Presented by:Presented by: Tim Cunningham - N8DEUTim Cunningham - N8DEU

Alabama APRS CoordinatorAlabama APRS CoordinatorHUNTSPAC ChairmanHUNTSPAC Chairman

AMSAT Area CoordinatorAMSAT Area Coordinator

n8deu@arrl.netn8deu@arrl.net

Huntsville HamfestHuntsville HamfestAug 16, 2014Aug 16, 2014

Storm Seasons come and go…

Things happen every day...

Are you Equipped for Situational Awareness?

APRS - What is it ?

• APRS = Automatic Packet Reporting System

• Created by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, early 1990’s

• Local Tactical data communications system

• Adds value to HAM radio in emergency situations or public service events

• Provides Situational Awareness

• Delivers Messaging Capabilities

• It is a mobile information network

Alabama Packet Radio System

• Delivers instant NWS weather bulletins and coordinates

• Informs you how close you are to the Area of Maximum Concern

• See where everybody is located without asking, especially SKYWARN weather spotters (GPS not required)

• Virtually any 2M or HF radio can be used for APRS

• more than just a simple tracking system…

APRS - What is it ?

National APRS Frequencies

• 144.39 MHz 2m FM (primary)• 10.151 MHz LSB

The New n-N Pardigm

• It Is not new anymore• We are 9 years into the plan (2005)• Still a number of non-compliant digi's• TRACE is obsolete• RELAY was replaced with WIDE1-1• WIDE was replaced by WIDEn-N

– WIDEn-N traceable using UITRACE

• SSn-N state, section, or regional routing– SSn-N used with UIFLOOD

N8DEU

WIDEn-n

WIDE1-1

WIDEn-n

WIDEn-n

WIDEn-n

WIDEn-n

No need to know any Call Signs

WIDEn-n

IGATE

N8DEU > APRS, WIDE1-1, WIDE2-1

N8DEU > APRS, DIGI1,WIDE1*,WIDE2-1: DIGI1,WIDE1,DIGI2 ,WIDE2*: WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1:

WIDE1-1

Generic Digipeater Routing

DIGI1,DIGI2,WIDE2*:

N8DEU

WIDEn-n

WIDE1-1

WIDEn-n

WIDEn-n

WIDEn-n

WIDEn-n

No need to know any Call Signs

WIDEn-n

IGATE

N8DEU > APRS, WIDE2-2

N8DEU > APRS, DIGI1*,WIDE2-1: WIDE2-2:

Generic Digipeater Routing

AL2-2: AL2*: AL2-1:

N8DEU

ALn-n

WIDEn-n

No need to know any Call Signs

WIDEn-n

IGATE

Sta

te B

ou

nd

ary

ALn-n ALn-n

ALn-n

ALn-n

N8DEU > APRS, AL2-2

N8DEU > APRS,

Generic Digipeater Routing

Local Suggested APRS paths

• Mobile• WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1

• Home• WIDE2-2

• Use common sense or whatever it takes to reach an IGATE or intended station in your area or the application requires

WIDE1-1 fill-in digipeaters

• Be a part of the solution

• If your home station still supports an obsolete RELAY alias, please change it to WIDE1-1

• That is all there is to it

• Your home station is a WIDE1-1 (fill-in digi)

• If your area is already covered by a digipeater or another WIDE1-1, your WIDE1-1 is not necessary

APRS Voice Alert! APRS Voice Alert!

Voice Alert is effectively a 3Voice Alert is effectively a 3rdrd Radio Radio channel for the APRS equipped radioschannel for the APRS equipped 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 * You will hear a voice call using PL-100 on 144.39You will hear a voice call using PL-100 on 144.39 And you will hear* an occasional Ping packet if another And you will hear* an occasional Ping packet if another

APRS equipped comes in line-of-site to you, like a proximity APRS equipped comes in line-of-site to you, like a proximity radar alerting you to local presence.radar alerting you to local presence.

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

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

Local Frequency Info Initiative

Information for the local area Objects created to inform everybody

Voice Repeater freq, tone, range SKYWARN net announcement Echolink and IRLP nodes Hamfest objects Local on the air Nets

Kenwood D710 and Yaesu FTM-350R can autotune a repeater object

Great for out of town travelers

APRS – IS - Local Info!APRS – IS - Local Info!

Last 100 stations!

Direction & Distance

Frequency and Tone

Mobiles and HT are 100%

compatible

APRS – IS - Local Info!APRS – IS - Local Info!

APRS – IS - Local Info!APRS – IS - Local Info!

APRS – IS - Local Info!APRS – IS - Local Info!

APRS – IS - Local Info!APRS – IS - Local Info!

Send E-Mail from APRS

Send messages from APRS to Internet EMAIL.

The EMAIL (OpenAPRS) MethodThe EMAIL-2 (javAPRSEmail) Method

Send a message address to EMAIL or EMAIL-2 instead of a callsign. In the message field, the Internet Email address should appear first followed by a space and the message you wish to send.

Address: EMAIL or EMAIL-2Message: n8deu@qsl.net Hello Huntsville

The EMAIL server will acknowledge receipt of the message and it will return a message, "Email message delivered OK", in response if the message was delivered properly.

WHO-IS Callbook Server

• Send message to WHO-IS• Message just needs to contain a callsign or

“f callsign” for full details• Callbook server will return details• Great for those stations you know, but have a

senior moment– Send a quick message to WHO-IS– Nobody will know you forgot their name

NWS Weather Bulletins

• NWS messages are generated by Pete Loveall, AE5PL

• NWS message format can be found at:– http://www.aprs-is.net/Wx

• WX county watch boxes can be hi-lighted with Red, Yellow, or Green colors to visibly indicate WX activity type

• FinduU Server collects WX station data via APRS-IS

• FindU Server dumps WX data every 15 minutes to MADIS Server

• MesoWest gets data from MADIS Server

NWS Weather Bulletins

APRS is Clear and Concise

• The Severe Weather Warning is immediate on APRS

• The message is clear and concise• Relativity is crystal clear

– Maximum area of concern is immediately transmitted on the APRS network

– Location of spotters is known• Nothing is ambiguous!• No repeats required!

•APRS displays everything•Spotter Locations•NWS Bulletins•WX Stations•Digipeaters•Repeaters plus frequency and tone•Even non-APRS stations

•APRS users can add objects or other observers to the map•Data is transmitted for all stations to see any object or non-APRS user on the map•K4QF is added by N8DEU when his location is given on the Voice Net•Objects can be added for flooded areas•Objects can be added for downed power lines•Objects can be added for house fires•Everyone on the APRS networks gets the information with no ambiguity

APRS - 06-MAY-09

• The weather net was activated around 6:30am on 06-MAY-09

• Every county in the HUN NWS area in North Alabama had pending warnings except for 2 that had watches posted

• As the net became active some of the pending bulletins were announced

• With APRS we have a full view of what was active instantly to augment the Voice Net

• It was a busy morning• All those on the Voice Net did an

outstanding job

Alabama Packet Radio System

N4JDB requests how long it will be before the storm reaches Lawrence County. Net control does not have this information and things are getting busier.

Remember Sonny, N4JDB, who requested how soon the storm would reach Lawrence County. His home APRS weather station is right in the path of the NWS bulletin at 1213z, but Sonny does not know it yet and things are so busy nobody remembers his request. With APRS the message is clear and concise. This is information Sonny needs immediately. With APRS we know it immediately!

A spotter reports a Tornado heard near Browns Ferry Rd and Balch Rd. An object is placed on the map titled TOR_SPOTD. Just click on the location, select Object Editor from the Action menu, and enter the data and the symbol type.

If we know the course and speed of the Object we can make it move and update automatically. This is what APRS does when a beacon is not heard from a moving mobile station if enabled. A new post puts it back on course.

The storm spotter report results in immediate action by the NWS to issue a Tornado Warning at 1405z. Now we visibly see what is potentially in the path of the box. It is clear, concise, and immediate on APRS.

The third damage report comes in on the Voice Net and intercepted by an APRS users who places object DAMAGE3 on the display for everybody on the APRS network to see. It is tagged with WB8ELK voice report of trees and out-buildings down.

A Tornado sighting in the sky is reported at Moores Mill Rd and Winchester Rd on the Voice Net. This report is intercepted by an APRS user and placed on the map. The path starts to visibly take shape.

• It should be clear APRS delivers real time information

• We know where the NWS bulletins are located

• We know where the spotters are located

• We know where damage has been reported

• The picture of danger is clear and concise

• APRS fills in the missing gaps of the picture

• Messages can be sent via the APRS data network when the voice repeater is out of range for some spotters

• APRS augments the SKYWARN Voice Net

• A Voice Net can be up an running quickly with all the NWS bulletins at their fingertips with APRS

• Why wait until somebody staffs the NWS station

• The time between danger and death is too short

APRS – Get the Picture?

• Situational awareness is key to precise and timely information

• What happens when an area is so devastated and there are no street signs– With APRS we know where you are– Reports can be plotted easily

– Information is immediate

• Want NWS bulletins with more meaning to situational awareness?

• Get on the APRS tactical communication data network

APRS – Get the Picture?

The Balloon Chase using APRS

Space Applications

• APRS digipeater is active on the International Space Station

• Frequencies– Packet: 145.825 MHz – Packet uplink : 145.990 MHz– Voice uplink : 144.490 MHz

• ISS ground station Internet Gateways are feeding APRServe with ISS digipeated signals

International Space Station

Space Applications

• Designed for:– country travelers– sea travelers– travelers in remote areas of the world– mobile or handheld users equipped with GPS

• Frequencies– 145.825 MHz downlink– 145.825 MHz uplink for HT’s (1200 baud)– 435.250 MHz uplink for mobiles (9600 baud)

• Launched on 30-SEP-01 from Kodiak Alaska Launch Complex

PCSat

Alinco DR-135T with T2-135

Next Step?

• Who needs a radio when you have the Internet ?

• No Radio required with a computer and the Internet

• What about Software Requirements ?• What about Hardware Requirements ?

Watch APRS live on the Web at:

http://www.aprs.fi

APRSISCE

• It is FREE !• Yahoo GROUPS• Developed by Lynn, KJ4ERJ• Windows Mobile Phone• WiFi• Internet enabled phone• Will not support Windows Phone 8• Moving to Android

APRSIS32

What were all those symbols ?

• Map Symbols– Automobiles– Emergency Vehicles– Satellite Stations– Weather Stations– Houses– Red Cross – Ham Store– too many to list...

How active is APRS ?

APRS MAP

CELL MAP

Various APRS Stations Various APRS Stations (two-way)(two-way)

APRS is a Network intended for real-time Tactical INFORMATION exchange. This means TWO-WAY.

TRACKERS TRACKERS (two-way)(two-way)

Trackers have no APRS data display. So the receiver should be tuned to a beaconed Voice frequency so the operator can be involved in the Net! The only value for these units are tracking some non-manned assets at large movement events such as marathons, bike-a-thons, parades and other community events, and maybe search & rescue teams.

One-way APRS is not normally recommended. APRS is a Network. We want good communications among all participants for maximum utility.

Kenwood TM-D700AKenwood TM-D700A

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

Other APRS station locations are sent to the Other APRS station locations are sent to the attached GPS map for display.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 Built-in 1200/9600 bps TNC including

digipeaterdigipeater

Kenwood TH-Kenwood TH-D7A(G)D7A(G)TM-D710TM-D710

Mobile/Portable Satellite Terminals

Adds operation Freq to every Adds operation Freq to every posit !posit !

Auto tunes to others with Freq!Auto tunes to others with Freq! Shows local Voice Repeaters !Shows local Voice Repeaters !

• Supports APRS• 2 serial ports for

computer and GPS• No message display• Works as basic tracker • 1200/9600 baud built-in

TNC option (Argent (Argent makes a T3-135 drop in makes a T3-135 drop in TNC to add functionality)TNC to add functionality)

Alinco DR-135T/EJ-41UAlinco DR-135T/EJ-41U

Allows direct input from any Allows direct input from any standard GPS.standard GPS.

Basic 1200/9600 bps TNCBasic 1200/9600 bps TNC

Basic 2 M Radio with optional TNC. Basic 2 M Radio with optional TNC. (Argent makes a T2-135 drop in TNC)(Argent makes a T2-135 drop in TNC)

Unlike the Kenwood radios, it requires a PC equires a PC to set it up, and there is no APRS display to set it up, and there is no APRS display directly on the radio.directly on the radio.

Argent Data Systems Tracker2/3

• KISS Support• WX Station support • Free Firmware updates• Advanced APRS features• Intelligent digipeater support• Smart beaconing• Remote Configuration• Built-in voltage and temp monitor• Small 5-watt VHF transceiver with integrated

Tracker2 available

https://www.argentdata.com

Byonics Tiny Trak III Plus

• $33 kit / $42 built

• Adjustable TX rate

• Based on PIC 16F628

• Carrier detect to avoid collisions

• Normal APRS or MIC-E operation

• Time slotted reporting or SmartBeaconing• Can power a 5V GPS (Byonics GPS1, Garmin

GPS18 or a Deluo GPS WAAS)

• $98 kit or $107 built with Byonics GPS2 small GPS

http://www.byonics.com

Byonics Tiny Trak4

• $65 kit / $75 built• Field upgradeable• TX and RX packet data• Analog telemetry support• Supports NMEA, MIC-E, and Tracker modes• Based on ATMEGA324P20U (40 pin DIP) microcontroller

• Time slotted reporting or SmartBeaconing• Can power a GPS

• DSP Packet Decoding – 300/1200/9600 baud packet, DTMF, and new demodulation techniques can be added since it is not hardware based

• Most of TinyTrak3 functions added

http://www.byonics.com/tinytrak4

Byonics WX Trak

• $33 kit / $42 built

• Based on Tiny Trak III design

• Supports connected WX Stations– Radio Shack WX200

– Oregon Scientiic WM-918

– Peet Brothers U100, U800, U2000, U2100

– Davis WX station with WeatherLink APRS adapter

http://www.byonics.com

OpenTracker+ (OT+)

• Kit $32 or assembled $46• Based on the Freescale MC908JL16CSPE

microcontroller • Supports the following features:

– Free firmware upgrades– RX capability– Analog inputs– APRS Telemetry output– Supports 1-wire and Peet Bros WX station– SmartBeaconing– PSK31 support for PropNet^31 Operation– On-board temperature and voltage sensors

http://n1vg.net/opentracker

TNC-X KISS only TNC

• $48 kit• Based on Microchip PIC 16F628A and a CML

MX614 Bell 202 modem • Supports the following options:

– uSmartDigi– X-Digi– X-Track– Rasbery Pi– Bleak Beagle

• TNC can be powered by the USB port• BlueTooth now available

http://www.tnc-x.com/

• Supports APRS

• 1200 / 9600 built-in TNC

• Displays symbol and distance from other stations

• Display up to 40 messages

• 2 serial ports for computer and GPS to display waypoints

• APRS® ready (position / message / operation frequency etc.)

• 1200 / 9600 built-in TNC AX.25• Dual receive on same band (VxV,

UxU)• 1,000 memory channels• Support for EchoLink system• Decay algorithm when sitting still• NMEA0183 GPS port• APRS weather station ready• SmartBeaconing implemented• Auto Tune Repeater Objects (freq,

tone, offset)

• Add Kenwood TM-D710 APRS like capabilities to virtually any 2M FM radio

• APRS® ready (position / message / etc.)• 1200 / 9600 TNC AX.25• Provides full control of TM-D700A and

TM-V71A• Replaces TM-V71A control head• Decay algorithm when sitting still• NMEA0183 GPS port• APRS weather station ready• Requires PG-5J cable interface or

equivalent

• Supports APRS

• 1200 / 9600 built-in TNC

• Displays symbol and distance from other stations

• Display up to 40 messages

• 2 serial ports for computer and GPS to display waypoints

• Quad Band HT 6m,2m,220,70cm 5W, 1.2W on 222MHz

• Slimmer than the VX-7R• Dual receive (V+V or U+U)• AM/FM broadcast receiver• Supports APRS 1200/9600 baud (B band

only)• Weather Alert receiving• High-rez spectrum analyzer +/- 60

channels• Optional Accessories

– Bluetooth headset support– GPS unit and antenna

• Dubbed a devoted APRS user version of the VX-8R

• Smart beaconing added• Updated digi path settings from 1 to 7 • Updated message buffer from 20 to 30• Updated station list from 40 to 50• Added digi path route indiaction• Optional Accessories

– Bluetooth headset support– GPS unit and antenna

• An excellent competitor of the Kenwood D-710• GPS/APRS Bluetooth features• Dual band 144 (220) / 430 MHz 50W• Built-in barometric pressure sensor• 500 independent memory channels• Smartbeaconing• Cross band repeat• 12000 / 9600 baud

APRS WEB Sites

• www.aprs.org• www.openaprs.net• www.aprs.fi• www.findu.com• www.tapr.org• www.qsl.net/n8deu• www.sv2agw.com/ham/default.htm• www.xastir.org• www.eskimo.com/~archer/aprs_capabilities.html• www.ui-view.org

News Groups

• APRS News• APRS SIG• APRS HT• APRS Spec• APRS Sat

Sign up at http://www.tapr.org

Software for APRS

• APRSdos• MacAPRS (old)• WinAPRS (old)• javAPRS• palmAPRS (old)• Waypoint (old)• APRS Plus (old)

• APRSdigi• UIView (old)• APRSPoint• AGWTracker• AGWTracker PPC• XASTIR• APRSISCE

Software downloadable from the Web

APRS CoordinatorsCommissioned by WB4APR

State Name Call

Alabama Tim N8DEU

Arkansas Richard

Steve

Travis

KB4YTM

N5JPL

KB5ILY

Florida NA NA

Georgia NA NA

Mississippi (north) Jeff

Richard

KB5NMB

KB4YTM

Tennessee (east) William KI4HDU

Tennessee (west) Richard KB4YTM

How can APRS Help ?

• It is clear and concise• Repeat of information not required once heard• No words need to be spoken or repeated• Response time is immediate

– Beats NOAA WX radio alert every time– Beats Voice Net Alert every time

• Relativity is always known– How far am I from the storm– Key spotters are instantly identified– Non-APRS users can be placed on the map– Every APRS user views the same data (RF or Internet)– Nothing compares to the speed of information

– Tactical Communications Network

• Augments a Voice Net with critical Real Time Information

Presented by: Tim Cunningham – N8DEU

Alabama APRS CoordinatorAlabama APRS CoordinatorAMSAT Area CoordinatorAMSAT Area Coordinator

n8deu@amsat.orgn8deu@arrl.net