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AUTOMATIC PACKET/ POSITION REPORTING SYSTEM
The Automatic Packet/ Position Reporting System
(APRS ) is a software program and registered
trademark of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR. He has made
packet communications much more exciting than before.
This program allows you to track mobile stations on a
map which you recall on a computer screen. Imagine
seeing one mobile station moving on the map which can
be scaled from .5 to 2000 miles. You also may be
tracked on the computer screen of another station.
Stations to be tracked must transmit beacons at certain
intervals. To track other stations, you usually need a
computer running the APRS, a transceiver, and a TNC.
To have them track you, you also need a GPS receiver.
It receives signals from the satellites to inform you of
your current geographical position. GPS stands for
Global Positioning System. The APRS interprets the
National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) data
strings coming from the GPS receiver. For further
information, consult Internet Web pages relating to the
APRS. You may use one of the Internet search engines
to find correct URLs.
This transceiver includes a TNC and a program for
dealing with data formats supported by the APRS. That
is, you need no other equipment to transmit, receive, or
display APRS packets. You do not need even a GPS
receiver if you manually enter position data to transmit.
For hams who want to fully enjoy APRS operations, this
transceiver has connection ports with a personal
computer and a GPS receiver; this manual, however,
does not describe APRS operations which require a
personal computer.
Using this transceiver, you can transmit a station icon,
position data, position comment, and status text. With a
GPS receiver, you can also transmit moving speed,
moving direction, and altitude data. From any type of
station you will receive information listed below:
t S
t a
o i
n
c i
o
n
P
o
t i s
o i
n
c
o
m
m
e
t n
D
s i
a t
n
c
e
f
o r
m
t s
t a
o i
n
Depending on the types of stations, you will also receive
the following information:
M
v o
n i
g
M
o
b
e l i
t s
t a
o i
n
T
a r
n
s
m
F
x i
e
d
t s
t a
o i
n
A
n
e t
n
n
F
x i
e
d
t s
t a
o i
n
T
a r
n
s
m
u (
s
n i
g
c
o
m
p
e r
s s
e
d
A
P
R
S
d
a
a t
f
r o
m
a
) t
W
n i
d
i d
W
e
a
h t
r e
t s
t a
o i
n
T
e
m
p
r e
P
o
t i s
o i
n
d
t a
/ a
G
r
d i
s
q
u
a
e r
o l
S
a t
u t
s
e t
t x
i D
e r
t c
o i
n
f o
t s
t a
o i
n
d
r i
c e
o i t
/ n
M
v o
n i
g
p s
e
e
/ d
A
t l
t i
p
o
w
e
/ r
H
e
g i
t h
f o
a
n
e t
n
n
a
g
i a
/ n
A
n
e t
n
n
a
i d
e r
c
v i t
y t i
t i
a r
n
g
e
e r
t c
o i
/ n
W
n i
d
s
p
e
e
/ d
t a
r u
/ e
R
i a
f n
l l a
n i
a l
t s
h
o
r u
c
t a
r o
u t i
d
e
/ a
1
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