What is APRS?
APRS is a way licenced Radio Amateurs can exchange tactical information.

What does APRS stand for?
Automatic Packet Reporting System.

What can APRS do?
You can transmit your position, speed, direction and altitude.
You can send and recieve messages (just like texting on your mobile phone).
You can recieve DX reports, object locations, weather reports & Buletins.

What frequency?
In the UK we use 144.800Mhz

How do I use APRS mobile?
By far the simplest way is to use a Kenwood TM-D700 / TM-D710 mobile or TH-D7 handset. If you aready own one of these all you need to do is to connect it to a GPS unit, and start transmitting your position. There are other methods, one is by using a Opentracker or Tiny Trak unit which will connect between a radio and GPS unit, the downside to this method is the radio is then tied up.

What about APRS at home?
You can interface your radio to your PC either using a TNC or soundcard and use one of several APRS programs, my favorite is UI-View

I'd like to add a GPS unit to my Kenwood (TH-D7, TM-D700, TM-D710)
See my GPS page.

What should I set my SSID / transmission rate / path (Unproto address) to?
The following settings are a controversial subject, but here are my preferences (taken from what majority in the UK are doing). Changed to reflect the new Paradigm.

Type of Station	SSID	Beacon time	path / uprotocol
Mobile	-9	2 minutes	WIDE1-1,WIDE3-3
Handsett	-7	2 minutes	WIDE1-1,WIDE3-3
Weather station		15 minutes	WIDE4-4
Home station	None	20 minutes 30 minutes	WIDE2-2 WIDE3-3
Object	N/A	30 minutes	WIDE2-2
Digipeater	-2	30 minutes	WIDE2-2 or WIDE3-3

The higher the WIDE value the futher your packet will be relay, but ask yourself how far do you want to go. A mobile will normally make an Igate with the settings above. These are ment as guidelines and could be increased or decreased to work with your local APRS needs.