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Automatic Packet Reporting System

Also mistakenly known as Automatic Position Reporting System, APRS is an amateur radio based digital communications system for local, tactical, real-time exchange of information among all members of a net, including map based displays for situational awareness. It was developed by Bob Bruninga, [WB4APR], who currently works at the United States Naval Academy.

Capabilities

APRS is used to transmit real-time information such as messages, bulletins, announcements and the locations of any stations or objects via amateur packet radio protocols. Real-time reporting of station position for mobiles is facilitated using the Global Positioning System. APRS is capable of transmitting a wide variety of data including weather reports, short text messages, radio direction finding bearings, telemetry data, and storm forecasts. These reports can be combined with a computer and mapping software to show the transmitted data superimposed on a variety of map displays.

Technical Information

In its most widely-used form APRS is transported over the air using the AX.25 protocol at 1200 baud Bell 202 audio frequency-shift keying on frequencies located in the amateur 2-meter band (see Frequencies). An extensive digital repeater, or digipeater network provides transport for APRS packets on these frequencies. Internet gateway stations (IGates) connect the on-air APRS network to the APRS Internet System (APRS-IS), which serves as a worldwide, high-bandwidth backbone for APRS data. Stations can tap into this stream directly. Databases connected to the APRS-IS allow web-based access to the data as well as more advanced data mining capabilities. A number of LEOs (low-earth orbiting satellites) and the International Space Station are also capable of relaying APRS data.

External links

• [UI-View] Official UI-View32 Web Site
• [APRSTV] APRS related video podcast.
• [WB4APR web site] - old site was www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/aprs.html
• [www.findu.com] Web-based access to worldwide APRS real-time data
• [OpenAPRS] Web-based APRS real-time data using Google Earth Maps
• [aprs.fi] Web-based APRS view using Google Maps and Earth, updates automatically in real-time, 14 languages
• [VA3TK's APRS Server] Canadian Web-based APRS Server
• [F5VAG's APRS Server] French Web-based APRS Server
• [APRS World] Open Source web-based APRS database
• [APRS Specification] Official APRS specification document
• [Pacific Northwest APRS Homepage] - [NWAPRS alternate Wiki]
• [APRS Query Page] N1BQ's HTML Forms based front end to the FINDU database
• [www.cwop.net] APRSWXNET/Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP)
• [JavAPRSSrvr Yahoo Group] This group is for users of the APRS-IS server software, javAPRSSrvr.
• [UIDigi Yahoo Group] A replacement for TNC2 firmware to upgrade older TNC's to APRS.
• [JFindu.net] Web-based access to worldwide APRS real-time data.
• [APRS Search] An APRS Search Engine.
• [DB0ANF] APRS-IS Data Base Lookup Server shows individual stats on any given call sign.
• [PHG Calc] Online PHG (Power Height Gain) Calculator.
• [Tier 2 Network] Tier 2 APRS-IS Servers Group
• [APRS Argentina ] Argentinian APRS Group (Spanish)
• [LU-APRS] APRS Argentina Forum (Spanish)
• [Busca-T] Google Maps powered APRS stations search engine (Spanish)
• [Mira-T] javAPRS powered APRS stations search engine (Spanish)
• [APRS Australia] Australian APRS Web Site, References
• [APRS Middle East] Middle Eastern APRS Web Site, Currently Lebanon only
• [ZL APRS] New Zealand APRS Wiki
• [OhioAPRS] Northeast Ohio APRS
• [Emergency Beacons] Help those that need help, even those that test.
• [Core APRS Servers] Information about the core APRS-IS Servers
• [APRSfl] Details & Stats on West Central Florida APRS, UI-View Webserver Lookups, our Tier 2 APRS-IS Server.
• [OhioAPRS] Southeast Ohio APRS Development
• [JAPRSX] JapanAPRSeXperiment, Web & BBS for Beginners.(Japanese)
• [APRS.qrz.ru] APRS in Russia