entire Northeast and Midatlantic area with useless QRM. DON’T DO THAT! APRS 101 - 2018

THANKS FOR COMING TODAY Now let’s go and set up an APRS network and see how this works. APRS 101 - 2018

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The APRS Network Information exchange between everyone Aa Digipeaters And to the Internet Gateway 2 Hops max APRS 101 - 2018

Internet Connectivity Only MSGs go back to RF Local RF Everything goes into the Internet APRS 101 - 2018

Seeing the Situation (Symbol Atributes) APRS 101 - 2018

Symbol Atributes The original Overlayable Symbols Note, some popular “aprs” programs do not display ANY of these 11 attributes on any map! They show meaningless ICONS instead Since April 2007, all alternate symbols may now have overlays APRS 101 - 2018

APRS – IS - Local Info! Last 100 stations! Direction & Distance Frequency and Tone APRS 101 - 2018

APRS – IS - Local Info! APRS 101 - 2018

APRS-Internet (APRS-IS) Google for “USNA Buoy” Select USNA-1 APRS.FI OpenAPRS.NET Findu.com This data is LIVE APRS 101 - 2018

APRS-IS (FINDU – Near) * Click to see all stations on map Google for “USNA Buoy” Select USNA-1 * Click to see all stations on map APRS 101 - 2018

APRS-IS (click to see all stations on map) Google for “USNA Buoy” Select USNA-1 Also: APRS.fi OAPRS.net Etc… 40 miles APRS 101 - 2018

APRS-IS (FINDU - Messages) Google for “USNA Buoy” Select USNA-1 Also: APRS.fi OAPRS.net Etc… APRS 101 - 2018

Global APRS Email! To: EMAIL MSG: wb4apr@amsat.org ET call home! APRS Global Text Messaging since 1993; from HT’s since 1998! Send Email from any APRS radio anywhere to anyone on the planet, anywhere LIVE. WU2Z Email Engine on the APRS-IS gates it to Internet Great Demos. Send an Email to a Blackberry in the audience. New Initiative! Universal Amateur Radio Text Messaging APRS 101 - 2018

Universal Ham Radio Text Messaging Initiative cell wireless APRS DTMF Send/RX anytime, anywhere, any device by callsign 26 separate systems! But ALL CAN EMAIL!

APRS Msgs/Email MSG menu Send/Receive messages or email Anywhere on the planet via APRS satellite Confirmation of Relay => APRS 101 - 2018

What is APRS all about? (Humans communicating INFO with Humans) Immediate local digital and graphical information exchange between all participants in a local area or event. This includes: Positions of all stations and objects Status of all stations Messages, Bulletins and Announcements Weather data and telemetry DF bearings and signal strengths for quick transmitter hunting RF Connectivity plots of all stations Local OBJECTS on a common map display for all users Local Freqs, IRLP, ECHOlink, Winlink, Nets, Meetings Typical applications are: Routine local awareness of all ham radio events and assets around you Marathons, races, events and public service Search and rescue Family communications and tracking and one-line emails Mobile-to-mobile global text messaging Weather data exchange and display Efficient multi-user Satellite communications APRS 101 - 2018

APRS, Maps, Events and Objects! Dayton Hamvention APRS 101 - 2018

Various APRS Stations (two-way) APRStt now APRS is a Network intended for real-time Tactical INFORMATION exchange. This means TWO-WAY. APRS 101 - 2018

TRACKERS (should be two-way) One-way APRS is not recommended. APRS is a Network. Use the Receiver to receive calls! The Beacon should include the receiver Voice frequency so the operator can be involved in the Net! One-way trackers are good for non-manned assets at large movement events.. Not as the only APRS asset for a ham. Trackers may be his 2nd, 3rd or 4th unit for APRS support… not his 1st! APRS 101 - 2018

Mobile/Portable APRS Terminals Kenwood TM-D700A Dual band 144/440 MHz 50/35 Watts Built-in 1200/9600 bps TNC including digipeater Built-in APRS Displays and messaging. Other APRS stations show on attached GPS map TM-D710 Kenwood D7 Yaesu VX8R Adds operation Freq to every posit ! Auto tunes to others with Freq! Shows local Voice Repeaters ! APRS 101 - 2018

Other APRS radios 2 M Radio with optional TNC. Alinco DR-135T/EJ-41U 2 M Radio with optional TNC. N1VG Scott makes an OT tracker module No messaging/data display But OT adds GPS map display VX8R available since Dec 08. VX8G GPS built-in (2010) Or HAMHUD on any radio! APRS 101 - 2018

APRS on ANY radio! (using the RC-D710) RC-D710 DISPLAY Plug-n-play Audio Connection Jeff KB2M APRS channel DSTAR channel On IC-2820 DSTAR APRS 101 - 2018

APRS on ANY radio! (using the RC-D710) Attached to an ALINCO HT Simple SPKR/Mic connections NiCd Battery Pack APRS 101 - 2018

APRS Event Data Entry Ops send scores Net Control Score Message Sent Score Data Received APRS 101 - 2018

Event Data Entry (DTMF) Using ANY Radio with a DTMF keypad Troop Number and Score received at Net Control APRS 101 - 2018

APRS (RFID) Hot Spot See aprs-rfid.html For big events, put one at each checkpoint or venue. Every clubhouse/EOC door See who is operating where, on what frequency and when APRS 101 - 2018

APRS (RFID) Hot Spot See aprs-rfid.html Was demonstrated with door mats at Dayton

APRS Range circles and Path tracing

APRS ( DFing by signal strength )

APRS Tracking with Milemarks

APRS – Traffic Speed Posts Shows speed of traffic past special points

APRS is INFO. not just tracking! Milemarks? APRStt? Field Data? Voice Alert? Signal Finding? Nets? Meetings? Tracker-Voice? RF Range? Frequency? AVRS (Ham Radio Mobile Cell via APRS=>VOIP)? Traffic?