Transcript Demonstration - Federal Way Amateur Radio Club

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

Weyerhaeuser Active Volunteer Employees
Grant to FWARC for this activity
CD
WinAPRS, UI View and APRS+SA
programs
AGWPE program
WinAPRS map files
Setup information
APRS Spec
Satellite tracker programs
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
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)
APRS Features
Maps
Messaging
Objects
Bulletins and announcements
Weather station reporting
DX Cluster reporting
Internet access
Telemetry
History
Invented by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR in
1992
Devised to facilitate short haul, short
duration data transfer – conventional
packet was not suitable
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
Uses
Passive Fun
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Watch the display of many stations
Watch the ISS or PCsat fly by
Watch emergencies in action
Tracking
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Find your buddies
Track your teenager
Balloons and rockets
Uses
Telemetry
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Balloons and rockets
Post bulletins, event notices and venues
Send email
More Uses
Events
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Track the parade Grand Marshal
Track the last marathoner or bike racer
Emergencies
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Search and rescue
Disaster information
EOC messaging
Track the fire chief
Still More Uses
Weather monitoring
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See wind speeds and temperatures in the
area
Report wind damage
Track tornados
Theory
Assumptions
Packet radio
Digipeaters
APRS Protocol
Frequencies
GPS
Assumptions
Radios
Antennas
PC Skills
How does APRS Work?
Some details…
Packet Radio
History
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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
Packet Radio
Packets
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Strings of data bytes called frames
3 kinds of frames in ordinary packet
Information (I frame)
Supervisory (S frame)
Unnumbered (U frame)
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6 kinds of U frames, one is Unnumbered Information
frame
UI frames are used for transmitting data in an
unconnected mode
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
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
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
How APRS uses Packets
Frames are transmitted without expecting
any response
Reception is not guaranteed
Messages work same way but use an ‘ack’
technique
The UI Packet
Destination Address
From the APRS
spec…
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
Destination Address
May also contain
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MIC-E encoded data
Other unique encoded data
No reason to change this since s/w can’t
cope
Source Address
My station call sign
An Intervening Word about
Digipeaters
Why do we need them?

Increase coverage
Digipeater versus repeater
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Voice repeaters operate in duplex mode
Digipeaters operate in simplex mode
Digipeaters use store and forward
technique
Digipeaters
Wide area digipeaters
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In this area are usually on a mountaintop
Have good antennas and more power
Operate automatically
Operate all the time
Digipeaters
Relay digipeater
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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
Digipeaters
Wide area digipeaters may be known by
an alias
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Examples: SOMTN, KOPEAK, SEATAC
…or not
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Examples: N7OEP-10, K7NWS-10
Digipeaters
Digipeaters respond to certain generic aliases
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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
Digipeaters
Digipeaters only repeat if their call sign,
their unique alias, or a generic alias is in
the digi path
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
Digipeater Addresses
Rules of thumb (see WinAPRS help file)
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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
Digipeater Addresses
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You can be really specific about the path
Example: SOMTN,KOPEAK,MEGLER would route
you down to Seaside, OR area and nowhere else
Data Field
Data Type ID
Types of Data
There are ten main types of APRS Data:
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Position
Direction Finding
Objects and Items
Weather
Telemetry
Types of Data
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Messages, Bulletins and Announcements
Queries
Responses
Status
Other
Data Example
Position data
Data Extension Example
PHG extension refers to power, height and gain
(also directivity)

Height is above ‘average local terrain’
Form is ‘PHGphgd’
Frequencies
VHF 144.39
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1200 baud
HF 10.15151 LSB
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300 baud
Satellite
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ISS Downlink 145.800, uplink 145.990
PCsat simplex 145.828
1200 baud
Getting on the Air with APRS –
What to Buy/Scrounge
Details…
Hardware
Home station requirements
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2 meter radio and antenna
Desktop computer
TNC or soundcard/interface
Mobile station requirements
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2 meter radio and antenna
Variables
Hardware
Mobile variables – the Full Meal Deal
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GPS
Laptop
TNC or soundcard/interface or Baycom
modem
Hardware
Mobile variables – minimal functionality
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No GPS
Laptop
TNC or soundcard/interface
Hardware
Mobile variables – tracking
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GPS
No computer
Tracker interface device
Power source for portability
Hardware
What is a sound card interface?
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Connects the computer’s sound card i/o to
the radio mike and speaker terminals
Provides isolation and attenuation
May provide a VOX capability
Hardware
West Mountain Radio Rigblaster
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See http://www.westmountainradio.com/
Hardware
Tigertronics SignalLink ($50)
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See http://www.tigertronics.com
Hardware
Homebrew your own
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See http://www.qsl.net/wm2u/interface.html
The simplest interface
Hardware
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An isolated interface
Hardware
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PTT circuits
Hardware
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Opto-isolated PTT circuits
Opto device is TI111 or equivalent
Hardware
What is a tracker interface device?
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A mike encoder –
TAPR Mic-E (kit discontinued)
Tigertronics TigerTrak TM-1 ($90)
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Also functions as a full function tracking and telemetry module
Hardware
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A self-contained tracking/telemetry module
Tigertronics TigerTrak TM-1
Tiny Trak II kit ($30)
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See http://www.byonics.com/tinytrak/tinytrak.html
Hardware
TAPR PIC-E
Hardware
Another approach
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Tigertronics BayPac modem ($50)
Accompanying software creates the packets in the computer
Replaces the modem found in a TNC
No sound card required
Hardware
Computers
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Running with a TNC doesn’t require a fast
computer or recent O/S
A slow machine means your maps will refresh very
slo-o-o-oly
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Running AGWPE requires a little horsepower,
maybe 100 MHz, Win98, 32 MB
As with all apps, more memory is better
Hardware
TNCs
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Any TNC will do when a computer is
attached.
Old style TNCs may not be GPS aware, but
they work for base stations
Hardware
Cables
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Sources
MFJ http://www.mfjenterprises.com
Hardware
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TNC cables
Computer serial port to TNC
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Unique to your TNC
TNC to radio mike connector
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Unique to your TNC and radio
Hardware
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Sound card interface cables
Computer sound card to interface box
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May need Y connector to retain external speaker function
Interface box to radio mike connector
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Unique to your radio
Buy a unique cable or have a way to configure the
connectivity
Sources for cables, MFJ or Buxcom
May need a cable from speaker out to interface
box if no speaker audio in mike connector
Hardware
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BayPac cable
BayPac plugs right onto the serial port connector
on computer
BayPac to radio mike connector
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Unique to your radio
Buy the right cable from Tigertronics
Hardware
Consideration for GPS with TNC
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2 serial ports are needed
If only 1 serial port is available, can use a
“Port sharing” device
Hardware
GPS Receivers
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Must have PC interface port
Must output NMEA messages on the PC
port
Good to have an external antenna for the
GPS
Software
WinAPRS
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Pros
Everybody knows about it
Free maps
Can use high quality Precision Maps
Unregistered version has full functionality
Software
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Cons
Help function is bad
Not totally stable
Not everything works
Maps aren’t so good
Expensive to register
Somewhat limited in scope
Software
APRS+SA
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Pros
Comprehensive functionality
High quality Street Atlas maps
Software
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Cons
No (I said no) help
Hard to manipulate maps
Confusing
Only works with Street Atlas
Have to register to use AGWPE
Expensive to register
Software
UIView
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Pros
16 bit version is free, 32 bit version is inexpensive
Quality coding
Extensive help files
Any GIF or bitmap file can be a map
Works with Street Atlas and others
Software
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Cons
Map zooming is a problem
Somewhat limited in scope
Software
Xastir
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Pros
Works on Linux
Good map capability
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Cons
Not a Windows program
Software
MacAPRS
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Shares same code with WinAPRS
Software
APRSPoint
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Pros
High quality MS MapPoint maps
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Cons
Program is expensive and maps are more
expensive
Software
My recommendation
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Use WinAPRS until you get your feet wet.
Spend 20 bucks on Street Atlas and switch
to UI View
Satellites
ISS
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Excellent signal
PCsat
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Built by Bruninga’s students at Annapolis
Find the satellite’s position
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http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/realtime/JTrack/
Spacecraft.html
PCSAT Telemetry Decoder program on CD
Another way to view APRS
Internet
FINDU http://map.findu.com/callsign
(substitute your call for callsign)
Lunch Break
Brainstorm the Exercise
Demo of Other APRS S/W
APRS+SA
UI View
WinAPRS Installation
Find the file w261updt.zip in the WinAPRS
folder on the CD
Unzip the contents to a folder of your
choice
In the folder in which you placed the
WinAPRS files, create a maps subfolder
Copy all of the files from the maps folder
on the CD to the maps folder on the PC
WinAPRS/TNC Configuration
Set the station parameters first
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Find your coordinates at http://www.wm7d.net/fcc_uls/
WinAPRS/TNC Configuration
Set the “WinAPRS” parameters
WinAPRS/TNC Configuration
Set the TNC serial port speed and confirm
communication
WinAPRS/TNC Configuration
Configure the TNC settings
WinAPRS/TNC Configuration
Set the TNC radio port speed to 1200 for
VHF, 300 for HF
WinAPRS/TNC Configuration
Set the position report rates
WinAPRS/TNC Configuration
Setting alternate path
WinAPRS/TNC Configuration
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Create file ALTPATHS.TXT in WinAPRS
folder
Edit this file to include your preferred
alternate paths
K7NWS-10,WIDE2-2
SOMTN,WIDE2-2
SOMTN,KOPEAK
Running WinAPRS
Enter station information
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Until you register you must reenter all of
your station information:
Callsign
State, county, city
Position
Station icon
UTC offset
Comments for position and status messag
Running WinAPRS
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You must reconfigure the TNC or
soundcard settings as well
Running WinAPRS
Maps
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The program defaults to the USA map
when started, pick ‘SeaTac Area Detail’ or
‘Northwest’ from the Maps menu to show a
large scale view of our area
Use zoom buttons from the toolbar on the
right to zoom in and out
Or hold down right mouse button and drag
an area to be enlarged
Running WinAPRS
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Click the ‘Home’ button to zoom all the
way out
Click anywhere in the map to center it at
that point
Page Up and Dn keys also zoom out and in
respectively
Use arrow keys to scroll
Deselect menu item Display|Map Labels to
get rid of annoying labels
Running WinAPRS
Queries
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Two types, general or directed
Running WinAPRS
Sending Messages
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Easiest way is to select a station by
double-clicking one on the map
In the resulting window, click the message
button (has envelope icon)
In the New Message Dialog window, type
the message and press OK
Running WinAPRS
Running WinAPRS
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Click the Lists|Message List menu item
In the Message List window monitor the
progress of your message
If you want to kill the message select it
then press Backspace
Running WinAPRS
Running WinAPRS
Creating an Object
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Click on the map where you want the
object created
Select menu item Edit|Edit/Add
Station/Object
Running WinAPRS
Running WinAPRS
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In the Edit/Add Station window type a
name for the object in the ‘Call or Name’
field
The lat/lon fields should show the value
where you clicked
Running WinAPRS
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Select an icon in the ‘Station Type’ box
Click the ‘Active’ radio button to transmit
the object
To move the object, click on object and
while pressing Alt, drag to new location
To delete the object, delete from station
list window
Running WinAPRS
Sending Email
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In the New Message Dialog window, enter
‘EMAIL’ in the ‘To’ box.
Enter the email address in the ‘Msg’ box
followed by a space and then the message.
Running WinAPRS
Lists
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Station list
Use it to determine who your digipeaters are
Running WinAPRS
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Path list
Use it to see who you can hear directly
AGWPE Installation
Find the file agwpe.zip in the AGWPE
folder on the CD
Unzip the contents to a folder of your
choice
AGWPE Configuration
Double click the file agwpe.exe on the PC
Right click the agwpe icon in the systray
(near the clock)
Select ‘properties’ from the popup menu
AGWPE Configuration
AGWPE Configuration
In the RadioPort Selection window select
‘New Port’
In the Properties for Port window, set TNC
Type to ‘Soundcard’
AGWPE Configuration
In the SoundCard Modem/TNC Setup
window, make no changes
In the Properties for Port window, select
‘SinglePort’
Exit program and restart
Sound card settings
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Set sliders to about 2/3 of max
Set recording slider as well
WinAPRS/AGWPE
Configuration
Start AGWPE first, then start WinAPRS
Set Station settings as for TNC
configuration
Select ‘Ports list’ from Settings menu
In Port Definitions window, select ‘AGWPE
on Local’ and click Open
Check that Comment field shows the
installed version of AGWPE, then close
the window
Questions
??
Student Installs