AUTOMATIC PACKET/ POSITION REPORTING SYSTEM®

The Automatic Packet/ Position Reporting System (APRS®) is a software program and registered trademark of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR. He has made packet communications much more exciting than before. This program allows you to track mobile stations on a map which you recall on a computer screen. Imagine seeing one mobile station moving on the map which can be scaled from .5 to 2000 miles. You also may be tracked on the computer screen of another station. Stations to be tracked must transmit beacons at certain intervals. To track other stations, you usually need a computer running the APRS, a transceiver, and a TNC. To have them track you, you also need a GPS receiver. It receives signals from the satellites to inform you of your current geographical position. GPS stands for Global Positioning System. The APRS interprets the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) data strings coming from the GPS receiver. For further information, consult Internet Web pages relating to the APRS. You may use one of the Internet search engines to find correct URLs.

This transceiver includes a TNC and a program for dealing with data formats supported by the APRS. Its display shows information each time correct APRS data is received; you do not need a computer. It also allows you to manually enter position data (latitude/ longitude) to transmit; use this function if you do not have a GPS receiver. Besides position data this transceiver can receive or transmit the following information:

Station icon

Weather reporting 1

 

 

Position comment

Status text

 

 

Moving speed 2

Moving direction 2

1Receive only

2Can be transmitted only when using a GPS receiver.

This transceiver has a PC jack and GPS jack to connect with a personal computer and a GPS receiver. This manual, however, does not describe APRS communications which require these equipment.

Note:

◆Turn OFF the transceiver power before making the connections.

◆The GPS jack also accepts a 2.5 mm (1/10") 3-conductor plug. You may use the provided cable {page 1} to modify the cable end of your GPS receiver. The connection of each conductor (TXD/ RXD/ GND) is the same as the plug on the PG-4W {page 53}.

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PG-4W

To COM port

GPS receiver

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