APRS Features
APRS runs on most platforms, including DOS, Windows 3.x, Windows 95/98, MacOS,
Linux and Palm. Most implementations on these platforms support the main
features of APRS:
o Maps - APRS station positions can be plotted in real-time on maps, with coverage from a few hundred yards to worldwide. Stations reporting a course and speed are dead-reckoned to their present position. Overlay databases of the locations of APRS digipeaters, US National Weather Service sites and even amateur radio stores are available. It is possible to zoom in to any point on the globe.
o Weather Station Reporting - APRS supports
the automatic display of remote weather station information on the screen.
o DX Cluster Reporting - APRS an ideal tool for the DX cluster
user. Small numbers of APRS stations connected to DX clusters can relay DX
station information to many other stations in the local area, reducing overall
packet load on the clusters.
o Internet Access - The Internet can be used transparently to
cross-link local radio nets anywhere on the globe. It is possible to telnet into
Internet APRS servers and see hundreds of stations from all over the world live.
Everyone connected can feed their locally heard packets into the APRS server
system and everyone everywhere can see them.
o Messages - Messages are two-way messages with
acknowledgement. All incoming messages alert the user on arrival and are held on
the message screen until killed.
o Bulletins and Announcements -Bulletins and announcements are
addressed to everyone. Bulletins are sent a few times an hour for a few hours,
and announcements less frequently but possibly over a few days.
o Fixed Station Tracking - In addition to
automatically tracking mobile GPS/LORAN-equipped stations, APRS also tracks from
manual reports or grid squares.
o Objects - Any user can place an APRS Object on his own map, and within seconds that object appears on all other station displays. This is particularly useful for tracking assets or people that are not equipped with trackers. Only one packet operator needs to know where things are (e.g. by monitoring voice traffic), and as he maintains the positions and movements of assets on his screen, all other stations running APRS will display the same information.