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APRS using HF VARA #APRS #HF #VARA

 

Here's a new rabbit hole to go down that could be rather interesting.
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I used to do HF APRS with a MFSK16 tracker I designed and built. It worked surprisingly well, but HF mobile operators are scarce.
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Fast forward 15 years and they are doing it much better with VARA.
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Stephan Smith WA8LMF is the stateside "guru" tho I will warn you, he's abrasive and doesn't suffer fools. He's an engineer in the mold of Sheldon at times.
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I'm think about trying the Pinpoint version with my VARA HF station.
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73
Mike N0QBH
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I have PinPoint up & running on my Bmax B2 mini pc that I use for HF VARA.
I just followed the instructions WA8LMF provided.
Win 11 has the .net stuff already installed.
Monitoring the freq with just VARA chat only decoded gibberish.
Watching it through PinPoint and the gibberish is further decoded into APRS data readable by humans and positions that plot on a great built in map.
Because it's HF the APRS positions are from all over North America and Europe.
I see my station (N0QBH-4) is plotting on apris.is too.
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73
Mike N0QBH
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Edited

JS8CALL can be used for sending APRS reports.

JS8APRS.pdf
JS8APRS.pdf

 

One of the downsides to Winlink VARA is the privacy the mode affords. There's not much for others to watch or do.
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PinPoint APRS changes that. Because APRS is an unconnected mode, it's broadcasts are visible to everyone on frequency.
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While we mostly think of APRS and vehicle tracking, the original concept is in the name - Automatic Packet Reporting System.
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PinPoint APRS combines the locations of everyone (stationary or mobile) on a fully zoom-able map.
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It also has the ability for the user to beacon their own location as well as short (67 characters) messages.
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These can be sent as beacons to all or a specific station with an acknowledgement of receipt.
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Here's some screen shots from my station N0QBH-4
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Along with being able to do Winlink email and SSTV, this is another application you can easily add to an HF station using the VARA soundmodem.
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I'm sorry if I sound like a broken record when I repeat - VARA has changed EVERYTHING in amateur digital communications.
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Here are WA8LMF's instructs on adding PinPoint APRS to your lineup.
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My earlier post on get started with Winlink and VARA
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73
Mike N0QBH
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Pictures one can actually see.
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73
N0QBH
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