NWAPRS serves: Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories,
Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana

Reader's Digest: There's a ton of info here, certainly overwhelming to the newcomer. If you've got your vehicle tracker all set up and are looking for a transmit rate and path, use WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 every 1-2 minutes. If you have a mobile radio (5w + output) and external antenna (and you easily hit the nearby mountaintop digi) you can use the same path as home stations; WIDE2-2. If you live way out in the sticks (not Auburn or Bellingham, more like Glendive or Coos Bay) then it's AOK to extend your path to WIDE3-3. 

In any case, please sign up on the NWAPRS mailing list, and if you have any questions you can email the list or email me mailto:ddobbins@gmail.com. In any case, welcome aboard. Dave

Welcome to the fun and excitement of APRS, aka the Automatic Position Reporting System.

The sole purpose of this page is to help newcomers to APRS get on the air, and point them towards more information that will help make this a fun and worthwhile aspect of amateur radio.

APRS is set of shareware/freeware programs that are available for DOS, Windows, Macintosh, Unix, PalmOS, and WinCE operating systems. By a large majority, most APRS users like UI-View32, especially when combined with Undertow Software Precision Maps v8.0. While most APRS applications require a shareware fee, UI-View32 can be registered as freeware, and the maps CD is about $50.

If you don't already have a copy of APRS, the first thing you'll need to do is decide which version you want to run, then download it. Remember, most of these programs are shareware software. Each version of APRS is fully functional. If you decide you like it, then look up the registration information and send in your shareware fee to the respective author. MacAPRS is $50, and WinAPRS is $60. APRSdos, Xastir, and UI-View32 are freeware. APRSPoint is about $100 but includes a copy of Microsoft MapPoint. It's a deal!

Each version of APRS has a basic map set that includes worldwide, continental USA, and regional maps. These go down to some detail, but to get better detail you'll need to download maps for the version of APRS you are operating.

• For APRSdos, the file nwmaps.zip is maintained on the tapr ftp site. This includes all the APRSdos maps for Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and British Columbia. Included with the file is a maplist.nw. The maps need to be stored in the maps subdirectory of APRS. The maplist.nw file needs to be stored in the maplist subdirectory of APRS. There are literally thousands of APRSdos maps available from areas all over the world.
• For MacAPRS, the tapr.org and aprs.rutgers.edu ftp sites has many MacAPRS maps available, including a bunch around Seattle, Spokane, Boise, Portland, and other locations. There is also a utility program available which allows you to make your own map from the USGS 1:100,000 scale CD-ROM, but this is a tedious process.
• For APRS designed for Microsoft Windows applications, the tapr.org and aprs.rutgers.edu ftp sites have both regional and fine details maps available. For the NWAPRS region, there are zipped files of MT, ID, OR, and WA that are very large but will give you a finely detailed map of each state's county area. Your best solution however is to purchase a commercial map CD for about $50 and use it. Not all mapping CDs are compatible with APRS, so investigate first. Right now only Precision Maps v8 and Microsoft MapPoint maps work with APRS.
• For PalmAPRS, the tapr.org ftp site has a bunch of maps available, but only two for the northwest at this time. Kalispell (MT) and Seattle (WA) are currently available. Look for more maps soon of Portland, Vancouver (WA), Spokane, Boise, Helena, Missoula, and others.
• For Xastir, follow the instructions on the Xastir web site for downloading compatible maps.

If your plans include setting up an APRS station at your local, county, or state EOC/DES office, please consider using the UI-View32 and Precision Maps v8 combo.

OK, so you've got your APRS program of choice and your maps database and they are properly installed on your computer.

Next you'll need to interface the TNC and radio with your computer. If you're an old timer with packet communications, you already have your gear installed. If not, you'll need the following equipment:

• For Macintosh: A Mac Classic II with extra RAM will work, but ideally the program works with a PowerMac and at least 24MB of RAM. One serial port is needed to connect to the TNC.
• For Windows: Can be used with Win3.1, but works ideally with Win/98 or newer, especially if you want to use the Precision Maps CD. CD required for the latter, and loads of RAM is helpful.
• For old DOS boxes: a 286 or 386 will work, but it'll be slow. A better choice is a 486 or Pentium. Even an old black and white monitor will work, with some minor mods.
• For Palm and Pocket PDA devices: PalmAPRS and WinCEAPRS are available for thse devices.
• For any computer and Xastir: a 386SX will will work, but it'll be slow running X-windows. A better choice is a Pentium or better. Any Unix install that has generic X-windows should work fine. Note that Xastir is distributed as source code, so you'll need to compile and install it before using it.

You'll also need a Terminal Node Controller, or TNC, and appropriate cable. A popular choice is the Kantronics KPC-3 (for VHF) or a good sound card. TNC's start at about $130 and go up, depending on what's included inside.

Finally, you'll need a radio to transmit on the APRS frequency of 144.39 MHz. A Radio Shack HTX-202 for about $90 will work just fine and give you 5 watts output. A national brand mobile rig, such as Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, or Alinco, and power supply will deliver 50 watts output typically, and will come in handy if you live in the toolies. You'll also need a cable to connect the radio and TNC. These can be purchased or home-brewed. A decent mobile radio for VHF can be found for $150 or so, including used on eBay or new at your favorite ham radio store.

If you've just purchased a new TNC, it will require basic programming with your callsign, etc. first. You may want to set the TNC-Computer baud rate to 4800. 4800 is a good speed, and is also easy to remember since most GPS's connect to the TNC or computer at 4800. Whatever baud rate you set, remember it, because you'll need to enter that data when starting APRS.

OK, so you've got the APRS program loaded and configured on your computer, and your TNC has been programmed and the radio and antenna are hooked up. Perhaps you've already tried the TNC and radio using a terminal program, so you know it is working well.

Next, start the APRS program. For APRSdos you will see a series of questions asking for your callsign, TNC type, baud rate, etc. In Mac and Windows APRS you make the settings from a menu. In either case, once the settings have been entered you should see the TNC tx light activate and hopefully the radio will go to tx as well. If you have entered an outgoing path for your signals, perhaps WIDE3-3 for a fixed station, and are within radio range of the nearest APRS WIDE digipeater, you should see the radio rx light and S meter activate, and the TNC rx light activate. On your computer screen you should see the activity of your station, plus also begin receiving other stations and those should plot on your map.

To go into the fine details of moving around on the map and bringing up new maps is beyond the purpose of this page. Take the time to experiment and try each of the different menu items.

As mentioned previously, if you like APRS and want to keep it, you should send in your shareware fee to the program author. Some APRS applications are freeware, so you just have to ask for a registration. Follow the instructions included in the help files for registering. You will get back a validation number that, when entered, will allow you to save your settings, and avoid having to re-enter your basic information each time you start the program. Xastir requires no fee.

APRS is best learned with someone nearby who has been using the program for awhile. There is a learning curve, and while there are many help files, the help from a friend nearby is still the best way to get on the air quickly.

Typically the next station a new person wants to add to their APRS collection is a tracker of some sort. A mobile tracker consists of a Global Positioning System (GPS) for providing up-to-date location info, a TNC to process the information and set transmit rates, and a radio to send the signal out to the system.

There are many combinations of trackers, even some that allow you to connect a portable computer for a mobile APRS station. The important things to remember are that your GPS needs to be set to output NMEA data from the data port, and the TNC needs configuring to accept the data, and have other settings adjusted to do something with the data once it's received. Check the NWAPRS home pages for recommended settings for a tracker, using both the Kantronics 8.2 or 8.3 firmware or the cool miniature TinyTracker, OpenTracker or PocketTracker. For price-point conscious hams there are some other options like MIM's, PIC-E's, and MIC-E's, among others.

Let's try to keep this simple, and brief.

• WIDEn-N Digipeaters: Our system relies on a number of specially configured packet digipeaters (TNC and Radio) installed at key locations, primarily remoted to mountaintops, in order to work properly. Most WIDEn-N digi's in the NWAPRS have Kantronics TNCs at the digipeater site, and these are programmed to respond, or digipeat a number of different signals. We are always looking to add more digipeater sites to improve our system, and if you can help out by adding one to your favorite mountaintop, then please do so. 
• WX Stations: Both the Peet Brothers and Davis Weather Stations will work with APRS. You can add one of these to your home station by plugging it into the second serial port of your computer, or connect it to the TNC direct at the remoted WIDE digi on the mountain. APRS will then transmit temperature, wind speed and direction, and rainfall periodically across the network. Some stations report barometric pressure as well.
• Event support: If you need to keep track of the various assets during a public service event, APRS is a great tool. Trackers can be assigned to key positions, and these all report back to communications support to give organizers and managers info they need.
• Experimenters: We have groups of people associated with other hobbies who use APRS trackers during their activities. Some of those include rocketeers, balloonists, aircraft pilots, farmers, hang gliding enthusiasts, etc.
• There are more fun things to do with APRS, and folks keep coming up with new applications.

This should be a good start to getting you going. If you need help, then check the NWAPRS home pages for an elmer in your area. There are alot of us out there more than willing to help a newcomer in this fascinating aspect of amateur radio.

You may want to spend some more time looking through the web page documents. Perhaps you'll even sign up for the nwaprs.org mailing list, which is used by all our members to keep each other informed on what we're doing with APRS in the region.

So welcome aboard APRS. Enjoy, and have fun.