New to KCGR-RS? This page gets you from "never filed a report" to your first submission. Need the full specifier codes, worked examples, or platform detail? See the Full Reference.
Step 1 — Confirm how you'll file
Your radio setup determines your intake path. Pick whichever you have available:
Step 2 — Identify what you're observing
Match your observation to the closest of the ten standard categories and SPEC- Specifier Codes:
| Object Name | Meaning | Specifier Codes(SPEC) |
|---|---|---|
| KCGR-SHLT | Emergency shelter | CA capacity available NP no pets PP pets ok MO medical only |
| KCGR-MED | Medical facility | ER emergency room UC urgent care PH pharmacy OP open CL closed |
| KCGR-ROAD | Road / bridge status | OP passable CL closed CA caution BR bridge FL flooding TR trees/debris |
| KCGR-H2O | Potable water | DP distribution point BO boil order UK unknown quality |
| KCGR-FOOD | Food / restaurant / grocery | HF hot food GR grocery BT both |
| KCGR-FUEL | Fuel availability | GS gasoline DS diesel PP propane GD gas+diesel AL all three |
| KCGR-PWR | Power / charging / generator | GN generator CH device charging UT utility restored |
| KCGR-CELL | Cell signal location | AT AT&T VZ Verizon TM T-Mobile AL all carriers |
| KCGR-ATM | ATM / financial access | OP operational CL closed LM cash limited |
| KCGR-HW | Health & welfare relay | OP relay available HR hours follow NM no message limit |
KCGR-SHLT and KCGR-FOOD are the broadest containers.poweroutages.us is included on the kcgr page in the lower right.Step 3 — Build your report
ST - STATUS CHOICES produce a green, yellow, red, or gray marker:
Every KCGR report follows the same structure, regardless of platform:
ST SPEC LOCATION DDHHMM
Example: OP GS CAMDEN SUNOCO DEKALB 262130 — fuel open, gasoline, Sunoco on DeKalb St, observed 9:30 PM local on the 26th.
Step 4 — Send it on your platform
Winlink: File a KCGR Resource Status form. TO: AA4TE Subject: KCGR-RS
APRS: Beacon a named object with the KCGR- prefix and your 43-character comment string. Repeat every 10-30 minutes while the condition is active.
APRS using Graywolf GUI: See section 4B below.
Meshtastic: Send the KCGR prefix and codes, then expand to plain English for the rest of the message.
Web/Phone: Contact AA4TE @ KC4RC directly. Your submission is reviewed before it's posted to the map.
Step 4B — Send APRS using GRAYWOLF
GRAYWOLF GUI: Settings>Beacons, then press + Add Beaconbutton.
New Beacon settings:
- ✅Enabled
- Type:
🔘 ObjectYour nine character prefix (ie.KCGR-SHLT) will be entered in theObject namefield. - Send to:
🔘 RF + APRS-IS - Check:
Channelfor correct frequency - ❗Blank:
Transmitting Station viawill not accept text in this mode. (Your call will automatically be chosen.) - Symbol: Tap
Choose...Possibilites include red-X, Bullseye(2 choices), yellow ambulance, gas pump(see Alternate tab)... then tapUse Symbol Commentfield: Here is where your 43 character message will be entered in theCommentfield. If the default "Graywolf/{{version}}" message is there, replace it.- Position source (column two):
🔘 Use fixed coordinatesFillLatitudeandLongitudefields to 4+ decimal places. Intervalfield default of 600 means every 10 minutes (10x60) which is way too low. Interval: Set high (3600s / 1 hour or more) — but this isn't a repeater beacon, it's a one-time report. Frequent resends waste airtime on 144.390, especially when the channel matters most. After sending: ❗Check aprs.fi to confirm it posted, then delete or disable the object. ❗Please do not leave it running.
Sending the information in the Comment field (column one bottom):
- Clear/Erase field
- Use format:
ST SPEC LOCATION DDHHMM - a)
ST- OPen(OP), CLosed(CL), LiMited(LM), UnKnown(UK), CAution(CA) - b)
SPEC2-letter SPECIFIER CODES from step #2 above - c)
LOCATIONCity (address if you have enough of the limit: 43 characters left) - c)
+NOTES+insert extra information before DDHHMM if character limit warrants - c)
DDHHMMDD (day of the month), HHMM ()24-hour local time)
No need to fill in month, we have 30 days to figure it our on our own 😅
If you have only two characters left, just the DD at the end allows processor to post and understand all necessary information has been sent.
Step 5 — Update or close it out
Conditions change -- file a follow-up report if status shifts. When the condition is resolved (road reopens, fuel runs out, shelter closes), send an APRS kill message or a follow-up note on other platforms.