Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS)

Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) is an amateur radio based digital communications system for local, tactical, real-time exchange of information among all members of an RF (radio frequency) network, including map based displays for situational awareness.

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 done using the Global Positioning System. APRS is capable of transmitting a wide variety of data including weather reports, short text messages, radio direction finding bearings, telemetry data, and storm forecasts. These reports can be combined with a computer and mapping software to show the transmitted data superimposed on a variety of map displays.

For more information about APRS, Bob Bruninga's website is a good read.

APRS nodes I currently maintain

• N2QDK-1: As of May 30, 2009, the home of APRSALY, an APRS-IS server providing bi-directional Internet Gateway services for Eastern New York State.  Also physically connected to this server which is located in the city of Albany, NY and using the N2QDK-1 SSID is simplex IRLP Node 4592 on 444.400 MHz (PL of 100Hz) and local weather observations as MADIS AS107, CWOP/APRS as N2QDK-1.
  
• N2QDK-2: Home weather station in Webster, NY, reporting via the Internet to MADIS as AS108, CWOP/APRS as N2QDK-2, and via the web as WebsterWeather.com and Weather Underground as KNYWEBST4
• N2QDK-3: Testing... eventually this will be a remote solar-powered weather station and digipeater located at Hoel Pond in the Adirondacks.
• N2QDK-4: Home weather station located in Deer Park, NY, reporting via the Internet to CWOP/APRS-IS as N2QDK-4, and Weather Underground as KNYDEERP3.
• N2QDK-5: Testing... eventually this will be a home weather station and APRS digipeater located in Long Beach, Long Island, New York.
• N2QDK-9: Mobile tracker and temporary/special events digipeater (TEMPn) for my vehicle. Uses a Garmin Nuvi 350 for real-time display of local objects heard via RF, and two-way messaging.
• N2QDK-12: Testing... This is a new APRS tracker project as of October 2008, using extra parts from older APRS projects. It is meant as a portable tracker, to be used for hiking (maybe a dog collar-sized tracker, idea thanks to Vlad).
• N2QDK-15: New as of May 2009, this is an iBCNU APRS client on my iPhone.