APRAPRSS

APRS HT and Mobile via GO-32APRS HT and Mobile via GO-32

Updated Oct 2007

Maps – Mobiles - Users

What is APRS?What is APRS? APRSAPRS = Automatic = Automatic

Packet Reporting SystemPacket Reporting System

APRSAPRS was developed in the was developed in the early 1990's for local early 1990's for local tactical tactical digital communications,digital communications, situational awareness and situational awareness and TWO-WAYTWO-WAY information information exchangeexchange using Amateur using Amateur radio.radio.

Not Vehicle Tracking!!!Not Vehicle Tracking!!!

What is APRS all about?What is APRS all about? The APRS System was developed to provide immediate local The APRS System was developed to provide immediate local

digital and graphical information exchange between all digital and graphical information exchange between all participants in an event. This includes not only tracking and participants in an event. This includes not only tracking and monitoring position data, but also status, messaging, bulletins all monitoring position data, but also status, messaging, bulletins all without having to maintain packet connections. Typical data:without having to maintain packet connections. Typical data:

Positions of all stations and objectsPositions of all stations and objects Status of all stationsStatus of all stations Messages, Bulletins and AnnouncementsMessages, Bulletins and Announcements Weather data and telemetryWeather data and telemetry DF bearings and signal strengths for quick transmitter huntingDF bearings and signal strengths for quick transmitter hunting Local information of value to the travelerLocal information of value to the traveler

Typical applications are:Typical applications are: Routine local awareness of all ham radio events and assets around youRoutine local awareness of all ham radio events and assets around you Marathons, races, events and public serviceMarathons, races, events and public service Search and rescueSearch and rescue Family communications and tracking and one-line emailsFamily communications and tracking and one-line emails Mobile-to-mobile global messagingMobile-to-mobile global messaging Weather data exchange and displayWeather data exchange and display Efficient multi-user Satellite communicationsEfficient multi-user Satellite communications

Global Mobile and Portable Global Mobile and Portable SatcomSatcom

Scope of Scope of APRSAPRS

APRS consists of a very large APRS consists of a very large land based wireless network. land based wireless network. Almost 30,000 users around Almost 30,000 users around the world.the world.

This network works via RELAYS This network works via RELAYS every 20-30 miles called every 20-30 miles called “digipeaters.” And Globally “digipeaters.” And Globally via IGates to the internet.via IGates to the internet.

APRS is also used via Amateur APRS is also used via Amateur Satellites in wilderness areas.Satellites in wilderness areas.

It is also used to monitor It is also used to monitor telemetry values of weather telemetry values of weather stations for the National stations for the National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Service (NWS)

APRS has the capability to APRS has the capability to quickly relay telemetry values quickly relay telemetry values to research centers without the to research centers without the Internet.Internet.

Aa

The APRS NetworkThe APRS Network

Multiple Hops

And to the Internet Gateway

Digipeaters

Satellites too!

Kenwood TM-Kenwood TM-D700AD700A

Built-in screen display of other APRS Built-in screen display of other APRS stations and front-panel send/receive stations and front-panel send/receive messaging.messaging.

Other APRS station locations are sent to Other APRS station locations are sent to the attached GPS map for display.the attached GPS map for display.

Dual band 144/440 MHz 50/35 WattsDual band 144/440 MHz 50/35 Watts Built-in 1200/9600 bps TNC including digipeaterBuilt-in 1200/9600 bps TNC including digipeater

Kenwood TH-Kenwood TH-D7A(G)D7A(G)

TM-D710TM-D710

Mobile/Portable Satellite Terminals

Adds operation Freq to every posit !Adds operation Freq to every posit ! Auto tunes to others with Freq!Auto tunes to others with Freq! Shows local Voice Repeaters !Shows local Voice Repeaters !

APRS Voice AlertAPRS Voice Alert

Voice Alert is effectively 3Voice Alert is effectively 3rdrd Radio channel for Radio channel for the D7 and D700 APRS radiosthe D7 and D700 APRS radios

By setting the APRS Band, A, to PL-100, By setting the APRS Band, A, to PL-100, but keeping the volume turned up:but keeping the volume turned up: You wont hear any packets on 144.39 *You wont hear any packets on 144.39 * But you will hear a voice call using PL-100 on 144.39But you will hear a voice call using PL-100 on 144.39 And you will hear* an occasional Ping packet if another D700 comes in And you will hear* an occasional Ping packet if another D700 comes in

line-of-site to you, like a proximity radar alerting you to local presence.line-of-site to you, like a proximity radar alerting you to local presence.

Great for long haul traveling and meeting other APRS users.Great for long haul traveling and meeting other APRS users.

(For all mobiles!)(For all mobiles!)

The New-N Paradigm 2005The New-N Paradigm 2005APRS Generic Paths evolved over 13 years and the presence of many old legacy formats and procedures were really bogging down the network making it saturated and unreliable in busy areas.

In 2005 all old paths were declared obsolete (RELAY & WIDE) and the entire APRS system in the US was then focused only on the WIDEn-N type of generic paths with small values of N.

A WIDEn-N path goes N hops outward in all directions.

N=2 in most areas colored on next slide

Factor of 3 to 5 improvement!Factor of 3 to 5 improvement!

APRS APRS (ALOHA circle and digipeater hops)(ALOHA circle and digipeater hops)[Your ALOHA circle is your 100% saturated channel range][Your ALOHA circle is your 100% saturated channel range]

APRS APRS 3D views for Balloon tracking3D views for Balloon tracking

APRS APRS Tracking with MilemarksTracking with Milemarks

APRS IGates and SATgatesAPRS IGates and SATgates

An IGATE is a local APRS station that An IGATE is a local APRS station that utilizes the APRS-Internet network to utilizes the APRS-Internet network to pass all packets heard on their local RF pass all packets heard on their local RF back to the Internet.back to the Internet.

It can also act as a gateway to pass It can also act as a gateway to pass messages addressed to local RF stations messages addressed to local RF stations from Internet only stations.from Internet only stations.

Findu.com mappingFindu.com mappingInternet tracking developed by Steve Demise – K4HG

Findu.com Weather TablesFindu.com Weather Tables

Temperature & Dew Point

Rainfall Rates

Findu.com Telemetry Findu.com Telemetry PlotsPlots Google for

“USNA Buoy”

Select USNA-1

Sensor Buoy PrototypeSensor Buoy Prototype

Piggrem

See Buoy Location and Telemetry at

http://www.ew.unsa.edu/~bruninga/buoy.html

Findu.com Telemetry Findu.com Telemetry PlotsPlots Google for

“USNA Buoy”

Select USNA-1

APRS for Special UsesAPRS for Special Uses Bicycle rallies, racesBicycle rallies, races Walk-a-thons, ParadesWalk-a-thons, Parades SkywarnSkywarn Weather NetsWeather Nets Crime prevention patrolsCrime prevention patrols Damage assessmentDamage assessment Direction Finding – FoxhuntsDirection Finding – Foxhunts Voice for communications, APRS for visual Voice for communications, APRS for visual

mappingmapping Now integrating into APRN (Automatic Picture Now integrating into APRN (Automatic Picture

Relay Network)Relay Network)

Into Space..PCSATInto Space..PCSAT The Prototype The Prototype

Communications Communications SatelliteSatellite,, is a US Naval is a US Naval Academy Aerospace Academy Aerospace student project.student project.

APRS space frequency is published as APRS space frequency is published as 145.825145.825

ANDE and RAFT in Dec 2006

APRS via APRS via SpaceSpace

APRS space frequency is APRS space frequency is 145.825 MHz145.825 MHzAlso via GO-32 on 435.225 downlink, Also via GO-32 on 435.225 downlink, 145.85145.85 MHzMHz up up

PCSAT SatellitePCSAT Satellite Launched Sept 2001 Launched Sept 2001

from Kodiak Alaska from Kodiak Alaska The first APRS satellite, The first APRS satellite,

and has since been and has since been joined by 5 other such joined by 5 other such satellitessatellites

It still works during mid-It still works during mid-day sunny passes.day sunny passes.

See live downlink on http://pcsat.aprs.org

Can capture Can capture Emergency /Priority Emergency /Priority messages from messages from THD7 / D700 radios THD7 / D700 radios anywhere on the anywhere on the globe and retransmit globe and retransmit these signals on the these signals on the USA VHF 144.39 USA VHF 144.39 APRS frequency. APRS frequency.

International International Space StationSpace Station

ARISS supports ARISS supports APRS on its APRS on its 145.80/145.99 145.80/145.99 packet system.packet system.

Use digipeater path Use digipeater path VIA ARISS. VIA ARISS.

PCSAT2 was also on PCSAT2 was also on ISS 2005-2006ISS 2005-2006

See live downlink on www.ariss.net

PCSAT2, was the PCSAT2, was the second APRS second APRS digipeater satellite.digipeater satellite.

Now GO-32Now GO-32TECHSAT-1bTECHSAT-1b

GO-32 now supports GO-32 now supports APRS on its APRS on its 435.225/145.85 435.225/145.85 packet system.packet system.

APRS up on 145.85 APRS up on 145.85 (PC’s and messages)(PC’s and messages)

Mic-E up on 145.93 Mic-E up on 145.93 (D7 and D700’s)(D7 and D700’s)

See live downlink on www.ariss.net

9600 Baud!9600 Baud!

GO32 -EZ - MOBILE GO32 -EZ - MOBILE SatelliteSatellite

Prediction and TrackingPrediction and Tracking

No computer neededNo computer needed Two or more solid TX/RX passes every dayTwo or more solid TX/RX passes every day Two additional TX passes 100m before and after!Two additional TX passes 100m before and after!

Fri 26 Oct is day8Fri 26 Oct is day8

Tracking ECHO too!Tracking ECHO too!

No computer neededNo computer needed Two or more solid passes every dayTwo or more solid passes every day

Friday October 26Friday October 26thth is day 4! is day 4!

LEO Pass GeometryLEO Pass Geometry

Bottom line:Bottom line:

10 dB gain Horizon-to-horizon

98% of all in-view times

Using $75 TV rotator only

Omni Antenna Gain 7 dBi !Omni Antenna Gain 7 dBi !1%

70%

30%

SATgate!SATgate!

Omni SatGatesOmni SatGates

Omni SatGatesOmni SatGates

Omni SatGatesOmni SatGates

APRS-Internet (APRS-IS)APRS-Internet (APRS-IS)Google for “USNA Buoy” Select USNA-1

This data is LIVE

http:// Pcsat.aprs.org

& situational awareness

APRS-Internet (APRS-IS)APRS-Internet (APRS-IS)Google for “USNA Buoy” Select USNA-1

APRS-Internet (APRS-IS)APRS-Internet (APRS-IS)Google for “USNA Buoy” Select USNA-1

Questions ? ? ?Questions ? ? ?