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APRS in Wisconsin

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Title: APRS in Wisconsin


1
APRS in Wisconsin
  • The Automated Packet
  • Reporting System
  • by Michael Martens, KB9VBR and
  • Mark Rasmussen, N9MEA

2
Overview
  • Introduction
  • Protocol and Implementation
  • Software
  • Hardware
  • Network

3
APRS is
  • A one-to-many, unconnected packet protocol.
  • A tactical protocol designed for local RF use.
  • A protocol with many reporting capabilities.
  • A protocol with SMS capabilities.
  • A protocol also adapted to the Internet.
  • A protocol with extensive flexibility built-in.
  • A protocol still under development.

4
Introduction
  • APRS, the Automated Packet Reporting System, is
    an open system that uses unconnected AX.25 radio
    packets to transmit and collect data. This data
    is usually overlaid on a map

5
Uses of APRS
  • Using GPS data to track vehicle location
  • Sending short, tactical bulletins and messages
    between stations
  • Transmitting data collected by a weather station

6
The APRS Network
  • Home stations
  • Mobile and Portable GPS enabled stations
    (trackers)
  • Digipeaters (Wide-area and Fill-in)
  • Internet I-Gates
  • Automatic Weather Stations

7
What is needed to begin
  • Computer with APRS software installed
  • Terminal Node Controller (TNC)
  • VHF transceiver and antenna
  • GPS required for mobile stations only

8
APRS Data Flow
9
APRS Frequencies
  • VHF 144.39 MHz
  • HF 10.151 MHz LSB
  • Experimental work is being done on other
    frequencies.

10
APRS Raw Packet
Originator
Path
Application
KB9DEDgtAPW251,W9SM-10,WIDE4-4,qAo, N9SDL4457.01
N/08938.76W- WinAPRS 2.5.1 -WIMARWAUSAU -251-
Location
Status
11
APRS Paths
  • WIDEn-N (ex, WIDE3-3)
  • WIn-N (ex WI2-2, keeps packets within the state
    of Wisconsin)
  • Named Path (W9SM-10, KB9VBR)
  • Relay, Trace (Obsolete, Do Not Use)

12
WIDE and WIDEn-N
  • Digipeaters acknowledge WIDE paths
  • Home stations should not set myalias to Wide
  • WIDEn-N is not the same as WIDE (WIDE3-3 is not
    the same as WIDE,WIDE,WIDE)

13
Named Paths
  • Most efficient form of message propagation
  • Only the station with the matching Alias will
    digipeat the message
  • W9SM-1, N9QIP-10, K9ABC-1

14
WIn-N
  • Keeps APRS Packets within a geographic location,
    in this case Wisconsin
  • Reduces APRS overload as packets wont propagate
    beyond their geographic confines
  • Great for public service event stations (eg
    walks, parades, races, etc)

15
Best Path to Use
  • In the Wausau area W9SM-10, WIDE2-2
  • If you are mobile WIDE1-1, WIDE2-2
  • If you dont want your packets to leave the state
    WI2-2

16
How APRS Packets Propagate
17
APRS Real Time Propagation
http//www.mountainlake.k12.mn.us/ham/aprs
18
SSID
  • Special Station Identifier (SSID) allows multiple
    stations with the same callsign to coexist on the
    network.
  • Home stations have no SSID
  • Digipeaters may use the ID -1 (W9SM-1)
  • Mobile Stations may use the ID -9 (KB9VBR-9)
  • Kenwood APRS radios may use -7 (WA9NBC-7)

19
SSID Suggestions
  • No SSID - Home Station, Home Station running
    I-Gate.-1 Digipeater, Home Station running a
    Wide1-1 Digi, WX Digipeater-2 Digipeater 2 or
    on 70CM-3 Digipeater 3-4 HF to VHF
    Gateway-5 I-Gate (Not home station) -6 is for
    Operations via Satellite-7 Kenwood D7 HH-8 is
    for boats, sailboats and ships (maybe 802.11 in
    the future)-9 is for Mobiles-10 is for
    operation via the internet only-11 is for APRS
    touch-tone users  (and the occasional
    Balloons)-12 Portable Units such as Laptops,
    Camp Sites etc.-14 is for Truckers-15 is for
    HF

20
APRS Software
  • WinAPRS/MacAPRS
  • UI-View
  • APRSDOS
  • APRSpoint
  • Other platforms include Palm, Linux, Java

21
WinAPRS/MacAPRS
  • www.winaprs.org
  • Very easy to use
  • Uses USGS Tiger maps and integrates with
    Precision Maps from Undertow Software
  • Also uses old style APRSDOS vector maps.

22
UI-View
  • www.uiview.org
  • Lots of features, more complex interface
  • Handles plug-ins. Vibrant developer network
  • Uses raster maps. Integrates with Precision maps.
    Plug-ins for Street Atlas, Mapblast, and Tiger
    Maps

23
APRSDos
  • web.usna.navy.mil/bruninga/aprs.html
  • The original APRS application. Development going
    back to 1992
  • Very rudimentary maps
  • Has satellite tracking features, network
    utilization analysis, and direction finding
    support

24
APRSpoint
  • www.aprspoint.com
  • Easy to use, familiar Microsoft style interface
  • Integrates with Microsoft Streets and Trips
    exclusively

25
APRS Software
All APRS software applications are shareware and
require a registration fee for continued use.
Registration fees range in cost from charity
donation to around 100. Some applications may
also require you to purchase a map package.
26
APRS Hardware
  • VHF Transceiver
  • Terminal Node Controller (TNC)
  • GPS for mobile operation

27
VHF Transceiver
  • Any 2 meter radio will work as long as it will
    work on 144.390 csq. You will need to make a
    cable to connect mic and RX audio to the TNC.

28
APRS Enabled Radios
  • Some radios have built in TNCs for direct
    connection to a computer or APRS interaction
    right on the display.

Alinco DR-135
Kenwood D-700A
Kenwood TH-D7A
29
TNC
  • The TNC, also known as a radio modem converts the
    digital information from the computer and/or GPS
    into audio tones.
  • The APRS network runs at 1200 baud
  • The TNC communicates with the computer via the
    serial port.

30
TNC
  • The most common TNC is the Kantronics KPC-3
  • TNCs can be purchased used on EBay for about
    40-50. Kantronics TNCs will be higher in price.
  • Older TNCs work great for home stations, ex AEA
    PK-12, MFJ 1270 series, KPC-3
  • Tiny Trak 3 and 4 - Open Tracker 1 and 2

31
Kantronics KPC-3
  • About 230 retail
  • Has a dual port that allows simultaneous computer
    and GPS connection
  • Great TNC choice for running an APRS computer in
    a vehicle

Kantronics KPC-3
32
Tiny Trak 4 and Open Tracker 2
  • About 65-100 retail
  • Has a dual port that allows simultaneous computer
    and GPS connection
  • Cheaper than a regular TNC but has limitations

Tiny Trak 4
Open Tracker 2
33
Tiny Trak 3 and Open Tracker 1
  • About 32 or 33 (kit) - 42 or 46 (built)
    retail
  • Has a single port that only allows connection to
    a GPS
  • Cheaper than a regular TNC but it only transmits
    data

Tiny Trak 3
Open Tracker 1
34
Global Positioning System (GPS)
  • A GPS unit is required for real time mobile
    tracking
  • GPSs come in many different forms
  • Any GPS with NMEA output will work with APRS

Garmin Etrex Legend
Garmin Streetpilot
35
Home Station Equipment
  • Watching on RF
  • Radio
  • TNC
  • Computer
  • Watching on the Internet
  • Computer

36
Tracker Station Equipment
  • There are two ways to send out your position when
    mobile.
  • Dedicated APRS system
  • Mic-E system

37
Dedicated Tracker Station Equipment
  • With computer
  • Radio
  • TNC (High end unit)
  • Computer
  • GPS
  • Without computer
  • Radio
  • TNC (simple unit)
  • GPS

38
Dedicated Equipment Pros and Cons
  • Pros
  • Can watch other units on map and send messages
  • Position is sent out at predetermined intervals
  • Separate radio system in the car in case your 2M
    voice radio dies
  • Separate radio infrastructure in case your
    repeater goes down
  • Could also be used as Winlink or Packet station
  • Cons
  • Another radio in the car
  • More 2M RF to interfere with your local repeater
    traffic
  • Higher cost because of more equipment

39
Mic-E Station Equipment
  • GPS
  • Cheaper Encode only TNC
  • Uses you normal voice radio, no extra radio

40
Mic-E Pros and Cons
  • Pros
  • Dont have to install another radio in the car
  • Cheaper than the dedicated equipment way
  • Can use the cheaper encode only TNC
  • Cons
  • Can not track other units on a map
  • Can not send messages to other units
  • Position only goes out when you talk on the radio
  • Position on map could be very old because you
    didnt talk on the radio
  • More expensive for the repeater owners
  • Wont work on all repeater systems
  • No back-up radio if your voice radio fails
  • If the repeater fails, no one sees your position

41
Putting it all together
  • Mobile tracking unit with integrated computer.

GPS
Computer running WinAPRS
Transceiver tuned to 144.39
KPC-3 TNC
42
Putting it all together
  • Portable tracker box

Tracker
GPS
Antenna
Radio
43
Putting it all together
Who could this be?
  • Bike Mobile APRS

GPS
Antenna
Radio/Tracker
44
Putting it all together
  • APRS Home Station- notice no GPS

Radio
TNC
Computer
45
Digipeaters
  • Digipeaters extend the coverage of the portable
    and mobile units much like a repeater but
    operating on a simplex frequency. They are
    usually located at a high location on a tower but
    can also be located at someones home to help
    fill in a certain area.

46
Digipeaters in the NE District

47
Estimated APRS Coverage to a Mobile

48
APRS Network
  • I-Gates are internet gateways that expand the
    reach of APRS worldwide.
  • An I-Gate listens to the local RF channel and
    relays the information into an APRS Internet data
    stream.
  • I-Gates also relay information from the Internet
    data stream to a local RF station

49
Benefits of I-Gates
  • Reduces RF network congestion
  • Increases the trackability of mobile stations
  • Allows RF access of weather service bulletins and
    alerts
  • Can set up an APRS station without a radio and
    TNC
  • Any APRS station can be queried at www.findu.com
    (map.findu.com/kb9vbr)

50
Weather Service Messages
  • The National Weather EMWIN data stream is
    injected into the APRS data stream.
  • Alerts and messages can be color coded on the
    APRS maps.

51
APRS and the Internet
  • UI-View radar plug-in superimposes NWS radar data
    onto the APRS screen.
  • WinAPRS has a similar feature.

52
Weather Stations
  • You can also send out your local weather
    information if you have the right equipment.
  • 2M radio on 144.390
  • TNC
  • Weather Station
  • Possibly a computer

53
Weather Information

54
APRS Satellites
  • PCSAT2 is the second generation APRS satellite
  • PCSAT1, launched in 2001, is no longer fully
    operational
  • PCSAT2 launched August of 2005 has returned to
    earth with STS-115 in 2006
  • The ISS is capable of digipeating APRS when the
    radio is not used for other activities.

55
APRS Books
  • APRS, Moving hams on Radio and the Internet
  • A good basic introduction to the mode
  • OUT OF PRINT
  • ISBN 0-87259-916-7

56
APRS Books
  • VHF Digital Handbook
  • Covers APRS, Packet, D-STAR, and more
  • 2008 printing, 19.95
  • ISBN 0-87259-122-0

57
For Additional Information
  • Wisconsin APRS discussion group
    groups.yahoo.com/group/wisconsinaprs
  • WVRA web site www.wvraclub.org
  • KB9VBR APRS page www.kb9vbr.net
  • Michael Martens kb9vbr_at_wvraclub.org
  • Mark Rasmussen n9mea_at_wvraclub.org
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