BARC

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• BARC
• http//www.barconline.org
• CC ARES
• www.barconline.org/about/ares

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APRS YOU
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Northern Utah APRS Network
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Why We Are Here

• APRS is a powerful tool for emergency management
• Readiness requires skilled reserve of Hams

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What is APRS

• Automatic Packet Reporting System
• Packet communication protocol for sharing live
  data on a network in real time
• Real time tactical communications and display
  system for emergencies and public service
  applications (APRS Spec)

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APRS Features

• Maps
• Messaging
• Objects
• Bulletins and announcements
• Weather station reporting
• DX Cluster reporting
• Internet access
• Telemetry
• Voice Alert

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History

• Invented by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR in 1992
• The Automatic Packet Reporting Sys-tem was
  designed to support rapid, reliable exchange of
  information for local, tactical real-time
  information, events or nets.

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History

• APRS for DOS was the first program
• MacAPRS WinAPRS 1994 by Sproule brothers
• UI-Viewbest most popular
• Many other APRS apps since runs on Windows 3.x,
  NT and XP, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android and DOS
• GPS adjunct came afterwards

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Uses

• Passive Fun
• Watch the display of many stations
• Watch the ISS or PCsat fly by
• Watch emergencies in action
• Tracking
• Find your buddies
• Track your teenager, wife
• Balloons, rockets and public service events
• Meet hams spontaneously on the road

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Uses

• Telemetry
• Balloons and rockets
• Post bulletins, event notices and venues
• Send short messages
• Send email

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More Uses

• Events
• Track the parade Grand Marshal
• Track the last marathoner or bike racer
• Emergencies
• Search and rescue
• Disaster information
• EOC messaging (Single Line)
• Track the fire chief

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Still More Uses

• Weather monitoring
• See wind speeds and temperatures in the area
• Report wind damage
• Track tornados

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Weather monitoring

• Users can create and move objects such as
  hurricanes and funnel clouds.
• The objects can be transmitted through the APRS
  network to the NWS
• Objects could be used to transmit attributes not
  quantifiable as a number
• Collection of data
• Trending Weather Data
• Weather Alerts from NWS
• Superimposed RADAR

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Theory

• Assumptions
• Packet radio
• Digipeaters
• APRS Protocol
• Frequencies
• GPS

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Assumptions

• Radios
• Antennas
• PC Skills

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How does APRS Work?

• Some details

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Packet Radio

• History
• AX.25 protocol was approved by ARRL in 1984
• Came from X.25 protocol (the A is for Amateur)
• Primary difference from X.25 is allowance for
  call signs and for unconnected packets

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Packet Radio

• Packets
• Strings of data bytes called frames
• 3 kinds of frames in ordinary packet
• Information (I frame)
• Supervisory (S frame)
• Unnumbered (U frame)
• 6 kinds of U frames, one is Unnumbered
  Information frame
• UI frames are used for transmitting data in an
  unconnected mode

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Packet Radio

• In packet radio, qsos are always between
  connected stations
• Several qsos can take place simultaneously on
  the same frequency
• Packet qsos may be digipeated but by specific
  stations

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How is APRS different from Packet Radio?

• Communication is one to many
• Uses generic digipeating with well-known aliases
• Supports intelligent digipeating to reduce
  network flooding
• Uses UI frames for messaging, bulletins and
  announcements
• Provides maps and other features

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How APRS uses Packets

• Uses the same AX.25 protocol but only a part of
  it
• Uses Unnumbered Information (UI) frames
  exclusively
• Always runs in connectionless mode

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How APRS uses Packets

• Frames are transmitted without expecting any
  response
• Reception is not guaranteed
• Messages work same way but use an ack technique

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The UI Packet
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Destination Address

• From the APRS spec

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Destination Address

• The adr SPCL is to be used for special events.
  APRS s/w should provide for only showing stations
  with this adr (but it doesnt).
• Usually just shows the software version. WinAPRS
  v2.6.1 sets this to APW261

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Destination Address
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Destination Address
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Destination Address
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Destination Address
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Destination Address

• May also contain
• MIC-E encoded data
• Other unique encoded data
• No reason to change this since s/w cant cope

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Source Address

• My station call sign

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An Intervening Word about Digipeaters

• Why do we need them?
• Increase coverage
• Digipeater versus repeater
• Voice repeaters operate in duplex mode
• Digipeaters operate in simplex mode
• Digipeaters use store and forward technique

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Digipeaters

• Wide area digipeaters
• In this area are usually on a tower
• Have good antennas and high power
• Operate automatically
• Operate all the time
• Have Battery Backup

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Digipeaters

• Fill-In digipeater
• Usually somebodys home station
• Should be able to communicate with a WIDE station
• Purpose is to help low powered stations get to
  the WIDE

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Digipeaters

• WIDE
• Examples KF7VJO-3
• or not
• Examples W7BOZ

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Digipeaters
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(No Transcript)
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FIX 1 Phase out RELAY and WIDE Paths (also
eliminate TRACE, TRACEn-N)

• The single biggest improvement in the USA was
  simply getting users to stop using the obsolete
  RELAY and WIDE paths. The obsolete RELAY and WIDE
  paths generated multiple dupes in the KPC-3 and
  PacComm and some other implementations because
  there is no dupe elimination for dupes heard from
  other digis. . These obsolete paths generated 3
  to 5 times more load on the system than the
  comparable WIDEn-N path which has perfect dupe
  elimination algorithms. The fix was easy. Use
  WIDE1-1 in place of RELAY and WIDEn-N in place of
  WIDE.

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FIX 2 Make WIDEn-N Traceable

• The original WIDEn-N system was not traceable,
  making it impossible to do any network assessment
  or management. . The New-N Paradigm made
  WIDEn-N traceable!. . (By eliminating TRACEn-N,
  Sysops can now move WIDEn-N support from the
  UIFLOOD parameter to the UITRACE parameter.)

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FIX 3 Use WIDEn-N everywhere. The New n-N
Paradigm Solution

• WIDEn-N is the most efficient APRS path, but it
  is vulnerable to out-of area QRM from user
  settings of large values of N. . Fortunately,
  under the New n-N Paradigm, existing digis now
  trap large-N abuse and greatly simplify user
  recommendations to simply one WIDEn-N path. . The
  New n-N Paradigm simplifies the APRS network to a
  few distinct digipeater types
• WIDEn-N ..- The basis of the New n-N Paradigm.
  They also support SSn-N for state nets
  (S overlay).
• WIDE1-1 ...- Fill-In digis (where required only).
  Set these fill-in digis MYALIAS to WIDE1-1.
• One-Hop .. - These digis force big-N packets to 1
  hop in extreme density areas. (LA or Dayton for
  example)
• PacComm . - These old "T" digi ROMS can still be
  used locally for up to WIDE2-2 support
  (with P overlay)

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Fix 6, Proportional Pathing for DIGI beacons!

• One of the biggest loads on the network prior to
  this New-N Paradigm was simply the flooding in
  all directions at all distances of the individual
  DIGI beacons. Many digis were sending out their
  beacon to 4 and 5 hops in all directions every 10
  to 30 minutes. There is no need for this spam. .
  So part of the New-N paradigm was to come up with
  the Proportional Pathing algorithm that kept the
  information update rate at 10 minutes in the
  immediate direct range of the digi so that
  passing travelers would be informed, but then the
  rate was much less for more hops to cut overall
  load on the network and out-of-area spam.

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Back to the UI Packet -- Digipeater Addresses

• Also known as the unproto path
• Up to 9 addresses
• Specific or generic aliases
• Specified in s/w configuration or in the UNPROTO
  command APRS V WIDE1-1, WIDE2-1
• Represents the route you want your packet to
  follow

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Digipeater Addresses

• Rules of thumb
• Dont use RELAY
• If you can hit a wide, then include it as the
  first digi in the string
• For maximum range, add WIDE2-2 or WIDE3-3 after a
  specific DIGI
• Examples
• APRS V KF7VJO-3, WIDE2-2
• APRS v WIDE1-1, WIDE2-2
• APRS V WIDE3-3
• Anything MORE than 3 should be avoided!

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Digipeater Addresses

• You can be really specific about the path
• Example
• APRS V KF7VJO-3, REDSPR, BLKMTN would route you
  up to Star Valley, nowhere else

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Types of Data

• There are ten main types of APRS Data
• Position
• Direction Finding
• Objects and Items
• Weather
• Telemetry
• Messages, Bulletins and Announcements
• Queries
• Responses
• Status
• Other

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Data Example

• Position data

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Data Extension Example

• PHG extension refers to power, height and gain
  (also directivity)
• Height is above average local terrain
• Form is PHGphgd

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Frequencies

• VHF 144.39
• 1200 baud
• HF 10.15151 LSB
• 300 baud
• Satellite
• ISS Downlink 145.800, uplink 145.990
• PCsat simplex 145.828
• 1200 baud

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Getting on the Air with APRS What to
Buy/Scrounge

• Details

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Hardware

• Home station requirements
• 2 meter radio and antenna
• Desktop computer
• TNC or soundcard/interface
• Mobile station requirements
• 2 meter radio and antenna
• Variables

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Hardware

• Mobile variables Track View
• GPS
• Laptop
• TNC

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Hardware

• Mobile variables Mobile Tracking
• GPS
• Tiny Track, or Tracking TNC

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Hardware

• Mobile variables Portable tracking
• GPS
• No computer
• Tracker interface device
• Power source for portability

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Hardware

• Kantronics KPC-3
• Supports single PC Serial Port Tracker
• Supports UI Flood Protocol
• Current Version is 9.0
• Simple Mobile Operation
• Cost 189

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Hardware

• Kantronics KPC-3
• Good for Home use
• Version 8.2 Supports UI Flood Protocol
• Average cost used 80

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Hardware

• KPC-2, KAM, MFJ, others
• Good for Home use
• Low cost
• Check http//swap.qth.com/ for deals

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Hardware

• Kenwood Mobiles TM-D700, TM-D710, TM-D710G
• 
  AV Map

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Hardware

• Yaesu Mobiles
• 
  AV Map

FTM-350AR No longer in production
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Hardware

• A self-contained tracking/telemetry module
• Tiny Trak 4 Kit (65) Already built (75)
• Tiny Trak 3Plus kit (33) Already built (42)
• See http//www.byonics.com/tinytrak/

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Hardware

• Computers
• Running with a TNC doesnt require a fast
  computer or recent O/S
• A slow machine means your maps will refresh very
  slo-o-o-oly
• As with all apps, more memory is better

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Hardware

• TNCs
• Any TNC will do when a computer is attached.
• Old style TNCs may not be GPS aware, but they
  work for base stations

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Hardware

• Cables
• Sources
• Packet Radio.com http//packetradio.com
• MFJ http//www.mfjenterprises.com

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Hardware

• TNC cables
• Computer serial port to TNC
• Unique to your TNC
• TNC to radio mike connector
• Unique to your TNC and radio

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Hardware

• Consideration for GPS with TNC
• 2 serial ports are needed (Unless KPC3)
• If only 1 serial port is available, can use a
  Port sharing device

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Hardware

• GPS Receivers
• Must have PC interface port
• Must output NMEA messages on the PC port
• Good to have an external antenna for the GPS
• RS-232 or TTL

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Software

• WinAPRS
• Pros
• Everybody knows about it
• Free maps
• Can use high quality Precision Maps
• Unregistered version has full functionality

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Software

• Cons
• Help function is bad
• Not totally stable
• Not everything works
• Maps arent so good
• Expensive to register
• Somewhat limited in scope

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Software

• APRSSA
• Pros
• Comprehensive functionality
• High quality Street Atlas maps

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Software

• Cons
• No (I said no) help
• Hard to manipulate maps
• Confusing
• Only works with Street Atlas
• Have to register to use AGWPE
• Expensive to register

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Software

• UIView
• Pros
• 16 bit version is free, 32 bit version is free
  too but they request a donation.
• Quality coding
• Extensive help files
• Any GIF or bitmap file can be a map
• Works with Street Atlas and others
• Detailed Street level Mapping with Precision Maps

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Software

• Cons
• Limited Individual Replay options
• Author has passed away and sotware no longer
  supported

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Software

• Xastir
• Pros
• Works on Linux
• Good map capability
• Cons
• Not a Windows program

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Software

• MacAPRS
• Shares same code with WinAPRS

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Software

• APRSICE/32
• Pros
• Follows WB4APRs APRS spec very well
• Maps are available
• Connects to the internet
• Cons
• Has to be connected to the internet to get maps
• Hard to configure. Especially to use on RF

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Software

• My recommendation
• Use UI-View with Precision Maps 8

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Satellites

• ISS
• Excellent signal
• PCsat
• Built by Bruningas students at Annapolis
• Find the satellites position
• http//liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/realtime/JTrack/Space
  craft.html

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Another way to view APRS

• Internet
• APRS.FI
• http//aprs.fi
• Great online tracking source.
• Does dead reckoning
• FINDU
• http//map.findu.com
• Struggling to find a free mapsource

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Voice Alert

• Have you ever driven on an all day trip and never
  found anyone to talk to?
• Have you passed someone with antennas all over
  the roof of his car, yet, can't raise him at all?
  
• Have you tried to look through the Repeater Guide
  to help you find a local QSO repeater, but find
  the listing of 10,000 mostly silent repeaters
  daunting, especially while moving?
• Remember, statistically, one out of every 500
  cars you pass is another ham! On some
  interstates, that is one every 10 minutes.

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Voice Alert

• Now, imagine a HAM radio radar that automatically
  alerts you to other mobiles in simplex range, or
  a dual band radio with a permanent 3rd full-time
  nationwide Voice Alert CALL channel that is
  always on. Driving the interstates with such a
  radio would guarantee you a new LOCAL contact on
  average about every 10 minutes or so! Amazingly,
  such a radio does exist, in fact, two of them.
  Thousands of HAMs have them and most use them
  every day. But unfortunately, many of these
  owners, do not fully use the radio to its full
  potential on the open road and most of the rest
  of us are unaware of their amazing functionality.
  The radios, of course, are the Kenwood TH-D7A(g)
  Handheld the TM-D700/710 and the Yaesu FTM-350R
  APRS mobile radios. (And any other APRS radio
  with the TNC connected directly to the
  discriminator).

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Voice Alert

• But in the year 2001 or so, we realized that
  EVERY single APRS mobile operator out there was
  driving around with a radio guaranteed to be
  ALWAYS listening on the same North American
  Continent wide channel, 144.39. The only problem
  was they all had the volume turned completely off
  (who wants to listen to a wall-to-wall packet
  channel while mobile?).
• Well, it only takes about a second's thought to
  realize that if we simply turned up the volume to
  normal level, and set CTCSS-100, then the speaker
  would still be ALWAYS QUIET, but if someone in
  simplex range did want to call us, then he could
  do so with PL-100 and we would always hear the
  call! Think of it as a 3rd radio in the car.
  Always on, Always listening for simplex calls,
  and yet completely silent at all other times. We
  called this great concept "Voice Alert".

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Important Links

• NEKSUN APRS http//www.k0ham.com/aprs
• Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR)
  http//www.tapr.org
• NWAPRS http//www.nwaprs.org
• Bob Bruninga WB4APRs site - http//www.aprs.org
• Tiny Trak - http//www.byonics.com/
• Web Tracking - http//aprs.fi
• Another Web Tracking - http//www.findu.com
• Yet another Web Tracking - http//www.aprs.net
• Open APRS Website - http//www.openaprs.net
• ARPRICE/32 - http//aprsice.wikidot.com
• UI-View Web site - http//www.ui-view.org
• Balloon/Rocket tracker - http//www.bigredbee.com
• Argent Data Tracker - http//www.argentdata.com/pr
  oducts/aprs.html
• WA8LMF Website - http//www.wa8lmf.net/ham/index.h
  tm
• K9DCI APRS Beginner Guide - http//k9dci.home.comc
  ast.net/APRS20Beginner20Guide20-20K9DCI20Ver
  205-1.pdf

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Questions

• ??