APRS-IS on Android Phones
I have wanted to run APRS for a long time now. I built a KISS TNC so I could interface to a 2M radio. I even bought a stand-alone GPS head. But, I never got around to putting everything together because I found that the radio in my car is operationally deficient. It insist on transmitting APRS data on what ever frequency is active – not a very nice thing to bleep everyone on the repeater with an APRS data burst. I am too forgetful to remember to change back to the aprs frequency.
I recently I went looking for a new VHF radio with GPS so I could do APRS without having to worry about my current radio’s problems. I was shocked to see what a new APRS-capable radio costs. There had to be a better/cheaper/simpler way.
I Googled APRS and followed a bunch of rabbit trails until I found a neat Android application…APRSdroid. APRSdroid is a free app that allows a ham to set up his Android phone to send APRS packets via the Internet (APRS-IS).
Setup is not exactly logical but it works. The first item that needs to be taken care of is to request a passcode. After 3 or 4 days you should have the passcode that will allow you to send APRS data using the app. At this point you can set up the rest of the items:
• Callsign
• Passcode
• SSID
• APRS symbol
• Status message
• Minimum update time
• Minimum update distance
• Await speed & bearing
• Use network location
• Neighborhood radius
• Connection protocol
• Server
Each of these items has a short explanation but so far there is no user documentation. The Wiki has a bit of info such as the map display does not show other stations in the neighborhood unless you are using TCP.
I have been playing with the app and have been able to send position reports and on occasion been able to see myself on the map display but have not been able to try all functions. Since the app is still in Beta things are fluid and what I comment on today may or may not work tomorrow. Hopefully this app will be fully functional and robust in the near future. I plan to use this in lieu of radio transmitted APRS until I can replace the radio in my car or when I am traveling in a vehicle without an APRS setup.