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README.1ST
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1994-02-14
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WELCOME NEW REGISTERED USER! ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
NOTES: New in version 3.11 is a track history file AUTODF.HST which can be
replayed to see the capabilities of APRS with the N7LUE Doppler DF interface.
Try it! Since the 1700 mile HF/GPS mobile trip over XMAS, stations all over
the country are operating on the HF freqs below. Use the Alt-R command to
Replay the XMAS93.HST and the 93BLOCK1.HST files to see how well HF can be
used for tracking!
RV AND MOBILE HF NET: We have begun a nation wide Boat, RV and APRS position
reporting net on HF using 7.085 and 10.151 MHz LSB. (Yes this is in the band!
10.151 MHz - 1700 Hz audio modulation is 10.149.3 RF energy. This is the same
frequency as saying 10.147.6 USB, but the convention on HF is to specify packet
frequencies using the LSB convention to be compatible with everyone else on the
band) If you run an AEA or other TNC that uses 2210 HZ instead of 1700 Hz
center tones, then tune 510 Hz higher on LSB and lower on USB. We are trying
to get the WaterWay net to start using APRS on 10.151, so its time to start
looking for a playing freq on 20 meters for new users that just want to play.
BBS ADDRESS: My BBS address is WB4APR @ WB3V.MD. I cannot respond to tons of
traffic, but will try to keep up... Do feel free to send me any comments o
r suggestions. Try to identify a local area APRS point of contact for your
state. I can keep him informed, and he will inturn, share info in your state.
START HERE!!!: You should read all of the following README files on the disk:
README.1st - This file
README.NOW - Tells you how to unzip the APRS distribution disk
README.NEW - Tells of important changes in the latest versions
README.APR - General description and overview of APRS
README.BBS - Suggestions to BBS SYSOPS on how to use APRS
README.CD - Using MAPFIX to generate 64 mile maps from USGS CD ROM
README.DF - Information on DFing and the new V 3.0 Doppler interface!
README.DIG - Using DIGITIZERS to draw your own maps with MAPFIX.bas prgm!
README.DUM - Info on APRS formats so you can use DUMb terminals and TNCs
README.GPS - Interfacing a Magellian or Motorola GPS to a stand-alone TNC
README.HF - Notes on the APRS HF tracking network
README.HLP - Describes each of the APRS commands in detail
README.MAP - Detailed information on how to build your own maps
README.MCM - Lessons learned at the Marine Corps Marathon
README.OPS - Suggestions on routine APRS operations
README.QIK - A quick summary of demonstrations and replays to impress you.
README.RPT - A discussion on ways to use digipeaters to extend an APRS net
README.SAT - Suggested use of APRS for plotting satellite packet stationns
README.SYM - A table of APRS symbols and the symbol designator
README.TNC - My thoughts on how TNC code should support APRS
README.WX - Info on using APRS for displaying weather information
README.WWN - Suggested use of APRS to support the WaterWay Net
Next you should customize APRS to automatically come up centered on your
favorite map screen. If you are a registered user, first use the V command to
validate your callsign. Once this is done, the yellow control panel will show
the VALID box. Now set up the map to your center of activity. Either your
home, or a WIDE area APRS digipeater. Next set your desired digipeater path
using the Ctrl-V VIA command. Finally, use ALT-C to save your configuration.
From then on, APRS will always come up ready to go on your chosen map area.
Once you have zoomed into your neighborhood, non-registered users can use the
Ctrl-S command to SAVE a backup file of their current situation. When they
start up APRS, after logging on, they simply use Ctrl-L to LOAD that backup
file to bring up the neighborhood map. Then they move the cursor and place
themselves on the map in the right place. Europeans, or non US hams may want
to change the default map from the initial USA map, to something closer to
home. The initial map is determined by the default LAT/LONG and RANGE given
in the first three lines of the MAPLIST.APR file. Without a config file, APRS
always starts up at this location and scale. Obviously the locataion in Kansas
was chosen so that the whole US came up first.
MAPS! - I will try to generate large area maps for regions where there is APRS
activity. And I will do custom maps for anywhere from $80 to $120 depending
on complexity and my wife's honey-do list. It is really quite simple to draw
a map. Using just a state Highway map, it should only take you an evening to
enter all of the interstate roads and the important four-lanes; and another
evening if you have to do a lot of detail coast line or rivers. Fortunately,
everyone in the state can use the results of your efforts! I find that with
just the interstate highways and the important four-lane roads, you have a
perfectly useable map for most VHF packet operations. You only need to draw
more detail maps for special events or applications.
PACKET POSITIONS ON ALL FREQS: Finally, encourage all BBS's, NODES, Servers,
and stations in your area, to start placing their LAT/LONG in their beacon text
using the format: BT !DDMM.xxN/DDDMM.xxW/....comments. As of version 2.05,
APRS will also plot the positions of stations reporting by Grid Square
surrounded by brackets [FM19xy]. And as of version 2.08, the !LAT/LONG can be
anywhere in the BText. This permits TheNET Nodes to add it to the end of their
ID Beacons. If all packet stations get in that habit, then APRS will
automatically plot a map of packet activity on any frequency!
STAND-ALONE-GPS-TRACKERS: All PACCOM TNC's with version 3.1 firmware include
a GPS ON command. This command tells the TNC to look on the serial port for
GPS data (NMEA-0183 format) and take the GPS position information and place it
in the TNC BText. Then the TNC will transmit that Position every time it
sends a BText. Note that this is a dedicated application, and the TNC no
no longer operates as a normal TNC for APRS two-way comms.
MORE READING: For more info on APRS, see page 92 of July and page 11 of the
August QST and the Dec issue of CQ. Also get the February 1994 issue of QEX
for the article on Interfacing GPS to packet. Also see the front page of the
May 1993 issue of the AMSAT journal (but the registration information is
incorrect there).