1. And to the Internet Gateway
The APRS Land Network Aa
Digipeaters
And to the Internet Gateway
Multiple Hops

2. IGates (Global APRS!)
An IGATE is a local APRS station that utilizes the APRS-Internet network to pass all packets heard on their local RF back to the Internet. (Gives global views to local activity.)
Also act as two-way gateways for ALL APRS MESSAGES worldwide (Internet Û RF).

3. Global Mobile & Portable Com=APRS
WHO-IS server
CQ server
Other Sats
QRZ
APRSLink server
WinLink
Web Browser
DTMF ONLY radio
144
144
144
RFID Server
Radio HF
TAG
PSK-63
30 M Radio
Mar 2010, K9DCI

4. APRS-Internet System (APRS-IS)
Situational awareness + Internet services

5. Findu.com etc. Mapping Feb 2009, K9DCI
Internet tracking developed by Steve Demise – K4HG
Feb 2009, K9DCI

6. WeLCARS Tech Fest
Image from DB0ANF site
Feb 2009, K9DCI

7. FINDU – Stations Near List

8. FINDU – Stations Near Map

9. FINDU - Messages

10. Findu.com Weather Data
Temperature & Dew Point
Rainfall Rates

11. Locate on Weather Radar
Feb 2009, K9DCI

12. Spotter Network http://www.spotternetwork.org/
Register with the Spotter Network
Put !SN! in your comment
You’re on their map.
May 2011, K9DCI

13. Long Term Tracking Feb 2009, K9DCI
My travels in December 06 through May 07. Note lack of coverage areas.
Feb 2009, K9DCI

14. APRS for Special Uses Bicycle rallies, races Walk-a-thons, Parades
Skywarn
Weather Nets
Crime prevention patrols
Tornado recovery
Damage assessment
Direction Finding – Foxhunts
Voice for communications, APRS for visual mapping
Now integrating into APRN (Automatic Picture Relay Network)

15. Buoys & Stuff
German Buoy and Balloon projects
BUOY 4

16. Findu.com Telemetry Plots
Google for
“USNA Buoy”
Select USNA-1
Google for “USNA Buoy” Select USNA-1

17. Other (APRS-IS) Services
World-Wide real-time one-to-one Messages - Via Internet.
Very short one-to-one messages. Between any two active stations.
Allows WORLD-WIDE Voice QSOs with IRLP Objects
Send TO: Callsign-SSID
- Goes into the Internet system.
Very short messages. Single APRS message, Send only.
Send TO: , SMAIL, or AE5PL-EM (added features)
address first in message. Server sends ACK.
WHO-IS or WHO-15 (some Digis require number SSID)
Send TO: WHO-IS or WHO-15 Call sign is the message.
License class, name, state & country are returned.
CQ - World-wide real-time one-to-many messages (reflector).
Send TO: CQSRVR Msg is CQ {groupname}
Used on Field Day [CQ FD CQ FD...] Valid for 12 hours.
APRS <> Winlink network.
Send TO: WLNK-1 Multi-APRS messages required.
See the command list
May 2010, K9DCI

18. Other (APRS-IS) Services (Cont.)
Web Browser > RF messages. Via Findu or OpenAPRS
APRS tt DTMF / Voice interface for anyone
Another program on the Digi.
Any DTMF radio can be put on APRS network.
Voice response from APRS network.
Also sends DTMF messages in DTSS format.
Allows WORLD-WIDE messaging with IRLP
Loosely related:
PC with DTMF Decoder
DTSS Radios.
Several HTs have DTMF message receive capability
Send and Receive DTSS
Kenwood: TH-28A/48A/78A
Yeasu: FT-11R,41R,51R
ICOM: W31A
Possibly: FT-50R, TH-79a , FT-470, VX-7R, VX-8R
May 2010, K9DCI

19. APRS is in Orbit APRS space frequency is 145.825 MHz
Also via GO-32 on downlink, MHz up
Feb 2009, K9DCI

20. Into Space..PCSAT
The Prototype Communications Satellite, is a US Naval Academy Aerospace student project.
ANDE and RAFT in Dec 2006
APRS space frequency is published as
As of June 2008 currently useable: ISS, GO-32, ECHO and PCSAT when it is in good sun.

21. PCSAT Satellite Launched Sept 2001 from Kodiak Alaska
The first APRS satellite, and has since been joined by 5 other such satellites
Can capture Emergency /Priority messages from THD7 / D700 radios anywhere on the globe and retransmit these signals on the USA VHF APRS frequency.
See live downlink on

22. International Space Station
ARISS supports APRS on its / packet system.
Use digipeater path VIA ARISS.
PCSAT2 was also on ISS
Also has FM voice repeater capability
PCSAT2, was the second APRS digipeater satellite.
See live downlink on

23. Now GO-32 TECHSAT-1b
GO-32 now supports APRS on its / packet system.
APRS up on (PC’s and messages)
Mic-E up on (D7 and D700’s)
9600 Baud!
See live downlink on

24. GO32 -EZ - MOBILE Satellite Prediction and Tracking
No computer needed
Two or more solid TX/RX passes every day
Two additional TX passes 100m before and after!
Fri 26 Oct is day8

25. Tracking ECHO (AO51) too! Friday October 26th is day 4!
No computer needed
Two or more solid passes every day

26. LEO Pass Geometry Bottom line: 10 dB gain Horizon-to-horizon
98% of all in-view times
Using $75 TV rotator only

27. Omni SatGates
Up coming satellite strength in next two hours minute ticks.
Feb 2009, K9DCI

28. Set the D700 or D710 to digi from B side Sat freq to A side 144.390
Anyone can be a SATgate!
Omni Antenna Gain 7 dBi ! 1%
30%
The 2 meter 1/4 antenna has good gain at satellite elevations on both 144 & NO Sat tracking necessary!
3/4
1/4
Best elevation for reception
70%
Set the D700 or D710 to digi from B side Sat freq to A side
Data from omni antenna & GPS satellite strength. Percents are passes in each region.
Feb 2009, K9DCI

29. Packets Received Per Minute vs. Satellite Elevation
Omni SatGates
Packets Received Per Minute vs. Satellite Elevation
This is with a 3/4 wave vertical.
Below 25 degrees, satellites are further, thus 6-10 dB weaker.
Feb 2009, K9DCI

30. ASatLogger APRS Satellite Tracker Feb 2009, K9DCI Current Ver 0.6.1
Beta 0.6.2
Feb 2009, K9DCI

31. ASatLogger Features Facilitate comms with APRS and Packet Satellites.
Control Kenwood D7, D700, D710's - serial port.
Adjust D7 and D700 radio's automatically for Doppler shift - not the D710.
ASatLogger reconfigures D7/D700/D710 in seconds for different satellite.
Relay satellite packets to the APRS-Internet System and FindU.com.
Log Packets to disk for a permanent record.
Allow others to monitor Satellite communications via your station.
Control a D7, D700, D710 and operate AsatLogger via Internet.
Files for common satellites and radios included.
Track multiple satellites - requires a Nova DDE Server and D7, D700, D710.

32. APRS Emergency Comms Satellite-Simulated Emergency Test – SSET
- Send an emergency via Satelilite
Meteor-Scatter Monitoring Network (6 meters)
- Dozens of Igates monitoring MHz
- Message Throughput in minutes
- Using surplus 110 Watt 6m radios
- Simple 100’ long wire gain antennas

33. Other Items Local Info Packet Cluster D700, D7 & D710 display them.
Local repeater Freq & PL sent by digi. Meetings, Nets & Hamfest Info.
Packet Cluster D700, D7 & D710 display them.
HF APRS
30 Meter HF APRS frequency. Caution: Carrier out of band (10.151).
300 baud. Subject to normal skip.
PSK 63 New in 2010
HF APRS Boat and RV Tracking Net.
Carrier Mode NORMAL USAGE
LSB Regional HF tracking nets
LSB National HF tracking freq
LSB DX tracking freq
LSB Packet Keyboarding freq
RFID New 125 kHz. Tags send into APRS network - At Dayton 2010
Ken-Key - Keyboard interface for the TM-D700
John Hansen W2FS
Does NOT work with the D710 according to John.
May 2010, K9DCI

34. APRS Emergency Power 200W Solar Power - Continuous
10 kW gas Generator 220 VDC
- Auto-runs as needed
- lightweight wires
Bob Bruninga’s Solar augmented Prius
Low Cost
Feb 2009, K9DCI

35. Questions ? ? ?
WHO-IS server
CQ server
Other Sats
QRZ
APRSLink server
WinLink
Web Browser
DTMF ONLY radio
144
144
144
RFID Server
Radio HF
TAG
PSK-63
30 M Radio
Slides from Bob Bruninga except as noted. Many were modified for this presentation
May 2010, K9DCI