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Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS)

Originally known as “Automatic Position Reporting System” but renamed by its creator, APRS is an amateur radio based digital communications system for local, regional, or long-distance (as in the case of HF APRS) tactical, real-time exchange of information among all members of a net, including map based displays for situational awareness. It was developed by Bob Bruninga (WB4APR), who currently works at the United States Naval Academy. He maintains the main.

Automatic Position Reporting System

APRS is an amateur radio based digital communications system for local, tactical, real-time exchange of information among all members of a net, including map based displays for stiuational awareness. It was developed by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, who currently works at the United States Naval Academy.

Capabilities

APRS is used to transmit real-time information such as messages, bulletins, announcements and the locations of any stations or objects via amateur packet radio protocols. Real-time reporting of station position for mobiles is facilitated using the Global Positioning System. APRS is capable of transmitting a wide variety of data including weather reports, short text messages, radio direction finding bearings, telemetry data, and storm forecasts. These reports can be combined with a computer and mapping software to show the transmitted data superimposed on a variety of map displays.

Technical Information

In its most widely used form APRS is transported over the air using the AX.25 protocol at 1200 baud Bell 202 audio frequency-shift keying on frequencies located in the amateur 2-meter band. An extensive digital repeater, or digipeater network provides transport for APRS packets on these frequencies. Internet gateway stations (i-Gates) connect the on-air APRS network to the APRS Internet System (APRS-IS), which serves as a worldwide, high-bandwidth backbone for APRS data. Stations can tap into this stream directly. Databases connected to the APRS-IS allow web-based access to the data as well as more advanced data mining capabilities. A number of low-earth orbiting satellites and the International Space Station are capable of relaying APRS data.

Introduction

aprs logo

APRS is used to transmit real-time information such as messages, bulletins, announcements and the locations…

Getting started with APRS

APRS Uses

ballooning-aprs

A station can be a transmit-only tracker, it can be a tracker and a weather station, it can be a combined I-Gate, weather station and digipeater. There are all sorts of combinations. Find out more in this section.

APRS Use Cases

Software

software

In this section you will find different software for different APRS application. From server application and X.25 software to software targeted at mobiles systems, Windows, Mac or Linux.

Hardware

hardware

Find more information about APRS-capable transceivers, digipeaters, trackers, and sensors.

APRS related hardware

Protocol

protocol

The APRS protocol itself is defined in the APRS Specification prepared by the APRS Working Group. There is also a collection of errata, addendums, recommendations, etc.

Protocol overview

Weather

weather

Citizen Weather Observing Program (CWOP) uses the APRS-IS to collect weather data from citizens with personal weather stations and send these data to users around the country.

More on Weather and APRS

Paths

paths

Your packets have to be delivered to their destination. PATHS settings are the ones that take care of how many digipeters will be used to deliver them to their final destination.

Frequencies

frequency-3-2016Frequencies dedicated to the APRS network around the world. You can use them to listen and transmit your current data. Check this sections for locations around Europe, US and more countries…

Internet System

APRS-IS (Automatic Packet Reporting System-Internet Service) – is an Internet-based backbone network which interconnects APRS radio networks. The core network consists of three…

APRS-IS overview

Digipeater

digipeater

A Digipeater is a station that does digital repeating. Unlike full-duplex VHF/UHF voice repeaters a digipeater will receive a packet, process it, and retransmit on the same frequency.

Read about the digipeater

IGate

An IGate is a type of gateway APRS station. It is similar to a network router in the TCP/IP world, or to a “voting receiver” in a wide-area radio repeater network.

More info about IGate

Glossary

Commonly used terms when operators are talking about APRS.  Things like – LORAN, NWS, ECHo, digi, etc.