Automated Packet Reporting System

The Automated Packet Reporting System is a digital real time communications system to share tactical information and messages. The most common activity in APRS is to plot the location of moving objects on an Internet map using GPS information, but APRS can also be used for short messaging, weather station telemetry, announcements, and displaying objects on a map. There are several good map websites, one of the most popular being http://aprs.fi.

There are numerous APRS stations currently set up in our area. With them, you can be tracked using your portable APRS equipment along with the website linked above. This is a great service for weather spotters or tracking a parade route.  It's easy to get involved with nothing more than a Chinese HT that is set to 144.39MHz, a linking cable (or Bluetooth, depending on the radio), a GPS enabled cellphone with a headphone jack (sorry, new Apple fans), plus a choice of free APRS apps available from Play Store if you're running Android.

Michael Martens (KB9VBR) has provided to YouTube viewers a great introduction to APRS below.

 Contents:

1. Brief History of APRS: 01:46

2. How APRS Works: 04:17

3. APRS Path Protocols: 06:00

4. APRS IGATES: 08:29

5. Using APRS: 09:13