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, and was developed by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR∞, who currently works at the United States Naval Academy.

Capabilities

In its simplest implementation, 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 also capable of transmitting a wide variety of data, including weather reports, short text messages, radio direction finding bearings, telemetry data, and storm forecasts. Once transmitted, 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 - usually 144.39 MHz in North America, 145.175 MHz in Australia, 144.575 MHz in New Zealand, 144.930 MHz in Argentina and 144.80 MHz throughout Europe. 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, and a number of 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.

Topics
Upcoming Events
Path Settings
APRS Uses
Frequencies
Hardware
Software
APRS Internet System (APRS-IS)
Protocol
Organizations
Related Systems
Satellites
History
Glossary

External links

WB4APR web site∞
www.findu.com∞ Web-based access to worldwide APRS real-time data
OpenAPRS∞ Web-based APRS real-time data using Google Earth Maps
VA3TK's APRS Server∞ Canadian Web-based APRS Server
APRS World∞ Open Source web-based APRS database
APRS Specification∞ Official APRS specification document
Pacific Northwest APRS Homepage∞ - NWAPRS alternate Wiki∞
APRS Query Page∞ N1BQ's HTML Forms based front end to the FINDU database
www.cwop.net∞ APRSWXNET/Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP)
JavAPRSSrvr Yahoo Group∞ This group is for users of the APRS-IS server software, javAPRSSrvr.
UIDigi Yahoo Group∞ A replacement for TNC2 firmware to upgrade older TNC's to APRS.
JFindu.net∞ Web-based access to worldwide APRS real-time data.
APRS Search∞ An APRS Search Engine.
DB0ANF∞ APRS-IS Data Base Lookup Server shows individual stats on any given call sign.
PHG Calc∞ Online PHG (Power Height Gain) Calculator.
Tier 2 Network∞ Tier 2 APRS-IS Servers Group
APRS Argentina ∞ Argentinian APRS Group (Spanish)
LU-APRS∞ APRS Argentina Forum (Spanish)
Busca-T∞ Google Maps powered APRS stations search engine (Spanish)
Mira-T∞ javAPRS powered APRS stations search engine (Spanish)
APRS in Australia∞ Australian APRS Web Site, References & Information
APRS Florida∞ Info about the aprsfl.net aka third.aprs.net core APRS-IS Server
Aentient-Software∞ APRS Controlled Home Automation Software

APRS is a registered trademark of APRS Software and Bob Bruninga, WB4APR.