APRS functions Manual
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Table of contents I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X.
I. Introduction APRS is a method for sending and receiving position and other information over a radio transceiver. The Geosat 6 APRS is ready to accept APRS inputs from a radio transceiver and to provide fix position output data to the transceiver in order to transmit its current position. Geosat 6 APRS provides GPS location information for your transmitted APRS beacons, and it shows received APRS information on its map display.
II. Quick Set-up How to set-up your transceiver: • Enter your call sign • BAUD Rate=9600 • Waypoint=ALL • Waypoint size=9 character (this as also called waypoint length) • Beacon method = Smartbeaconing (if your device supports this) • Waypoint output=ALL • If you are using a Kenwood D72 turn off F-1 Internal GPS Connecting the devices: Your Geosat 6 APRS is supplied with an APRS cable: the 3 pole end (the one with 2 black rings) goes into the 2.5mm socket of your radio or TNC device.
III. Activating the APRS mode To enter in the APRS mode, open the main navigation menu and press the APRS Functions button. To enable or to disable the APRS mode, press the Enable/disable APRS Button in the APRS Functions Menu. Push this button to enabled or disable the other buttons.
IV. Finding APRS Contacts APRS icons on the map: As soon as you connect Geosat 6 APRS to your transceiver you will start receiving APRS positions called “APRS contacts”. Geosat 6 can store up 1000 APRS contacts and display them on the map. You can watch APRS activity right on the screen and you can distinguish between fixed and mobile APRS stations. Static positions are represented by blue bulls-eye icons along with the associated call sign.
APRS Functions sort them or delete them by entering the APRS contacts Menu. To enter in the APRS Contacts Menu, press the APRS Contacts button in the APRS Functions menu. The APRS contacts folder shows all APRS contacts received from the connected radio. Touch one APRS contact on the list to open the Full info page. Full info on APRS contacts: You have detailed info on stationary and moving APRS contacts as Geosat 6 APRS fully takes advantage of the Kenwood format sentence.
APRS functions • Delete: Touch this button to delete the selected APRS contact from the APRS contact list. • Save as contact: touch this button to save the selected APRS contact as a standard Contact. This may be useful to save the Call Sign position so to change icon or to add telephone number; in this way the contact is available even if the APRS functions are disabled. Contacts can be accessed from the Main Menu / My Data page.
V. Managing APRS contacts Geosat 6 APRS can auto-delete the received APRS contacts positions based on a user defined timeout. You can also sort your APRS contacts based on alphabetical order or received time. Touch the Options button in the APRS menu. Contacts sorting: Touch Contact sorting, and then choose to sort the APRS Folder based on call sign or date-time. Contacts Timeout: Touch Contacts timeout and choose to automatically delete contacts from the APRS Contacts Folder based on selected time period.
VI. Setting an APRS contact as Target On the full info page of the APRS contact, you can set the APRS contact as Target, by touching the Set as Target button. This allows you tracking a moving APRS contact: you will have a shortcut on the map to display the position of the target, and you will be able to monitor info relative to the target in the data boxes in the left side of the map.
right corner of the screen. Tracking the position of the target: Once you have set the APRS contact as target, the Target button with a target icon and the target CALL SIGN is displayed in the lower right corner of the map. By default the map is centered on your position, touch the target button to centre the map on the target. To go back to view your own position on the map, touch the car button in the lower right corner of the map.
VII. Messaging to APRS contacts The Messages page is enabled when a Geosat 6 APRS is connected to a compatible radio transceiver or modem supporting the Messaging function. Find the list of Geosat 6 APRS compatible radio transceivers and modems supporting messaging on line www.avmap.us or/and www. avmap.it. Once the Geosat 6 APRS is connected to a modem/radio, the messaging menu will be available to read received messages even if the modem is not connected anymore.
APRS Functions ABC. • To change the characters from small to CAPITAL, use the buttons on the right: “A” for the Capital keyboard or “a” to go back to the small keyboard. • Once the text has been completed, touch enter. • Insert the recipient’s by touching Edit Recipient. Now you can select one or more recipients from the APRS contact list. • Touch “accept”. • Touch send message. Once the message has been sent, the Software will go back to the map and the message will be saved in the Sent Message folder.
VIII. APRS Options In the APRS options menu you can edit settings for the contacts management: Contacts sorting (Chap V), Contacts Timeout (Chap V), for Messages display (Chap VII), and for the Serial Port (Chap II).
IX. Compatibility The Geosat 6 APRS comes with an APRS bidirectional RS-232 APRS interface compatible with all APRS Kenwood amateur radios models and with all the TNC (Terminal Node Controllers) that support NMEA format sentence.
APRS functions Type of radio transceiver Geosat 6 APRS functions/ Kenwood sentence compatible NMEA sentence only All standard icons Only fixed / moving APRS contact Time Stamp Yes No Contact time out sorting Yes No APRS icons AvMap - 17
X. Technical Specifications Hardware • Dimensions and weight: 133.6 x 83.4 x 21 mm; 270 g • Memory Support: Secure Digital • Display: touch screen LCD 4.
APRS functions • Intercept to target function • Tactical mode • Store up to 1000 APRS contacts • APRS contacts auto-delete • APRS contacts sorting • Standard APRS icons AvMap - 19
Appendix: Units setup Set up instructions for: Geosat 6 APRS APRS with the following devices: • • • • Kenwood TH-D72 A/E Kenwood TM-D710 A/E Kenwood TM-D700 A/E Kenwood TH-D7 A/E AvMap Geosat 6 APRS Setup • Make sure the interface is set to 9600 (this is the default). • Make sure that contacts are displayed. • Make sure that APRS Contact timeout is Off. The Geosat 6 APRS is now set up and ready to interface with the radio.
APRS functions Set-up for the Kenwood TH-D72A/E with the AvMap Geosat 6 APRS These instructions provide the essential information necessary to configure your AvMap Geosat 6 APRS and your Kenwood TH-D72A/E HT for basic APRS operation. After you have achieved basic operation and have some experience with the system, you will want to adjust various parameters to more closely meet your particular environment and operating requirements.
APRS Functions settings below. Leave all other settings at default, for now. Note: only important default settings are included here. • Press the Menu button again to close the Menu. Menu Number Description Setting 110 Battery Saver Off or 0.03 sec 111 APO Off (during setup) 120 Audio Balance Mid-point (during setup) 300 My Callsign (Your callsign-SID) 301 Beacon Type APRS 302 APRS Lock Off 310 Data Band Set to A or B depending on the side you selected for the APRS frequency.
APRS functions Menu Number Description Setting 332 Output On 340 Format KENWOOD 341 Length 9-Character 342 Output All (during setup) 370 Speed On (during setup) 371 Altitude On (during setup) 372 Pos. Ambiguity Off (during setup) 3C0 Icon Select desired or leave set to Kenwood 3D0 Method Auto (during setup) 3D1 Initial Interval 1 min (during setup) 3E0 Decay Algorithm Off (during setup) 3E1 Prop.
APRS Functions Menu Number Description Setting 3H2 Total Hops 2 (during setup) 3J0 TX Off 3K0 Digipeat (MyCall) Off 3T0 RX Beep All (during setup) 3T1 TX Beep (Beacon) On (during setup) Making it all work! The Kenwood TH-D72A/E is now ready to interface with the Geosat 6 APRS. Now that the configuration is complete, it’s time to see if it will work. 1. Turn off the Geosat 6 APRS and the TH-D72A/E. 2. Connect the two units using the data cable provided with your AvMap Geosat 6 APRS.
APRS functions 3. Turn on the Geosat G6 APRS and the TH-D72A/E. Wait until the Geosat 6 APRS has acquired sufficient satellites to establish a 3D position. A blinking GPS icon (not iGPS) should then appear in the upper right corner of TH-D72A/E display. 4. Set the volume at about 1/3 volume. If there is APRS activity in your area, you should here the brief “growl” of packet transmissions.
APRS Functions an ohmmeter, especially if it is a home brewed data cable. 4. Verify that the Geosat 6 APRS is computing a position fix. 5. Listen to your APRS frequency on the TH-D72A/E or on a different radio to verify there is APRS activity in your area. 6. Reread and verify the setup sections of these instructions. 7. Perform a Partial Reset of your TH-D72A/E per the instructions on page RESET-1 of the CD manual, then, repeat the setup instructions.
APRS functions Set-up for Kenwood TM-D710 A/E with the AvMap Geosat 6 APRS NOTE: These instructions assume you have basic familiarity with operation of both the TM-D710 A/E and the AvMap Geosat 6 APRS . a. Turn the radio ON. b. Press the “F” key to access the Setup Menu. c. Press the MHZ knob. d. Turn knob to select APRS. e. Press the MHZ knob again enter the menu selection mode Basic Setting Menu #600 a. Enter your call sign. b. Set Beacon Type to APRS. c. Turn the MHZ knob to scroll through menus.
APRS Functions Beacon TX Algorithm Menu # 611 a. Set the Method to “smart beacon” b. Press ESC to return to the main page c. Change the APRS Frequency to: 144.390 d. Select TNC and press to turn on APRS 12 e. Press “BCON” to turn on -- BCON will appear in the upper right corner The Kenwood Radio is now ready to interface with the Geosat 6 APRS . Making it all work! a. Make sure both the Kenwood TM-D710 and AvMap Geosat 6 APRS are turned OFF! b. Connect the four pole 2.
APRS functions map, or translate the map to a different location in order to see them. You can also verify this in the APRS Contacts folder. The Geosat 6 APRS will detect whether a station is moving based on the data received from that station.
APRS Functions Set-up for Kenwood TM-D700 A/E with the AvMap Geosat 6 APRS NOTE: These instructions assume you have basic familiarity with operation of both the TH-D700 A/E and the AvMap Geosat 6 APRS . a. While programming the Kenwood TM-D700 and/or the AvMap Geosat 6 APRS , the communication cable should be disconnected. Strange and/or bad things can occur if you fail to head this warning! b. Starting with the Kenwood TM-D700.
APRS functions Screen # Item Select/Enter 3-1 CALL SIGN {your call sign} 3-2 GPS UNIT- NEMA FORMAT {NEMA96} 3-3 WAYPOINT {9 DIGITS NEMA} 3-5 POS AMBIGUITY {OFF} 3-7 POS LIMIT {OFF} 3-B PACKET PATH {WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2} 3-C PACKET TRANSMIT METHOD {AUTO} 3-D PACKET TRANSFER INTERVAL {3 MIN.} NOTE: Smaller times (<5min) are for mobile units while stationary stations will use longer times (~10 min. and up) 3-J PACKET TRANSFER RATE {1200 bps} Making it all work! a.
APRS Functions Check for a good click into the unit. c. NOW POWER UP BOTH UNITS! d. If your Kenwood D700 powers up in VFO mode (voice communications) push and hold the [F] button for 1 second and then push the [TNC] button. This will place your D700 in {TNC APRS} mode. e. DOES IT WORK?? You will know you have done it right when you see {GPS} blinking at the top of your D700 screen and {1200} just to the right of that constantly on. The blinking GPS means that your GEOSAT 6 APRS is ‘TALKING’ to your D700! f.
APRS functions Set-up for Kenwood TH-D7 A/E with the AvMap Geosat 6 APRS NOTE: These instructions assume you have basic familiarity with operation of both the TH-D7 A/E and the AvMap Geosat 6 APRS . a. While programming the Kenwood TH-D7 and/or the AvMap Geosat 6 APRS, the communication cable should be disconnected. Strange and/or bad things can occur if you fail to heed this warning! b. Starting with the Kenwood TH-D7.
APRS Functions Screen # Item Select/Enter 2-1 CALL SIGN {your call sign} 2-2 GPS UNIT {NEMA96} 2-3 WAYPOINT {9 DIGITS NEMA} 2-5 POS AMBIGUITY {OFF} 2-7 POS LIMIT {OFF} 2-B PACKET PATH {WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2} 2-C DATA TX {AUTO} 2-D PACKET TRANSFER INTERVAL {3 MIN.} NOTE: Smaller times (<5min) are for mobile units while stationary stations will use longer times (~10 min. and up) 2-N PACKET SPEED {1200 bps} Making it all work! a.
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