README.1ST        WELCOME NEW APRS USER!
Document version: 860.  Prior was 8.3.5 of 10 Mar 99
Document dated:   1 Dec 2003
Author(s):        Bob Bruninga, WB4APR <bruninga@nadn.navy.mil>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1.  See INSTALL.txt and 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 APRS\README directory as a good index of "readme" subjects
    or use LOOKUP.EXE written by KB2SCS to see ALL references by keyword
4.  APRS commands are single KEY commands.  Some bring up additional menus
    Most menus show up on the bottom line.

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 device.  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     Airline tracking

For the Vehicle tracking it is important to use the standard 144.39, 445.925,
HF 10.149.2 and CB channel 29 vehicle tracking frequencies, if available.
See HF. and UHFFREQ.txt for freqs.

In addition to these standard APRS freqs, use APRS as a monitoring tool on
all frequencies for plotting the locations of NODES, BBS's, DIGI's and other
network assets which include their position in their beacons.  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:  First, hit the MAPS-OVERLAY-DIGIS command to see where all
the existing APRS digipeaters are to see if their is activity in your area.
Next, there are two important DEMO commands for past events.  One loads
a snapshot (nothing moves) of previous events from the BACKUP files using
the FILES-LOAD command.  Secondly, use the more powerful FILE-REPLAY
command to replay track histories of previous events.  Many past
APRS events are included on the distro disk.  Replay them all and use the
PgUP/DN keys and HOME key to zoom in or out as the file is replayed.

DOCUMENTATION:  Choose from any of the 30+ README files in the APRS\README
directory.  These can be read ON-LINE in APRS using the F1(HELP)-FILES
command.

SETUP:  First, zoom into your area of activity with the Page and HOME keys.
Next set your desired digipeater path using the APRS UNPROTO command.  This
command needs your TNC connected before it can work.  (To understand the
UNPROTO concept, refer to your TNC manual and/or DIGIS.TXT).  Finally,
use the ALT-SETUP menu to SAVE your config file.  Give your validation
number and select a CONFIG file extension.  Usually the default .APR.

Be sure to use the MAPS-CONFIGURATION-CHANGE command to change to your
regional MAPLIST.xxx file, such as EAS, WES, MID, SE, NW, etc.  
Many states have developed their own map packages:  CA, OH, AK, MO, MN, 
NC, etc.. (see MAPS.txt)   Non US hams can change the default map from 
the USA location by changing the LAT/LONG and RANGE in the first three 
lines of the MAPLIST.USA file.

MAPS! - Maps to the street level can be made for anywhere in the world
using the map making tools provided with APRS.  To see example street
level maps, zoom into Idaho Falls at the 1 mile range, or either
Baltimore or NewOrleans at the 4 mile scale to see maps made with a
digitizer.  See North Tennessee for the type of highway maps available
on the USGS 2,000,000 CD ROM, or zoom into my QTH at 3909N 07636W to see
the 100k CD ROM map made by KB8JXO.  You can make your own maps from the
directions in MAPMAKIN.txt using a variety of techniques.  You can
purchase the $32 USGS CD for your area and use MK100K2a.EXE to make
street level maps anywhere in your area.  See MAPS-CD.txt.  Or use
MAPFIX.exe and a digitizer to make any map anywhere.  You can even make
a map  using paper and a ruler and a text editor!.  OR just replay
a GPS track history in the MAPFIXxx.BAS program and build your own map!

APRS PROTOCOL:  APRS uses Unnumbered Information (UI) frames without
ACKS to avoid the problems of a normal connected network.  You need to
understand DIGIPEATING and the UNPROTO command, since you are
responsible for your own best path within the network.  Also note that
while APRS is running, it generates its own Position and Status beacons.
Your TNC BText is not used until you Quit APRS; then your TNC BText
is activated.

PACKET POSITIONS ON ALL FREQS:  Encourage all BBS's, NODES, Servers,
and other stations in your area, to place their LAT/LONG in their
beacon text using the format: BT !DDMM.xxN/DDDMM.xxW/....comments.
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
use the Power/antenna/gain format in their BText, then effective
communications ranges can also be displayed!  See PROTOCOL.txt.

STAND-ALONE-GPS-TRACKERS:  Most new TNC's now include GPS commands for
autonomous operations with a GPS with the need for an APRS PC.  See
GPS.TXT

MORE READING:  See ARTICLES.txt for a complete list of articles.
 QST   - pg 92 July, pg 11 Aug 93 QST, pg 14 Dec 94, pg 68 Oct 95
 QEX   - Feb issue, 1994 for info on interfacing GPS to packet
 CQ    - Packet column Dec 1993
 73    - October 94 HOMING IN column.  Also in Jan, Feb 95 issues
 AMSAT - May 1993, AMSAT journal (but registration info is incorrect).
 73    - December 1996 (8 pages)
 ARRL  - The ARRL now publishes a book on APRS

SEE DOWNLOAD.txt for a list of BBS's, WWW and INTERNET sites.!  CHeck out
my LIVE APRS web site at http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/aprs.html
All APRSdos docs are now on line:

   http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/APRS-docs

APRS INTERNET SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP:  Join the TAPR sponsored APRSSIG
Internet re-mailier to keep up-to-date with everything going on in the
APRS world.  If you cannot handle the 30 messages a day, then subscribe
only to the APRSnews list.  It only gets used about once a week or LESS.

For info on APRS COORDINATORS for our area, see MAPS.TXT.
