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Shareware Overload Trio 2
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aprs505u.zip
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README.1ST
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1994-06-14
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WELCOME NEW REGISTERED USER! ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
NOTES: Version 5.00 began an all new human interface. It eliminated all the
ctrl/alt characters and went to several sub-menus. In 5.03a APRS now works
with the DSI as well as the N7LUE doppler DF interfaces. Replay the AUTODF.HST
file to see what the potential is for DFing with APRS. Lots of HF mobiles and
boats being tracked with APRS. Tune into the frequencies listed below. Use
the FILES-REPLAY command to replay the XMAS93.HST and the ACADEMY.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 10.1515 MHz LSB. (Yes this is in the band!
10.1515 MHz - 2200 Hz audio modulation is 10.149.3 RF energy. This is the same
frequency as saying 10.147.1 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 a KAM or older MFJ TNC that uses 1700 HZ instead of 2200 Hz
center tones, then tune 510 Hz lower on LSB and higher on USB. We are trying
to get the WaterWay net to start using APRS on 10.1515, so its time to move
new users and chit-chat over to 20m. I suggest using 14.095.8 USB. That will
be 14.096.3 USB if you are using a KAM or older MFJ TNC.
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 or
suggestions, but avoid any traffic in which I may have a pecuniary interest!
Hi Hi! 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.COM - COMMERCIAL APRS to interface with other DELORME/STREETS prgms
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.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 by setting 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 UNPROTO command. Finally, use the ALT-SETUP menu to SAVE your
config file. You will be prompted for your validation number and then asked
for a CONFIG file extension. Normally just select the default of APRS unless
you want to be able to invoke several different CONFIG files... Once you
have saved a config file, APRS will always come up ready to go on your area.
Once you have zoomed into your neighborhood, non-registered users can use the
FILE-SAVE command to SAVE a backup file of their current situation. When they
start up APRS, after logging on, they simply use FILE-LOAD 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 $160 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. (In order to accept
this data in TheNET ID beacons, APRS will accept this position format anywhere
in the ID text. APRS will also plot the positions of stations reporting by
Grid Square surrounded by brackets [FM19xy]. 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 3.2 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 LOCATION TEXT. Then the TNC will transmit that Position at a rate
set by the user! Note that this is a dedicated application, and while the
TNC is in this mode, it longer operates as a normal TNC for APRS two-way
communications. But it sure is an easy way to go GPS mobile!
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).