APRS – Locating Essex Amateur Radio

Amateur Radio operators use a system called APRS to track their location. Some handheld and mobile radios come with APRS, or ham operators can use a computer or smartphone top update and share their location with other operators.

Essex APRS Map:

Here’s a real-time map of amateur radio activity in Essex now:


iPhone APRS Application

Don’t want to splash out on expensive APRS equipment? If you have a smartphone, you can use this to report your position to an APRS server. It’s very easy to set up, and quite impressive.

There are a few iPhone APRS applications out there – my personal favourite is Ham Tracker – (iTunes Link)

 

Handy links

Want to see a good example of APRS in action? Check out the Truckcam.tv site to see live video feeds from some Essex Hams

7 Comments

  1. Andy M0KVR 28 December 2011 Reply

    A Useful app for android users can be found at http://aprsdroid.org/. An excellent piece of APRS software, free from the authors site or a paid version from the android market to support the author and enable automatic updates.. Andy M0KVR

  2. Joel 9 January 2012 Reply

    I have an iPhone 4 and found you can login to the aprs.fi website via the safari broswer and send your location without an app. You have to give permission in the settings for safari to send your location and set the auto key lock to never as when the phone locks it stops sending your position. Joel G0URK

  3. Neil G0RNU 5 February 2012 Reply

    great to see the real time aprs map pete

  4. jason 28 September 2014 Reply

    hi guys maybe worth sticking on your map , I run a public dstar hotspot MB6SE, your all more than welcome to use it, more info on facebook group MB6SE, located in Thorpe bay southend on sea , cheers jay

  5. Andrew 24 September 2015 Reply

    Hi, Does anyone know of software that can be used on either the Wouxun KG-UV950P or the Yeasu FT7900 with a PC and the USB programming cable?
    Is this possible?

    • Matty Cunningham 13 December 2015 Reply

      Hi,

      I used a hardware TNC with a Yaesu FT-8900 with APRS a while back.

      The rear connector on these is the same as the data mode/tnc connector on many hf rigs, so if you have something similar for PSK, then you maybe able to use this with AGWPE, or similar sound card tnc software.

      I would recommend a hardware tnc though.

      Cheers

      Matty MD0MAN

  6. Andyzot 13 December 2015 Reply

    Thank you. I have a Signalink USB on my HF setup so guess I’ll need to make another purchase.

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