The case for APRS
?
For those who aren't acronym savvy, APRS is Automatic Packet Reporting System.
APRS was developed from the late 1980s forward by Bob Bruninga, call sign WB4APR(sk), a senior research engineer at the United?
?
States Naval Academy. He maintained the main APRS Web site until his death in 2022.?
?
APRS is one of the only applications using packet radio that has stood the test of time.
?
The APRS world network is still thriving, long after other packet radio went away, because it didn't compete with, but leveraged the?
Internet.
It uses mostly 2m FM 144.390 to gather the positions and the Internet to put them all in one place.
?
APRS is an unconnected mode, meaning that the packets aren't connected to any one station.
The packets are sent as information beacons without acks, eliminating the connection overhead.
The broadcast is either heard or it isn't, hopefully, if not, conditions will be better the next.
Here's why I'm telling you this.
?
In the 5 months since I became involved with the WILMAR packet node out at the HHS tower we've had exactly two users locally, WD0HXV?
and myself N0QBH.
We've had a total of 5 outside visitors that I am aware of.
K1LEO, WG0A, AJ0O, KF9CP and K0LAV.
?
Here's what I want to do.
I propose we add the APRS frequency (144.390 MHz) to the WILMAR node 2m radio and change the freq to it.
There are a couple of configuration changes to tell the node TNC it's to use the new UIFLOOD method of handling APRS digis.
The node can still function the same as now by switching the frequency back to 145.670 MHz if needed.
?
I think APRS is going to remain popular simply due to several new radios having it and the GPS built in. Too easy!
One thing is for certain, this asset will get used if we decide to do this.?
It should cover approx a 30 mile radius from the tower north of Willmar and the local APRS Internet feeds will hear it as well, so users will?
plot on the Internet map www.aprs.fi
?
What do YOU think?
?
73 Mike N0QBH
?
N0QBH Mike Berg