APRS Operations and the APRS Space Network

摘要

Too many hams seem to have completely misunderstood APRS as just a vehicle trackingsystem that transmits GPS coordinates. When in fact, APRS is exactly the opposite. APRS is acommunications text-messaging and information receive system for the distribution and display ofrelevant immediate information of use to the mobile or portable operator. Via the APRS AmateurSatellites, this capability is extended world-wide and fits in the palm of your hand.!My response to those people who think of APRS as a tracking system is that the tracking-onlyapplication is a relatively dead-end way of thinking about ham radio, and no wonder they are notinterested, because in most cases, no one really cares where they are. But flip it around, focus on thereceipt and display of relevant ham radio information and text-messaging and Email from the palm ofyour hand and APRS represents the epitome of ham radio. And on our congested and shared AMSATuplinks, the ability to get all of your relevant QSO information through the satellite in about 1 secondis very valuable to the use by large numbers of operators. Most cubesats and other universitysatellites are capable of serving as APRS transponders, even while they are performing their primarymission. We need to encourage such operations, all on the one 145.825 channel for synergy withother satellites there and the global network of ground stations.