Automatic Packet Reporting System

Here is a basic video about APRS by KB9VBR Antennas



Different radios need to be set up differently for APRS. I found out if you have a Anytone, or Alinco (not all models) they are similar The Alinco is basically a clone of the Anytone. These videos on YouTube are for the Anytone, so if you have a Alinco, you should be fine following those videos, (all those the CPS's are different GUIs but they are built the same.

APRS is in all parts of the world, different counties have different frequencies. In the US, Mexico & Canada we use a frequency of 144.390. With using digital APRS and you want to have your radio becon itself, use the talk group of 310999. The below videos will tell you how to set up you radio for this. You can also visit APRS.fi to see you and others.

These videos is for the Anytone 878 but can be applied to other radios such as the Alinco DJ-MD5. Please follow your instructions that came with radio for specifics.

Visit APRS.org for more information on APRS and other stuff that is related.
Click Here for the APRS Symbol table. 

---

This is a example of what the APRS settings screen looks like. The screen may look different depending on what CPS you are using.  You have to make sure you go under Tool > Options > abnd select APRS and GPS for the APRS screen to show.

---

SYMBOL UPGRADE 2014: We are beginning a new update process for the APRS symbol set. In May 2014, we added many new symbols for ships and aircraft to include submarines, torpedoes, Drones and Missiles, etc. In addition, Hessu, the author of APRS.FI announced at Dayton his effort to re-draw all symbols in a vector format so that they can be zoomed and expanded. Andrew of YAAC has expanded his symbols to include many of these overlay symbols. (more when available)... The original APRS dos symbol set (shown several paragraphs below with black background) consisted of about 92 primary symbols and 92 alternates. Those symbols each had at least 8 color atributes for instant recognition of their immediate state. Unfortunately, the color atributes were dropped in many clients when they began to use Windows icons instead of rendered symbols. Those Windows ICONS used for many years are shown here:



OVERLAYS: An optional overlay character could be applied over many of the original Alternates (those highlighted in YELLOW. Beginning around 2007 we suggested that the 36 overlay characters could also apply to any of the 92 alternates giving us over 3000 unique symbol opportunities. (See: symbols-new.txt). These would be displayed on all existing clients as an overlay character on the basic alternate symbol, but clients could begin to draw additional unique images to represent these symbol/overlay combinations. Here is an example of how the original "Runner" symbol was expaneded to represent any number of special symbols for humans carrying APRS such as a Hiker, Skier, or with Baby-on-Board (proud parents). Another example is the House symbol expanded to show Power sources such as Battery, geothermal, Hydro, Solar and Wind plus the new Clubhouse symbol. To document these added overlay symbols a new table format was suggested below:

FEMA APRS Symbols:

This set shows the original name and primary and alternate symbol as well as the proposed name change and new alternate base symbol (if needed). In this case the Wallcloud alternate symbol was moved over to a subset of clouds to free up the 36 possible "Human" options. This new symbol set consits of then 92 lines as shown above, each with the definition columns on the left and then a sparse set of columns showing any unique symbols defined for the overlays. These 92 lines are broken up into four blocks just like the original APRS dos listings. That is, the 16 symbols using punctuation, the 16 symbols using the numeral area of the ASCII table, the 32 upper case symbols and the 32 lower case symbols.

For example, now we can send the code for a GREEN, RED or YELLOW flood gauge, or can create a symbol for a water stop if someone came up with a nice graphic.



See the entire APRS symbol list here.

This was taken from APRS.org

With APRS, you can see any station using APRS on APRS.fi or EasyAPRS.

You can change you symbol that is displayed on APRS.fi or EASYAPRS but going to your BrandMeister account and logging in and following: SelfCare > APRS Icon, clicking the box and selecting your icon and make sure you click on SAVE.

RADIO HOME ABOUT CONTACT WEATHER RADIO PROGRAMMING APRS BASICS PI-STAR BASICS DOWNLOADS DMR AND NETS HAM TOOLS LEARN HAM RADIO