Fall 2003 Issue

North Texas Hams Study APRS
In September hams gathered to discuss the Automated Position Reporting System and its use in various types of amateur radio activities. Here is a report on the activities and seminars that took place.


By Doug MacDonald, W4FH

Click on photo for larger view

The audience listens to APRS advice.

A total of 123 amateur radio operators from 46 cities throughout Texas and from as far away as Witchita, Kansas gathered Saturday, September 6, 2003 at the Conference Center at the University of Texas, Dallas Richardson Campus for an all-day workshop on the use of the Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) in ham radio. The Plano Amateur Radio Klub (PARK) and the Comet Radio Club of UTD jointly sponsored this activity. The overall coordinator for the event was John Beadles, N5OOM, who worked closely with Barry A. Goldblatt, WA5KXX, President of PARK, and Justin McAllister, K5AEA, President of the Comet Amateur Radio Club. The seminar also received wide publicity and support from Roy Raby, AD5KZ, North Texas Section Manager for the American Radio Relay League. The workshop included 18 presentations, one panel discussion, and one “show and tell” session.

Attendees at the conference included 41 Technician, 4 Tech Plus, 23 General, 6 Advanced, and 47 Extra Class licensees, and 2 non-hams. The average attendee had been an amateur radio operator for 15.9 years. Of those responding to the check-in questionnaire, 56 of the attendees already use APRS in some form, while 67 do not and were interested in learning about the mode.

APRS Background
The APRS system was developed by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, and permits automated position reporting using systems suitable for use on the amateur radio bands. The system enjoys wide popularity in the north Texas area, and the region is particularly well supported with wide-area digipeaters and stations providing “gating” services to and from the internet.
 

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