1 / 115

Demonstration

Demonstration. WinAPRS Running with TNC. Welcome. FWARC APRS Clinic. Why We Are Here. APRS is a powerful tool for emergency management Readiness requires skilled cadre of Hams Federal Way is not an APRS hotspot. Our Sponsor. Weyerhaeuser Foundation Making WAVEs

xiu
Download Presentation

Demonstration

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Demonstration • WinAPRS Running with TNC

  2. Welcome • FWARC APRS Clinic

  3. Why We Are Here • APRS is a powerful tool for emergency management • Readiness requires skilled cadre of Hams • Federal Way is not an APRS hotspot

  4. Our Sponsor • Weyerhaeuser Foundation • Making WAVEs • Weyerhaeuser Active Volunteer Employees • Grant to FWARC for this activity

  5. CD • WinAPRS, UI View and APRS+SA programs • AGWPE program • WinAPRS map files • Setup information • APRS Spec • Satellite tracker programs

  6. Other Sources of Information • Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR) – http://www.tapr.org • NWAPRS – http://www.nwaprs.org • http://aprs.rutgers.edu • Use Google to search • Books – check what’s available from ARRL

  7. What is APRS • Automatic Position Reporting System • Packet communication protocol for sharing live data on a network in real time • Realtime tactical communications and display system for emergencies and public service applications (APRS Spec)

  8. APRS Features • Maps • Messaging • Objects • Bulletins and announcements • Weather station reporting • DX Cluster reporting • Internet access • Telemetry

  9. History • Invented by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR in 1992 • Devised to facilitate short haul, short duration data transfer – conventional packet was not suitable

  10. History • APRS for DOS was the first program • MacAPRS 1994 by Sproule brothers • WinAPRS is recompiled from MacAPRS • Many other APRS apps since – runs on Windows 3.x, 9x, NT and XP, Mac, Linux, Palm, CE and DOS • GPS adjunct came afterwards

  11. Uses • Passive Fun • Watch the display of many stations • Watch the ISS or PCsat fly by • Watch emergencies in action • Tracking • Find your buddies • Track your teenager • Balloons and rockets

  12. Uses • Telemetry • Balloons and rockets • Post bulletins, event notices and venues • Send email

  13. More Uses • Events • Track the parade Grand Marshal • Track the last marathoner or bike racer • Emergencies • Search and rescue • Disaster information • EOC messaging • Track the fire chief

  14. Still More Uses • Weather monitoring • See wind speeds and temperatures in the area • Report wind damage • Track tornados

  15. Theory • Assumptions • Packet radio • Digipeaters • APRS Protocol • Frequencies • GPS

  16. Assumptions • Radios • Antennas • PC Skills

  17. How does APRS Work? • Some details…

  18. Packet Radio • History • AX.25 protocol was approved by ARRL in 1984 • Came from X.25 protocol (the A is for Amateur) • Primary difference from X.25 is allowance for call signs and for unconnected packets

  19. Packet Radio • Packets • Strings of data bytes called frames • 3 kinds of frames in ordinary packet • Information (I frame) • Supervisory (S frame) • Unnumbered (U frame) • 6 kinds of U frames, one is Unnumbered Information frame • UI frames are used for transmitting data in an unconnected mode

  20. Packet Radio • In packet radio, qso’s are always between ‘connected’ stations • Several qso’s can take place simultaneously on the same frequency • Packet qso’s may be digipeated but by specific stations

  21. How is APRS different from Packet Radio? • Communication is ‘one to many’ • Uses generic digipeating with well-known aliases • Supports intelligent digipeating to reduce network flooding • Uses UI frames for messaging, bulletins and announcements • Provides maps and other features

  22. How APRS uses Packets • Uses the same AX.25 protocol but only a part of it • Uses Unnumbered Information (UI) frames exclusively • Always runs in connectionless mode

  23. How APRS uses Packets • Frames are transmitted without expecting any response • Reception is not guaranteed • Messages work same way but use an ‘ack’ technique

  24. The UI Packet

  25. Destination Address • From the APRS spec…

  26. Destination Address • The adr ‘SPCL’ is to be used for special events. APRS s/w should provide for only showing stations with this adr (but it doesn’t). • Usually just shows the software version. WinAPRS v2.6.1 sets this to APW261

  27. Destination Address • May also contain • MIC-E encoded data • Other unique encoded data • No reason to change this since s/w can’t cope

  28. Source Address • My station call sign

  29. An Intervening Word about Digipeaters • Why do we need them? • Increase coverage • Digipeater versus repeater • Voice repeaters operate in duplex mode • Digipeaters operate in simplex mode • Digipeaters use store and forward technique

  30. Digipeaters • Wide area digipeaters • In this area are usually on a mountaintop • Have good antennas and more power • Operate automatically • Operate all the time

  31. Digipeaters • Relay digipeater • Usually somebody’s home station • Should be able to communicate with a WIDE station • Purpose is to help low powered stations get to the WIDE

  32. Digipeaters • Wide area digipeaters may be known by an alias • Examples: SOMTN, KOPEAK, SEATAC • …or not • Examples: N7OEP-10, K7NWS-10

  33. Digipeaters • Digipeaters respond to certain generic aliases • Relay, used by any station to relay mobiles to a wide • Echo, HF only, same function as Relay • Wide, all high digipeaters • Trace, use call sign substitution to indicate path the packet took • WideN-N, wide digipeating limited to N hops • Gate, HF to VHF connection

  34. Digipeaters • Digipeaters only repeat if their call sign, their unique alias, or a generic alias is in the digi path

  35. Back to the UI Packet -- Digipeater Addresses • Also known as the ‘unproto path’ • Up to 9 addresses • Specific or generic aliases • Specified in s/w configuration • Represents the route you want your packet to follow

  36. Digipeater Addresses • Rules of thumb (see WinAPRS help file) • Don’t use RELAY unless you are a mobile • If you can hit a wide, then include it as the first digi in the string • If you want wide coverage then use WIDE2-2 or WIDE3-3 after a specific WIDE • Example: SOMTN,WIDE2-2

  37. Digipeater Addresses • You can be really specific about the path • Example: SOMTN,KOPEAK,MEGLER would route you down to Seaside, OR area and nowhere else

  38. Data Field

  39. Data Type ID

  40. Types of Data • There are ten main types of APRS Data: • Position • Direction Finding • Objects and Items • Weather • Telemetry

  41. Types of Data • Messages, Bulletins and Announcements • Queries • Responses • Status • Other

  42. Data Example • Position data

  43. Data Extension Example • PHG extension refers to power, height and gain (also directivity) • Height is above ‘average local terrain’ • Form is ‘PHGphgd’

  44. Frequencies • VHF 144.39 • 1200 baud • HF 10.15151 LSB • 300 baud • Satellite • ISS Downlink 145.800, uplink 145.990 • PCsat simplex 145.828 • 1200 baud

  45. Getting on the Air with APRS – What to Buy/Scrounge • Details…

  46. Hardware • Home station requirements • 2 meter radio and antenna • Desktop computer • TNC or soundcard/interface • Mobile station requirements • 2 meter radio and antenna • Variables

  47. Hardware • Mobile variables – the Full Meal Deal • GPS • Laptop • TNC or soundcard/interface or Baycom modem

  48. Hardware • Mobile variables – minimal functionality • No GPS • Laptop • TNC or soundcard/interface

  49. Hardware • Mobile variables – tracking • GPS • No computer • Tracker interface device • Power source for portability

  50. Hardware • What is a sound card interface? • Connects the computer’s sound card i/o to the radio mike and speaker terminals • Provides isolation and attenuation • May provide a VOX capability

More Related