WELCOME NEW REGISTERED USER!   YOUR VALIDATION NUMBER IS: ___________________


1.  BE SURE TO USE PKUNZIP -d TO UNZIP APRS!
2.  Within the program hit F1 to select from a number of HELP screens
3.  Use the README FILE INDEX below to find detail on many APRS subjects
4.  All APRS commands are single KEY commands.  Some bring up additional menus
    on the bottom of the screen.  Only hit the first letter of a given command.

SUMMARY:  APRS can be summed up with two concepts, REAL-TIME PACKET TACTICAL
COMMUNICATIONS and MAPS.  Probably 98 % of APRS potential does not need GPS or
any tracking devices.  Think of APRS as just a multi-user distributed packet
network with a MAP display for many exciting amateur applications:

  Network topology monitoring      Direction Finding      Weather reporting
  Frequency Coordination database  DX cluster monitoring  HF DX plotter
  AMSAT ground station tracker     Satellite tracker      Search & Rescue
  Special event tracker/organizer  Boat/mobile/RV tracker RF path estimating
  Local area CHAT mode             Telemetry displays

For the Vehicle tracking applications it is important to use the standard
145.79, 445.925, and 10.1515 LSB national vehicle tracking frequencies.
Mobile's wander across political boundaries and single frequency XTAL GPS
trackers are common.  See HF.txt and UHFFREQ.txt for other freqs.

Aside from these standard APRS frequencies, there is no reason why APRS cannot
be used as a monitoring tool on all frequencies.  If all NODES, BBS's, DIGI's
and other network assets simply included their position in their beacons, then
any APRS user could see a network map of all assets on any frequency.  This is
an excellent Frequency Coordination tool!  Each night when you secure, tune
your APRS radio to a different digital frequency and see who you pick up!

DEMONSTRATIONS:  To get familiar with APRS, there are two important commands
for seeing past events.  First, you can load a snapshot of previous events from
a selection of BACKUP files.  Use the FILES-LOAD command to reload all the
APRS pages at the time the file was saved.  Nothing moves, but you can see
what the system looked like at the time the file was saved.  The more powerful
demonstration tool of APRS is the FILE-REPLAY feature which lets you replay
track history files (movements) of previous events.  Many past APRS events are
included on the distro disk.  You should replay them all and use the PgUP/DN
keys and HOME key to zoom in or out as the file is replayed.

DOCUMENTATION:  Since APRS is a generalized tool with application in almost
all facets of amateur radio, it is hard to write a simple description.  For
this reason all of the documentation is written into numerous .TXT files, each
focused on a particular subject.  These files can be read ON-LINE using the
F1(HELP)-FILES command.  All of these files are in the README subdirectory:

FILENAME     DESCRIPTION
----------   ------------------------------------------------------------
README.1st   This file
README.now   Tells you how to unzip the APRS distribution disk
NEWNOTES.txt Tells of important changes in the latest versions

APRS.doc     General description and overview of APRS
AIRCRAFT.txt Using APRS from Aircraft and how to interface to ARNAV format
BBSNOTES.txt Suggestions to BBS SYSOPS on how to use APRS
BOATS.txt    Suggested use of APRS to support the WaterWay Net
CDROM.txt    Using MAPFIX.bas to generate maps from $32 USGS CD ROMs
COMMERCL.txt COMMERCIAL APRS to interface with other DELORME/STREETS prgms
DF.txt       Information on DFing and AUTOMATIC Doppler interfaces!
DEMOS.txt    A quick summary of demonstrations and replays to impress you.
DIGIS.txt    Important info on using Digipeaters
DIGITIZR.txt Using DIGITIZERS to draw your own maps with MAPFIXER.bas prgm!
PROTOCOL.txt Info on APRS formats for setting up TNC BTexts
DX.txt       Info on using APRS to plot DX spots on a DX cluster frequency
GPS.txt      Interfacing GPS or LORAN to APRS or stand-alone TNC's
HF.txt       Notes on the APRS HF tracking network
HELP.txt     Describes each of the APRS commands in detail
MAPS.txt     Detailed information on how to build your own maps
MARATHON.txt Lessons learned at the Marine Corps Marathon
MOBILE.txt   Notes on Mobile operations with GPS
OPS.txt      Suggestions on routine APRS operations
SCREEN.txt   Describes the APRS screen and display areas
SPACE.txt    Suggested use of APRS for plotting satellite packet stationns
SYMBOLS.txt  A table of APRS symbols and the symbol designators
TELEMTRY.txt Describes a SINGLE-CHIP TNC telemetry xmtr for balloons, etc..
VOX-APRS.txt Integrating APRS into voice repeaters
WX.txt       Info on using APRS for displaying weather information
XTRAmaps.txt Info on more detailed MAPS that are available
70CHANLS.2m  70 hidden channels on 2m for bulk data transfer!
IDEAS.txt    A file of other neat APRS ideas to encourage others to write
              supporting TNC and forwarding code.  Programmers READ IT!

SETUP:  Customize APRS to start up centered on your area by zooming the map to
your center of activity.  Next set your desired digipeater path using the
APRS UNPROTO command.  (To understand the UNPROTO concept, refer to your TNC
manual).  Finally, use the ALT-SETUP menu to SAVE your config file.  You will
be prompted for your validation number and then asked for a CONFIG file
extension.  Normally just select the default of APRS unless you want to
be able to invoke several different CONFIG files...

Non-registered users can zoom into their area and use the FILE-SAVE command to
SAVE a backup file of their current situation.  When they start up APRS, after
logging on, they simply use FILE-LOAD to LOAD that backup file to bring up the
neighborhood map.  Then they move the cursor and place themselves on the map
in the right place.  Europeans, or non US hams may want to change the default
map from the initial USA map, to something closer to home.   The initial map
is determined by the default LAT/LONG and RANGE given in the first three lines
of the MAPLIST.APR file.  Without a config file, APRS always starts up at this
location and scale (defaulted to USA).  You may also use many different
MAPLIST.xxx files.  Several states have developed their own: CA, OH, AK, MO,
MN, etc.. (see XTRAMAPS.txt)

MAPS! - To see my best maps so far, zoom into Idaho Falls at the 1 mile range,
or either Baltimore or NewOrleans at the 4 mile scale.  You can make your own
maps from the directions in MAPS.txt using a variety of different techniques.
You can get a $32 USGS CD rom that covers your area and use it to develop APRS
maps down to the street level.  See CDROM.txt.  In any case, dedication and
effort are involved, but having a local street map that can be shared with all
the amateur community, is worth it.  In some cases, I may be persuaded to do
custom maps for anywhere from $90 to $195 depending on complexity and my wife's
honey-do list.  It is really quite simple to draw a map from any source.  Just
grid the map, define the upper left origin, and enter X-Y points for all
features.  A map of reasonable detail should only take a few evenings.
Fortunately, everyone in your area can use the results of your efforts!

   Look for an APRS BBS in your state for detailed local maps.  The biggest
APRS states are CA,OH,FL,TX,MD,AZ,VA,NJ,and NewEngland.  Thirty states have 3
or fewer users.  If you are in one of these states, AND DONT HAVE interstates
and major highways on your maps. Let me know!  There are more APRS maps now
than fit on the  APRS distribution disk.  See XTRAMAPS.txt.

APRS PROTOCOL:  APRS uses Unnumbered Information (UI) frames which are trans-
mitted without ACKS to avoid the problems, complexities and in-efficiencies of
a normal fully connected network.  To be a good APRS operator, you need to
understand DIGIPEATING and the use of the MY ALIAS and UNPROTO commands, since
you are responsible for your own best path within the network.  If you are
unfamiliar with these UI terms, consult your TNC user manual.  Also note that
while APRS is on-line, it generates itsown Position and Status beacons.  Your
TNC BText is not used until you Quit APRS; then your TNC BText with your
position in it is activated.

PACKET POSITIONS ON ALL FREQS:  Finally, encourage all BBS's, NODES, Servers,
and stations in your area, to place their LAT/LONG in their beacon text using
the format: BT !DDMM.xxN/DDDMM.xxW/....comments.  APRS will accept this fixed
station position format anywhere in the ID text.  APRS will also plot the
positions of stations reporting by Grid Square surrounded by brackets [FM19xy]
(at the beginning of the BText only).  If all packet assets get in that habit,
then APRS will automatically plot a map of packet activity on any frequency!
If stations will also put the new Power/antenna/gain format in their BText,
then effective communications ranges can also be displayed!  See PROTOCOL.txt.

STAND-ALONE-GPS-TRACKERS:  All PACCOM TNC's after version 3.2 firmware include
a GPS command that tells the TNC to accept GPS data (NMEA-0183 format) on the
serial port and place it in the TNC LOCATION TEXT.  Then the TNC will transmit
that Position at a rate set by the user!   Note that this is a dedicated
stand-alone application, and while the TNC is in this mode, it no longer
operates as a normal TNC for two-way communications.  But, this is
the simplest method to build a stand-alone-tracker.  If you are running the
APRS software mobile on a laptop, then see GPS.txt for ways to use ANY TNC
or ANY GPS while still operating on the air with APRS.

MORE READING:
 QST   - pg 92 July and pg 11 Aug 93 QST.  Good Pictures on pg 14 Dec 94!
 QEX   - Feb issue, 1994 for info on interfacing GPS to packet
 CQ    - Packet column Dec 1993
 73    - October 94 under the topic of HOMING IN.  Again in Jan 95 issue
 AMSAT - May 1993, AMSAT journal (but registration info is incorrect).

BBS ADDRESS:  My BBS address is WB4APR @ WB3V.MD.  Avoid any traffic in which
I may have a pecuniary interest! Hi Hi!  Look for a local APRS point of
contact for your state.  Some states have dedicated APRS phone line BBS's for
distributing local APRS maps.  Ohio is over 50 maps as of Nov 94.  I occas-
sionally check internet on the APRSSIG (see below).  Phone line BBS's known
to carry APRS:
                                       MARYLAND 410 280-2503 Annapolis
   CALIF      415 359-6985 Daly City   OHIO     614 443-4249 Columbus
   FLORIDA    407 575-9680             VIRGINIA 703 207-9622 Vienna
   ARIZONA    602 938-7528                      703 362-8673
   S.CAROLINA 803-233-3527
   INTERNET @ muncey.com ip 140.174.180.1 in Public\APRS
              loggon as Guest or Anonymous with EMail addr as Pwd.
            @ oak.oakland.edu in SIMTEL/PACKET/PUB/HAMRADIO
              (Im not sure of the sequence of the above directories)

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