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HELP.TXT 7.5b APRS HELP DOCUMENT
FOR A SUMMARY INDEX OF ALL APRS README FILES, SEE README.1st
NOTE: There are now a few special versions of APRS floating around:
These were derived from APRS74
APRSdr.exe Has a dead reckoning path following mode. See DR.txt
APRSmin.exe A minimized version 316K vice 373K (without DX & WX)
APRtrak.exe A version for SPACE donated to AMSAT. See SPACE.txt
Most APRS commands are single keys which are active from all display
pages. The first Help page (F1-HELP), defines all command characters.
Some keys bring up additional command sub-menu's on the bottom of the
screen. Just hit the first letter of any command listed in the prompt.
In most prompts, the ENTER key will select the default choice or complete
the prompt with no action. If a mouse driver is loaded, the mouse can be
used to move the cursor. The following section summarizes all of the
TOP-LEVEL APRS command characters (shown with F1-HELP). First are the
nine major display screens accessed by their first letter:
SCREENS DESCRIPTION
L-LATEST - Latest Beacon or broadcast STATUS message from all stations
B-BULLETINS - Bulletins posted by other stations
P-POSITIONS - Position packets and comments from all stations and Objs
H-HEARD LOG - Number of packets per hour per station
R-READ MSGS - Displays your incomming and outgoing messages
T-TRAFFIC - The last 23 lines of traffic heard between other stations
D-DIGIs USED - Digipeater paths used by all stations (or DX message list)
A-ALL BCNS - Chronological log of all beacons, messages (or all DX spots)
V-VIEW - Scrolling screen of all packets on frequency
alt-T - TELEMETRY screen for the MIM module (see TELEMTRY.txt)
SPACE BAR - MAP - For showing the positions of all stations and objects
Y-Yaxis - A quasi-3D view of the map
MENUS DESCRIPTION
F1-HELP - HELP Menu with several screens
C-CONTROLS - For switching on/off many APRS control functions
F-FILE MENU - For loading, saving, and/or replaying files
I-INPUT MENU - For inputing your POSIT, OBJECTS and DF bearings
M-MAP MENU - For most MAP functinos
O-OPERATIONS - Various commands involved in communications and keyboard ops
W-WEATHER - All commands dealing with entering and displaying weather
MESSAGE COMMANDS
R-READ MSGS - Displays all incomming and outgoing messages
E-ERASE (TO) - Erase outgoing messages TO other stations
K-KILL (FROM)- Kill incomming lines FROM other stations
S-SEND - Send a message line
T-TRAFFIC - Display the latest 23 lines monitored between other stations
F2-REPLY - Reply to the last incoming message
OTHER COMMAND KEYS
G-GOTO ME/TRK- Moves cursor immediately to your stn or to the TRACKED stn
J-JUST ONE - Will clear the map and only display Just one type of station
N-NEXT WX - Will move cursor to the next WX stn and display condx
Q-QUIT - Quit APRS. Your POSIT will remain in your TNC beacon
U-UNPROTO - Used to set your UNPROTO path
V-VIEW SCREEN- A conventional scrolling display for monitoring packets
X-XMT PKTS - Transmits all or some of your outstanding packets
CURSOR AND MAP COMMANDS
SPACE bar - Redraws current map
Arrows - Moves cursor. SHIFT Arrows (white) moves 5 times faster
Home - Homes the screen to the cursor location
PgDn/Up - ZOOMs the display in/out. CTRL-PgUp/Dn zooms by 8
End - Moves map to your default location
1,3,5,7,9 - 1 gets default map. 3-9 reload maps saved in 3-9 keys
ENTER or +/- - Hook/Unhook (select) a station. +/- cycle through all stns
Use < and > to cycle through only the stations on the screen
(actually, use the "," and"." keys to avoid holding SHIFT.)
SPECIAL FUNCTIONS
TAB - Displays status of most CONTROLS and SETUP items
F1 - Help Menu with several screens
F2 - Reply to message. Pre-loads CALL from last message received
F3/4- More or Fewer Lables on maps. Also works with MAPS-BORDERS
F5 - Mark a FADE point during the Fade-circle DF technique
F6 - ZERO out your SPEED, so when you QRT, others will not DR you.
F7 - Toggle between 25 and 43 line text mode
F8 - In GPS/HSP mode will get and plot an immediate fix
F9 - Center map and scale to show ALL stations
F10 - DOZ mode. Disables all screen writes so works better in WINDOWS
ALTERNATE KEYS
alt-A - All Callsign prefixes (zzom to whole world to see)
alt-B - Alter BEACON text
alt-F - In DX mode, will change filters for HF, VHF, or certain freqs
alt-S - SETUP menu and configuration save commands
alt-T - Telemetry screen. See TELEMTRY.txt
MOUSE: The nouse only moves the cursor on the MAP and L/Plists. See
MOUSE.txt for details.
DISPLAY SCREENS: Each display page can have up to 5 pages (80 stations)
with new stations added on the last page. Each new station beyond 80
bumps off the oldest station on the top of page 1. Use the PgUp and PgDn
keys to cycle through multiple pages. On both the P and L lists, you can
move the cursor to select a single station. A prompt then allows you to
display the object on the map, see a chronological list of all previous
beacons from that station, delete the entry, insert a position for a BEACON
only station, etc.
L - LATEST DISPLAY shows the latest BEACON packet from each station. This
screen is like a one-line broadcast message display. In DX mode, this
screen lists the latest command from all stations on your local cluster.
B - BULLETINS DISPLAY shows the latest 22 APRS BULLETINS, very useful for
distributing useful net-wide information about special events or
instructions. See the SEND command.
P - POSITIONS DISPLAY shows the latest POSITION packet from each station.
You may select (HOOK) any station or object in this list for additional
commands shown below. See the section on OBJects. Also the JUST ONE
command will display JUST one type of station at a time.
Uplink - Uplink or quit uplinking that object
Move - Move it anywhere else on the map
HOME - Center the map on the object
Delete - Deletes the object from your list
Follow - Forces an OBJ to follow a purple path (APRSdr.exe only)
Kill - Kills your uplinked object on EVERYONE's screens!
Track - Will keep the map centered on the TRACKED station
Alarm - Will cause alarms if the marked station moves
Special- Marks the station for isolated display using JUST-SPECIAL
H - HEARD LIST shows statistics of the number of packets heard from each
station per hour for the last 24 hours. It is useful for observing
station activity and on HF for observing propagation changes.
T - TRAFFIC screen shows the last 23 messages heard between other stns.
In DX mode, also collects TALK messages between DX cluster users.
D - DIGIPEATER PAGE shows the raw packet headers including the digi-
peaters of stations on your LATEST list. Proper use of digis is
very important for minimizing QRM on APRS nets. A * in the left
column show stations heard DIRECT (maybe only once!). In DX mode,
the D screen accumulates the list of all ACTIVE DXcluster MESSAGES.
A - ALL PACKETS display shows a chronological history of all packets
including your own incoming and outgoing message lines. Since
messages do not have a time of receipt appended to them, this
display is useful for seeing approximately when a message line
was received. In DX mode, this screen accumulates all DX/WX/WWV
spots and announcements.
F1- HELP gives a menu of several different pages of HELP including reading
any of the README files. Other HELP screens:
DIGIS - one screen on how to use APRS DIGIPEATERS
FILES - Read the README files on line (lots of them!)
HELP - List of all APRS Commands
INFO - Additional helpful info
NEW - New-user simplified help screen
On-SCRN - Scroll through the commands without losing the current screen
SYMBOLS - Shows all APRS symbols
VALID - How to validate your copy of APRS
MAP SYMBOL COLORS: Several colors are useto differentiate the status of
each station or object on the MAP display:
WHITE - Active APRS stations on line
GRAY - TNC-only posit with no APRS message capability
YELLOW - Objects that you are reporting (uplinking)
VIOLET - Objects uplinked by other stations
DARK - Positions older than 2 hours
GREEN - WIDE-RELAY digipeaters
BLUE - Weather stations
CYAN - Dead Reckoned positions
MAP COMMANDS AND FUNCTIONS:
SPACE - Re-displays the current map and resets all display defaults.
JUST - Can be used to select subsets of symbols to be displayed.
JUST SPECIAL displays only the objects marked special on the
P-list. JUST CALLS displays all objects but only the calls
of those marked SPECIAL.
ESC - Escapes the cursor from never-never land to the screen center
1,3,5,9- Map memories for saving particular maps of interest to you.
Use the MAP-SAVE command and just hit one of these keys to
recall any saved map. The 1 key always has the USA map.
Save a CONFIG file to make these permanent.
F9 - CENTER ALL CONTACTS. Chooses a map to display ALL objects.
HOOK - Hook is a Navy term for selecting an object on a radar screen.
Use ENTER to hook an object at the cursor. To step through all
stations, use the +/- keys. All info about a hooked station is
displayed at the bottom of the screen. Move the hooked station
by moving the cursor to the new location and hitting the INSERT
key or it can be removed using the DELETE key. To prevent
inadvertent movement of objects, a second ENTER key UNHOOKS.
Use the <> keys to cycle through all stations on the current
map.
INSERT - Relocates a HOOKED object on the screen.
DEAD RECKONING: For moving stations, APRS draws a small gray anchor circle
at the last posit, and then dead-reckons the light blue symbol ahead to the
estimated position. Defeat this with CONTROLS-DR. To hook a dead reckoned
station, hook the anchor circle, not the symbol itself. There is also a
separate program called APRSdr.exe which can dead reckon objects around a
known course. This is very useful for tracking the LEAD, PACK and TAIL
runners in a marathon. See DR.txt. If DR'ing is messing up, then your PC
clock is not sync'ed to GPS time. Hit alt-S-GPS-TIME command and your PC
MINUTES will be sync'ed to the next raw GPS posit that comes in...
MAP MENU COMMANDS: The following commands pertain to special functions
regarding the map display.
C - CHANGE-MAPLIST: This is the most important map command for a new
user. It allows you to chose the MAPLIST.xxx for your area. APRS
uses this list to select each map based on your cursor location.
Currently APRS is distributed as EAST, SEAST, MIDWEST, CENTRAL,WEST
and EUROPEan versions. The default MAPLIST.USA only points to the
major US and regional maps. NOTE: Each time you use this command,
the cursor will move to the center of the selected MAPLIST.xxx area.
If you want to return the cursor to your current map screen, use
the ESC key which always returns the cursor to the center of the
current display.
A - ALTmap: Displays the map UNDER the current map. Since APRS always
uses the latest map in the MAPLIST.xxx file that meets the current
screen conditions, areas where maps overlap may sometime be
obscured. This command displays the next higher map in the list.
B - Borders: Shows borders of all MAPS in the MAPLIST.xxx file. You
must use F3 and F4 to select the size maps to display. If a map
border appears, but the map does not come up as you zooom into it,
then the MAP file is listed too early in the MAPLIST and a later map
overlaps its area. If the map is missing, APRS will BEEP. If the
Map file exists but its border does not show up, then the file is
not listed in the MAPLIST.xxx file.
F - Toggle Features on/off such as Boundaries, Headings, Roads, Calls,
Waterways, etc. ALL features can also be turned on/off at once.
This is useful for slow 8088 PCs where turning off all features
still shows the relative positions of stations but without taking
the 20 seconds required to draw all the map features.
H - Hierarchy: This is an improvement on the BORDERS command since it
colors in the maps in the same sequence as they are listed in the
MAPLIST.xxx file. The overlapping colors show the effect of the
sequence of this list. Look carefully and you can figure out
overlap and out-of-order problems.
L - Locks the current map to defeat the normal APRS auto-map selection.
Useful to avoid interrupting your current map if your cursor gets over
on another map during a special event.
P - PLOTS. Select from a number of different plots:
CAP - Overlays Civil Air Patrol search-and-rescue grids
GdSquare - Displays Maidenhead grid squares
DF - Displays Signal strength rings around stations reporting
signal strength on a fox/jammer. Stronger signals are
brighter red and null reports are black circles.
POWER - Displays range rings around stations showing an estimate
of their radio horizon based on their transmitter power,
height above average terrain, antenna gain and favored
direction. Defaults for non reporting stations are
10 watts, 20 feet, and 3dB gain, omni.
RANGE - Displays Range Rings at 1, 3/4, 1/2 and 1/4 of the given
range scale. The great circle range and bearing from the
center to the position of the cursor is also shown.
HEARD - Displays only those DF stations reporting a signal strength
on a hidden transmitter. See NOT-HEARD
NOT-HEARD- Displays all DF stations reporting NO signal on the fox.
Separate HEARD and NOT-HEARD commands are needed on B/W
displays where color cannot be used to distinguish the
two mutually exclusive types of DF plots.
MESSAGES: There are three types of messages in APRS. The first is
simply your one-line status BEACON. New BEACONS (changed) are highlighted
in green at the bottom of all screens to show a change in status and are
added to the ALL and LATEST lists. These beacons are perfect for alerting
the net to your current status. Secondly, APRS implements a one line
message capability between operators. Each line is ACKed when received
by the other station. Multiple lines can be buffered up for eventual
delivery. Finally, any station can sent a multi-line BULLETIN to all
stations. See BULLETINS page and the SEND command.
MESSAGE COMMANDS:
B - Displays accumulated bulletins. To erase old bulletins, use the
alt-E key. Currently active bulletins will be re-accumulated if a
station is still transmitting them.
R - READ MESSAGES - Displays the status of your incomming and outgoing
messages. Whenever there is any change, such as an incoming message
line or an ACK to one of your outgoing lines, the screen will appear.
K - KILL incoming message lines. K key kills one line at a time.
E - ERASE outgoing lines. E key erases one outgoing line at a time.
First it erases *ACKed* messages, and then erases other lines.
Finally it will erase outgoing BLN lines.
T - TRAFFIC - Displays the last 23 lines of message traffic monitored
between other stations.
S - SEND MESSAGE - Pre-loads the call of the last station you sent to.
Enter a new call for a new station. To abort, just hit ENTER. If
you have hooked a station, then that stations CALL will be pre-loaded.
F2- For REPLYING. F2 pre-loads the callsign of the last msg received.
COPY - For single key ops while mobile, you may copy a previous message
to a new station by entering a single digit line number instead of
message text. The nth outgoing message will be copied to
this new station. To allow you to load "canned" messages you may
send mesages to MSG, and they will NOT be transmitted, but are
available for copying to new messages. THese combined features make
it easy to reply to messages while mobile with only 3 key strokes;
F2, then the message number, then ENTER...
VIA - You can separately route a message via a different digi path than
your normal APRS UNPROTO path by placing a /XX on the end of the TO
call. APRS will then attempt to use that two letter DIGIpath for
that message line. See OPS-DIGI command. This alt-path will get
your message out, but remember that any incomming messages TO YOU
will only get ACKS via your normal UNPROTO defalt path. See
TROUBLE.txt under NO-ACKS.
NOTE: The channel effeciency of APRS TALK messages are no better than
normal connected packets since they also require ACK's. Intense
real-time rag-chews on a busy APRS frequency should be done without
digipeaters or with only the exact path specified; See the OPS-DIGI
command below, for a shortcut for rapidly changing your digi path.
The more effecient way to keyboard is to just use the OPS-COMM command
and use your TNC to connect to the other station using normal packet
over the most direct path. The other operator MUST be at his keyboard,
though, because APRS will time-out, erase his screen, and dump him
back into APRS after 3 minutes of inactivity.
ACKS: When your MSG is acknowledged, the word *ACK* will be over printed
on the outgoing MSG line. Unlike normal packet, APRS does not compute
the return path for an ACK. Each station must set his outgoing VIA
path so that his packets (including ACKs) get back to all stations in
the net. On the 2nd DUPE of an incoming message, APRS will warn you
that the other station is probably not getting your ACKS! APRS
will then wait 30 seconds and repeat the latest ACK once to provide a
better throughput on poor (HF and multi-digipeater) paths.
S - SEND BULLETIN. This is the same as the SEND command, but you simply
send the message to BLN# instead of a callsign. The # indicates which
line of the bulletin it is (1 to 9). All APRS stations will grab and
sort these Bulletins onto their BULLETINS page. Since no one ACKS
these messages, they are transmitted at the normal APRS decaying
perodicity, but unlike normal APRS beacons which settle out at once
every 20 minutes, these BULLETINS will continue to decay forever. To
send a bulletin that will stop decaying and settle out to about every
20 minutes, use a letter character instead of a Numeral for the BLN#.
You can update or change lines, just be sending a new one with the
same BLN number. ERASE the old one tho, or you will be sending both!
FILES MENU: This menu has all commands dealing with files.
A - APPEND - This will permit you to load a BACKUP file without losing
all the stations that are already in your P and L lists. If the same
calls are in the appended file as are already in memory, there will
be numerous dupes that should be manually deleted. Also, APPEND does
not append any LOG or WHEN-HEARD data.
D - DOS Shell - You must be in the APRS directory before you EXIT back.
L - LOADs a backup file. The file named BACKUP which is saved every time
you quit APRS, can be reloaded with just the initial B. I save a
different file for each packet frequency that I monitor.
O - ORDER (SORT) THE L and P LISTs - Moves older stations towards page
1 of each list, and the most recent stations to the end. This is
useful when the lists begin to fill, so that older stations will
be scrolled off to make room for new stations at the end.
S - SAVE the current situation in a file. If any filename other than
the BACKUP default is entered, then APRS will also automatically
save a LOG and Track HIStory file. If you select NONE as a file
name, then nothing will be saved. This keeps you from writing a
new BACKUP file over an older one if needed.
R - REPLAY. Allows you to replay track history files of past events
or any of the automatically saved track histories after they have
been saved from memory. See details under TRACK HISTOREIS in this
file, or in the overall APRS.DOC file. ALthough only .HST files
are shown, you can also replay .BK files from the BAKS directory
by just adding the .BK extension.
OPERATIONS MENU:
C - COMMS - This commmand allows you to disable APRS and talk straight
through to your TNC or GPS/WX/DF COMM port. Use it to establish a
direct CONNECTION. This is useful for connecting to another APRS
station's internal TNC mailbox to leave a message if he is not on line
with APRS. Do NOT use this for sending traffic, because if there is
no operator present at the receiving station, it will time out in
3 minutes, and all the packets that you sent him will disappear as
APRS re-takes control. Also permits you to monitor your other COM
port hooked up to GPS or WX. The F8 key will toggle your HSP
switch for looking at the output of your GPS.
D - DIGIPEATER PATHS - You can save up to 12 different paths for rapid
recall. Either enter a two letter path abbreviation, or choose one
of the four other single letter comands. S-Save will allow you to
enter a TWO letter path name followed by VIA and a list of digipeaters
to use for that path. The L key will display a list of already saved
paths. The A-ALTernate command will allow you to set up an alternate
path for all your posits and beacons as some percentage of your normal
UNPROTO path. The ALTpath and percentage are shown on the CONTROLS
status line (TAB). All of these options allow you to tailor your path
for your immediatel operational needs. When you are in QSO with one
station in particular, use OPS-DIGI-xx to choose the minimum path (xx)
to that station to minimize QRM on the channel. Also these path names
can be used to specificaly route individual SEND message lines. Use
this feature with discretion, since APRS must allow at least 5 seconds
to change the path each time it transmits...
F - FIND - This command allows you to find a callsign or a gridsquare. If
you enter the first character as a [, then APRS will asume the entry is
for a grid square. This command works on the MAP, and P and L lists.
Q - QUERY - This command sends out an APRS query packet (in about 5 secs)
asking all stations to respond with all of their BEACONS, POSITS,
OBJECTS, and MESSAGES sometime in the next 2 minutes. This command
is AUTOMATICALLY sent when a NEWUSER starts up APRS. It is not sent
for registered users with a CONFIG file. This helps cut down un-
necessary Queries and the resulting QRM. The QUERY command includes
a RANGE around the location of your cursor, so you can query a
specific area of interest without querying the whole net. You can
Query a single APRS station by so indicating at the QUERY prompt.
P - PING - Sends out a ping packet. If the packet is digipeated by your
selected VIA path, you will see it monitored on the bottom line of
your display. This lets you know that your station is transmitting
and that the digipeater in your selected VIA path responded.
U - UNPROTO Used to set up your outgoing digipeater path. (IMPORTANT!)
If you have not selected a digipeater that covers your APRS net, then
your packets and acks will never get to the other stations on freq
even though you see them fine. YOU MUST SET YOUR VIA PATH TO COVER
your intended APRS AREA by selecting an appropriate digipeater path!
APRS will warn you if another station does not appear to be getting
your message ACKs. Use the OPS-DIGI command to save favorite,
frequently used paths.
INPUTS MENU: Lets you ADD objects to the map, or input data on your station.
Any station may ADD an object on the map for display at all stations. Once
on the screen, the object is listed in the P-list with a (+) symbol. This
means it will be transmitted by your station. You can stop UPLINKING each
object by hooking it on the P-list and toggle the U key. Un validated users
are limited to uplinking only one object. If you delete the object from your
screen, or toggled off the UPLINK, it still remains on all screens in the
network until each individual operator deletes it. To remove it from all
screens, you can kill an OBJECT instead of deleting it. Your station will
continue to transmit the object, but with a special KILL mark on it. It will
disappear from all maps, but it will REMAIN in everyone's PList. If an
object has not been updated in over two hours, it fades to a dark gray color.
In some of these commands, you are prompted for the LAT/LONG of the object.
APRS pre-loads this prompt with the LAT/LONG of the cursor. If that position
is correct, just hit ENTER. TO change these values, just type in a new value
using as few characters as are needed to give the resolution you need. But
you MUST always type the required LEADING ZEROS in longitudes below 100 deg.
A - ADD a new object to the screen at the current cursor location. You
are prompted for all pertinent information. There are over 50 symbols
that can be used to display the object. Use the F1-SYMBOLS command to
see the symbols available.
D - DIRECTION FINDING: This command allows you to enter a beam heading or
a signal strength report for your own station during direction finding
events. A zero (0) bearing indicates a signal strength report.
Use 360 degrees for North.
M - MyPOSIT: Selects the current cursor position for your location.
This makes it easy for you to manually update your position to the
net. (you only need GPS if you are lost!
P - POWER: Used to enter your transmitter power, height above average
terain, antenna gain, and directivity for plotting your radio range.
S - SAVE: This command saves a copy of your present posit as an OBJect.
This is useful for marking special locations while you drive such
as DF fixes.
U - UPLINK: Identical to the SAVE command, but the object is marked for
uplinking to the net.
CONTROLS: The C command displays the control panel at the bottom of the
screen. This two line panel shows the status of both the SETUP and the
CONTROLS. The CONTROLS functions toggle on/off various functions, and show
your validation status and your VIA path. Items in lower case are OFF and
upper case are ON. Use the TAB key to get this display:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VAL | TNC | Scrnsvr | 15 | GFL| JUNK | 30/600 |dgps| RELAY |XX50| USA |BEEP|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
XMT | LOG | UP | DR | cw | PFL| BCNS | VHF |FADE| VIA DIGI-1,DIGI-2 |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
B - BANDS. Select HF, VHF or 2-port for KAM's. In 2 port mode, the VHF or
HF is still the primary band, but a duplicate of all transmissions is
made on the other band. For non-dual port TNC's, this command still
sets up the proper HF or VHF unproto paths and timing. For KAM's the
ALIAS is set to ECHO/RELAY (or ECHO/WIDE if WIDE is selected)
D - Dead Reckoning ON/OFF
F = FILTERS. Toggle on/off various filters on the data:
BCNS - Normaly APRS only monitors UI BEACONS
OTHER - With OTHER set on, then APRS looks at ALL packets
FADE - on/off the fade-to-gray for contacts over 2 hours old.
When reloading backup files of past events, FADE is turned
OFF, but after 2 hours, FADE will automatically come back on.
GDinTO- Parses all packets for possible GridSq in the TO address
This filter is always set in MScat, SPACE and GdSq modes
HF - Ignores all packets from HF with GATE in their unproto path
JUNK - Will not display any packet on the 25th line that has
embedded control characters. THis keeps the map from scrolling
on junk from BBS's and NODES. But it slows processging, since
every single character must be checked.
POSITIONS - This filter is normally ON to ignore the random 100 yd
error introduced by GPS. Any posit within +/- of .04 minutes
is NOT saved to the log file. If the filter is OFF, then all
new posits are logged except for EXACT dupes.
ALSO when the 80 yard filter is off, this ENABLES the automatic saves
of all WX and DF reports to the HST files which is useful for later
trend analysis.
G - LOG toggles on and off the automatic logging of track histories to
file. Default is OFF to keep from filling up your LOGS directory.
When ON, and after 150 position reports, a file is automatically saved
and memory is cleared for further accumulation. If off, the 150
reports are retained in memory until you QUIT.
K - Km/M. This command toggles between MAP ranges in Nautical miles or
Kilometers. (the MAPS-PLOTS-RANGE command displays in STATUTE miles)
U - UPLINK ENABLE - When on, your objects marked for uplinking, will be
uplinked to all stations in the net.
X - XMT ON/OFF - disables routine transmitting from your station. This is
good for stations monitoring an event, but not actively participating.
It keeps their routine beacons off the frequency. Even if XMT is off,
the X key will still force a one time transmission of your BCN, POS, OBJ,
and MSG packets and your station will still ACK incoming messages.
W - CW - In normal mode, if CW is on, then ALL NEW BEACONS will be sent to
you in CW. In DX mode, CW is always on, although it can be silenced by
using the SETUP menu to turn BEEPS off. If FREQS is turned on, then
the operating frequency as well as the callsign will be sounded out in
DX mode. Other CW functions:
E - Enable D - Disable F - FREQs on S - Set speed T - Test
Lines to you are sounded out in CW if you are not near your CRT. Also
permits changing speed and selecting Full calls in DX mode. The value
of 15 on the SETUP CONTROLS panel shows the default CW speed.
ALTERNATE SETUP MENU:
The SETUP menu (alt-S) has several commands plus three major sub-menus,
GPS, MODES, and OTHER. The status of many of the SETUP options are
displayed as the top line of the CONTROLS panel:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VAL | TNC | Scrnsvr | 15 | GFL| JUNK | 30/600 |dgps| MYA RELAY | APR |BEEP|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
XMT | LOG | UP | DR | cw | PFL| BCNS | VHF |FADE| VIA DIGI-1,DIGI-2 |
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P - POSrate - This command is used to set both the on-screen and on-air
periodicity for WX, DF and GPS reports. The Refresh rate sets
how often the interface is sampled just to update the data on your
screen, and the POSrate value determines how often it is transmitted.
S - SAVE CONFIG FILE - Saves the current map size and location as well as
the state of HF/VHF, and your digipeater path. You will be prompted for
your Validation number the first time you do a CONFIG file save. If you
have chosen any of the GPS, DF or WX options, you will also be prompted
for your auxilliary registration number as well. You can save each CFIG
file with an optional 3 character file extension so that you can call
them up quickly for different applications at the DOS prompt. You
invoke the optional files with a /EXT switch when you give DOS the
APRSxxx command. IE: C:> APRS406/MOB would load the CFIG406.MOB file
which you saved when you operated MOBile. etc
T - TNCsetup - sends out TNC commands to setup the TNC for APRS. Usually
initialized when you start, but can be done at any time, if your TNC
loses power, or needs to be reset to APRS defaults. These commands
may be customized for your TNC in the InitTAPR.TNC or InitAEA.TNC
SYSTEM files. When you QUIT APRS, it restores any custom commands
that you might list in RESTORE.TNC file.
W - WIDE Permits an APRS station to override the normal APRS default
ALIAS of RELAY and set it to the generic WIDE area alias so he can
serve as a temporary WIDE digi. Do this only with the concurrence
of others on Frequency.
SETUP-GPS MENU
ARNAV - Configures HSP or SPM mode for ARNAV aircraft data format
or for receiving ARNAV reports over the air.
SPM - Single Port Mode (See GPS.txt)
HSP - Hardware single port mode (see GPS.txt)
DFSP - DF Single Port mode is IN THE OTHER MENU. No room for it hr
KLYNAS - Sets up APRS to work with STREETS-ON-DISK (Klynas Engineering)
NMEA - Toggles on the saving of all NMEA data to a LOGS\NMEAxxx file
OFFGPS - Used to toggle off SPM or HSP without having to restart APRS.
TIME-SYNC - Sync's PC clock to the next GPS report received. This
command only sync's to the MINUTE. Hours are not matched. Be careful,
since stand-alone PACCOMM TNC trackers first store the GPS data and then
later transmit it based on an internal timer, the actual GPS data
transmitted may not be real-time. This is true if the GPS loses lock or
becomes inoperative, (car parked under a tree) then the TNC continues to
send the same "old" fix. If you sync to one of these, you are syncing to
"old" time!
SETUP-OTHER MENU:
B - BEEPS Toggles nuisance BEEPS (and CW in DX mode) on and off.
D - DFSP Toggles on and off the DF single port mode
M - MAGnetic Variation. Set for your area if you will be using
magnetic DF bearings or headings.
S - SCREENSAVER toggles on/off
Z - ZONE, allows you to change your timezone offset
G - GAME mode. For playing chess. Modifies APRS as follows:
* all packets are addressed to GAME instead of APRS
* Only your LAST object is UPLINKED
* The HOOK-INS key bypasses all normal OBJ prompts
* The comment field of an uplinked object contains the move #
* Parses received GAME objects for a move number
* The move number is displayed on the map display
SETUP-MODES MENU:
N - alt-NET mode. Allows a special function net to operate on the
APRS frequency with other stations, but WITHOUT their packets
cluttering up everyone elses screens. Anyone can monitor an ALTNET
by selecting this mode, OR by using the CONTROLS-FILTERS-OTHER
command to enable monitoring of all packets on frequency. The alt-
NET command modifies APRS as follows:
* Causes APRS to send packets to ALTNET vice APRS
* ONLY looks for ALTNET packets on receive
D - DX mode - Sets up APRS to display information for DX cluster
users. See DX.txt.
P - sPecial. Sets up a special event net on a common APRS frequency
so that the special event members only see each other without
being bothered by other traffic on the channel. All other APRS
users, however, DO see all traffic of the special event. This mode
modifies APRS as follows:
* Sets your transmit address to SPCL vice APRS
* Sets your APRS to ignore all packets EXCEPT those to SPCL.
* Note, normal APRS always sees APRS AND SPCL packets.
M - MASTER. Sets up your PC to NO LONGER ignore its OWN packets.
This is needed if several other PC's (SLAVES using the same call)
are all hooked up to the same TNC. A very powerful tool for use
in a multi-PC environment. See OPS.txt.
V - slaVe. Sets up your PC for slave mode so that multiple slave
PCs can share a single TNC and radio such as in an EOC. See OPS.txt
S - SPACE. Sets up for sending and recording minimum length GdSq
position reports via SAREX. See SPACE.txt
T - MeTeor scaTTer. Sets up for sending minimum length GdSq reports
at a MAXIMUM transmit duty cycle. See METEOR.txt
WEATHER COMMANDS: APRS displays weather stations as blue circles with
a white line showing the wind speed and direction. Remember that APRS uses
360 degrees for North and assumes that 000 means no direction information is
available. Under the CONTROLs menu, the FILTER command allows you to disable
the POSITION FILTER so that WX reports will be saved to track history files
for trend analysis. Other WX commands under the WEATHER MENU:
A - ALARMS - allows the user to set alarm values on Wind, High and Low temps
and rain. If a WX report comes in that exceeds these values within the
range of your station, the station is marked on the map in RED and the
map is re-centered to that location. An alarm BEEPS and the station is
also marked with an ALARM on the P-list. To silence the alarm, you can
either hook/un-hook the reporting station on the map (ENTER-ENTER), or
use the WX-ALARM-CLEAR command. If your station has the automatic U-II
WX interface, and your conditions exceed your alarm limits, then your
WX reporting period is reset to the minimum POSrate value, for more
frequent reporting.
E - Enter a manual weather report. The word (manual) will be added at the
end of the report (which prevents APRS from its normal updating of the
Date-Time each time it is transmitted).
G - GET NWS SITES - Loads all National Weather Service sites on the present
map display into the P-list. This is so that an hourly WX data file
can be loaded for all all NWS sites listed.
J - Use the J command to select Just Weather stations for display.
L - LOAD WX DATA from a designated file for NWS hourly weather advisories
for each NWS station listed in both the data file and already in your
P-list. Use the G command to pre-load your P-list with the NWS
stations near you.
N - NEXT WX STATION - Highlights the next weather station in turn and
displays the WX conditions in the weather box at the top of the screen,
and circles the station on the map for identification. The Weather box
at the top of the screen will automatically be updated everytime the
selected WX station sends out a WX report.
Q - WEATHER QUERY - Same as QUERY, but only weather stations respond.
TRACKING and TRACK HISTORIES - All position reports are saved to memory and
eventually to file for subsequent replay. Each new position report is checked
against the last position from that unit and the current values. If the
POSITION filter is ON (default) then a new position will not be saved to
track history unless movement is more than about 80 yards. This is to reduce
the number of track points for non-moving stations saved in the file. The 80
yard circle allows for most of the randomness of GPS Selective Availability
so that parked vehicles do not generate a lot of packets. If the filter is
OFF, then only a single digit change in a position will generate a new
position report. ALso, when the filter is off, ALL WX and DF reports are
saved to file. This makes it possible to save a DF event, or to keep
historical WX data. There are several commands related to station tracking:
T - TRACK - a subcommand on the P-list display which allows you to
designate a station for tracking. If TRACK is on, then the map will
always re-center on the selected station whenever it approaches a map
edge. This re-centering anticipates the station's movements and
recenter's the map to give the best next view.
A - ALARM - a subcommand on the P-list which allows you to set
an alarm on a given station. If that station moves, APRS will beep and
will re-center the map to track that station. The same filter as used
on the P-list is also used here so that the randomness of Selective
Availability does not unnecessarily trigger this alarm. You can silence
the beeping by UNHOOKING the station, or by deselecting the ALARM
function. Only one ALARM can be set at a time. This alarm is also
used as a marker on any WX station reporting conditions exceeding your preset
alarm values. But since the WX station does not move, the Alarm will
not go off again, unless the WX station moves!
M - MOVE - A subcommand on the P list for moving a station. Similar to
just hooking it with the ENTER key, but is the only way to move an
object or station with 00000/00000 for LAT/LONG.
S - SAVE FILES - On the FILES MENU, this command forces a save of a BACKUP
a BLxxxxxx,LOG and a TKxxxxxx.HST file. If you are in the field, and
may possibly lose power, do a SAVE now and then, to be sure you save
all track histories. After the event, you can use a DOS text editor
to append all the track history files together for the one event.
When you Quit APRS, ONLY a Backup file is saved, the LOG and TRACK
data are LOST! If, however, you give the BACKUP file any OTHER name,
then a LOG and TK.HST file ARE saved when you quit.
REPLAY - Found in both the FILES and OPERATIONS MENUS. Track histories are
retained in memory for instant replay up to 150 points. When memory is
full, a file is automatically saved and memory cleared for more points.
If less than 150 points are in memory, you MUST MANUALLY force a save
BEFORE exiting the program or the track history points in memory will
be lost! During Replay several commands are useful to center the
screen on the moving object, change the speed of replay and zoom in or
out, etc. The map will AUTOTRACK a moving station if only one station
is indicated in the user response to the TRACK-which-station prompt.
DIRECTION FINDING: APRS can instantly traingulate fixes from many reporting
packet stations, and even show overlapping signal strength contours from
stations with OMNI antennas. This new OMNI feature is a tremendous advantage,
since it permits the 95% of HAMs who do not have beams or DF gear to partici-
pate in FOX hunts. The traditional beam-heading reports can either be
automatic from the N7LUE or DSI Doppler serial interfaces, or manual from
other APRS stations. Even stations reporting a beam haeding that are not APRS
equipped, can be placed on the map by any APRS station using the INPUT-ADD
command and be given a beam heading. APRS assumes that any station or object
using the TRIANGLE symbol is a DF station and will plot a line of bearing if
given. Note that APRS uses 360 degrees as North and assumes 000 means no
direction information available. A quality of 8 indicates an excellent fix.
The main DF command is in the OPERATIONS menu. For more info, see DF.txt.
SIGNAL STRENGTH - By entering a 0 as a beam heading (APRS uses 360 degrees
for due north), APRS will assume the report is a signal strength
report and will prompt you for your antenna height above average
terrain and antenna gain. To see the overlapping signal strength
contours on the map, use the MAP-RINGS-DF command. APRS will plot
colored circles around each DF report who's brightness is directly,
and who's radius is inversly proportional to signal strength. Note
that you MUST UNDERSTAND what HEIGHT-ABOVE-AVERAGE-TERRAIN means, for
this to be useful. If you are getting voice reports, be sure the
person is giving a true assessment of his HAAT in the general area.
Or at least in the general direction where the FOX is suspected.
BEARING - If you enter any other bearing, APRS will prompt you for the
quality of the fix, and then will plot the bearing from your station.
heading for your station. If you are running the WX station option,
it will be dissabled while the DF report is operative. You may also
specify a Quality factor 1-8. The more dotted the line is, the less
its quality.
FADE-CIRCLE TECHNIQUE - This is a technique used by pilots for locating
emergency beacons. It assumes that for any given mobile receiver,
there is a unique circle around the transmitter where the signal fades
out. All the mobile station has to do is plot three points anywhere
where the transmitter signal just fades in or fades out. These three
points define a circle with the transmitter at the center! APRS
implements this technique with single keystroke operations. Each time
you press F5, a Fade point is entered on the map.