README.1ST WELCOME NEW APRS USER! Document version: 860. Prior was 8.3.5 of 10 Mar 99 Document dated: 1 Dec 2003 Author(s): Bob Bruninga, WB4APR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. See INSTALL.txt and BE SURE TO USE PKUNZIP -d TO UNZIP APRS! 2. Within the program hit F1 to select from a number of HELP screens 3. Use the APRS\README directory as a good index of "readme" subjects or use LOOKUP.EXE written by KB2SCS to see ALL references by keyword 4. APRS commands are single KEY commands. Some bring up additional menus Most menus show up on the bottom line. SUMMARY: APRS can be summed up with two concepts, REAL-TIME PACKET TACTICAL COMMUNICATIONS and MAPS. Probably 98 % of APRS potential does not need GPS or any tracking device. Think of APRS as just a multi-user distributed packet network with a MAP display for many exciting amateur applications: Network topology monitoring Direction Finding Weather reporting Frequency Coordination database DX cluster monitoring HF DX plotter AMSAT ground station tracker Satellite tracker Search & Rescue Special event tracker/organizer Boat/mobile/RV tracker RF path estimating Local area CHAT mode Telemetry displays Airline tracking For the Vehicle tracking it is important to use the standard 144.39, 445.925, HF 10.149.2 and CB channel 29 vehicle tracking frequencies, if available. See HF. and UHFFREQ.txt for freqs. In addition to these standard APRS freqs, use APRS as a monitoring tool on all frequencies for plotting the locations of NODES, BBS's, DIGI's and other network assets which include their position in their beacons. This is an excellent Frequency Coordination tool! Each night when you secure, tune your APRS radio to a different digital frequency and see who you pick up. DEMONSTRATIONS: First, hit the MAPS-OVERLAY-DIGIS command to see where all the existing APRS digipeaters are to see if their is activity in your area. Next, there are two important DEMO commands for past events. One loads a snapshot (nothing moves) of previous events from the BACKUP files using the FILES-LOAD command. Secondly, use the more powerful FILE-REPLAY command to replay track histories of previous events. Many past APRS events are included on the distro disk. Replay them all and use the PgUP/DN keys and HOME key to zoom in or out as the file is replayed. DOCUMENTATION: Choose from any of the 30+ README files in the APRS\README directory. These can be read ON-LINE in APRS using the F1(HELP)-FILES command. SETUP: First, zoom into your area of activity with the Page and HOME keys. Next set your desired digipeater path using the APRS UNPROTO command. This command needs your TNC connected before it can work. (To understand the UNPROTO concept, refer to your TNC manual and/or DIGIS.TXT). Finally, use the ALT-SETUP menu to SAVE your config file. Give your validation number and select a CONFIG file extension. Usually the default .APR. Be sure to use the MAPS-CONFIGURATION-CHANGE command to change to your regional MAPLIST.xxx file, such as EAS, WES, MID, SE, NW, etc. Many states have developed their own map packages: CA, OH, AK, MO, MN, NC, etc.. (see MAPS.txt) Non US hams can change the default map from the USA location by changing the LAT/LONG and RANGE in the first three lines of the MAPLIST.USA file. MAPS! - Maps to the street level can be made for anywhere in the world using the map making tools provided with APRS. To see example street level maps, zoom into Idaho Falls at the 1 mile range, or either Baltimore or NewOrleans at the 4 mile scale to see maps made with a digitizer. See North Tennessee for the type of highway maps available on the USGS 2,000,000 CD ROM, or zoom into my QTH at 3909N 07636W to see the 100k CD ROM map made by KB8JXO. You can make your own maps from the directions in MAPMAKIN.txt using a variety of techniques. You can purchase the $32 USGS CD for your area and use MK100K2a.EXE to make street level maps anywhere in your area. See MAPS-CD.txt. Or use MAPFIX.exe and a digitizer to make any map anywhere. You can even make a map using paper and a ruler and a text editor!. OR just replay a GPS track history in the MAPFIXxx.BAS program and build your own map! APRS PROTOCOL: APRS uses Unnumbered Information (UI) frames without ACKS to avoid the problems of a normal connected network. You need to understand DIGIPEATING and the UNPROTO command, since you are responsible for your own best path within the network. Also note that while APRS is running, it generates its own Position and Status beacons. Your TNC BText is not used until you Quit APRS; then your TNC BText is activated. PACKET POSITIONS ON ALL FREQS: Encourage all BBS's, NODES, Servers, and other stations in your area, to place their LAT/LONG in their beacon text using the format: BT !DDMM.xxN/DDDMM.xxW/....comments. APRS will also plot the positions of stations reporting by Grid Square surrounded by brackets [FM19xy] (at the beginning of the BText only). If all packet assets get in that habit, then APRS will automatically plot a map of packet activity on any frequency! If stations will also use the Power/antenna/gain format in their BText, then effective communications ranges can also be displayed! See PROTOCOL.txt. STAND-ALONE-GPS-TRACKERS: Most new TNC's now include GPS commands for autonomous operations with a GPS with the need for an APRS PC. See GPS.TXT MORE READING: See ARTICLES.txt for a complete list of articles. QST - pg 92 July, pg 11 Aug 93 QST, pg 14 Dec 94, pg 68 Oct 95 QEX - Feb issue, 1994 for info on interfacing GPS to packet CQ - Packet column Dec 1993 73 - October 94 HOMING IN column. Also in Jan, Feb 95 issues AMSAT - May 1993, AMSAT journal (but registration info is incorrect). 73 - December 1996 (8 pages) ARRL - The ARRL now publishes a book on APRS SEE DOWNLOAD.txt for a list of BBS's, WWW and INTERNET sites.! CHeck out my LIVE APRS web site at http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/aprs.html All APRSdos docs are now on line: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/APRS-docs APRS INTERNET SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP: Join the TAPR sponsored APRSSIG Internet re-mailier to keep up-to-date with everything going on in the APRS world. If you cannot handle the 30 messages a day, then subscribe only to the APRSnews list. It only gets used about once a week or LESS. For info on APRS COORDINATORS for our area, see MAPS.TXT.