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Welcome to the APRS (Automatic
Position Reporting System) Page, here you will find general APRS information and for the Omaha Metro area and Council Bluffs.
What is Automatic Position Reporting System, or APRS? It is a multifaceted system for use with packet radio by Hams, it allows the monitoring of real time geographical information such as the position of vehicles, the status of weather, radio direction finding and much much more. It involves mapping, GPS tracking, packet radio, etc. It is a VERY interesting facet of packet radio and has much to offer most everyone including non-hams that just want to watch over the internet. It was developed by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR APRS is different from regular packet in four ways. First by the integration of maps and other data displays to organize and display data, second, by using a one-to-many protocol to update everyone in real time, third, by using generic digipeating so that prior knowledge of the network is not required, and FORTH, since 1997, a worldwide transparent internet backbone, linking everyone worldwide. APRS turns packet radio into a real-time tactical communications and display system for emergencies and public service applications (and global communications). APRS provides universal connectivity
to all stations by avoiding the complexity and limitations of a connected
network. It permits any number of stations to exchange data just like voice
users would on a voice net. Any station that has information to contribute
simply sends it, and all stations receive it and log it. Secondly, APRS
recognizes that one of the greatest real-time needs at any special event or
emergency is the tracking of key assets. Where is the Event Leader? Where are
the emergency vehicles? What's the Weather at various points in the County? To
answer these questions, APRS is a full featured automatic vehicle location and
status reporting system too. What does APRS offer?* Live, simple single line text messaging with minimal bandwidth usage and the ability to support more than two people in the same conversation * An on screen map showing the location (and if appropriate) the speed and direction of amateur stations in an area. The area could be be very local and show individual streets, or zoomed out to show the whole world. * Weather information is available from local stations often via automated uploading * Non-radio station objects of general interest can be placed on everyone s map by any station * DX conditions make APRS more exciting (whereas regular packet become less efficient if signals propagate well) * For mobile stations APRS offers an interesting add-on that need not (!) distract the driver but can create a point of interest for other users, and a talking point for new people to the hobby. Internet gating makes long distance messaging possible from handheld radios and lets you watch the activity over the internet. Radio direction finding improves the use of APRS in emergency network co-ordination.
APRS has the ability to provide an emergency beacon that can be used when a person is in trouble. The emergency beacon is similar to a PAN or SOS voice call. When an emergency beacon is received by other APRS station, it alerts the operator and provide the station with the location information associated with the transmission of the beacon. If the receiving station is running an APRS enabled Kenwood hand held or mobile radio the radio will produce an audible alarm and display the bearing of the station sending the emergency beacon. If an emergency beacon is received by an APRS home station the station display may automatically zoom into the emergency beacons location and sound a alarm. As the APRS system is linked international it is possible that a local emergency beacon will trigger thousands of APRS station alarms around the globe.
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