Does everyone realize that they all have their own callsign WEB page that they can update anywhere, anytime, via ham radio and even without internet access?
Any operator with a radio and his old TNC, and no special software can post just about anything for others to see... Including sending email. See the following AMSAT example:
I just checked http://map.findu.com/w6gmt and don't see any position info on your [traveling satellite] station?
APRS is the project for the summer. So by June I should be back on the digi birds.
Actually, I was not suggesting APRS via the birds, but simply using an APRS weblink as a means for informing everyone about your schedules and locations, status and announcements. Everyone with a callsign has an APRS web page... Just tell others to look there for your info. You -don't-even-need-to-run-APRS!
All it takes to create your own instant web page for all the world to see is to TRANSMIT a single successful packet on 144.39 anywhere in North America, or 144.80 in Europe (etc), and then the above web page will work for your callsign. I will use W6GMT's cross country traveling satellite station as an example for how to take advantage of this capability from the field...
1) Set radio to 144.39 (in north america) 2) Set UNPROTO APRTNC VIA WIDE2-2 3) Set CONVERse mode
From this point on, anything you type will go to your FINDU APRS
web page as long as it is in APRS format. Just transmit it once successfully. If you see it digipeated, then you can safely assume in most areas of the world, that it also got into the global APRS system. To make sure, wait a minute and send it again.. The simplest format is GRID Square. While in CONVERSE mode, just type this:
[FM19sx] Sittin here waiting for AO51.
Then go to the above web page, and you will see your station at that location and with that text. Even if it was just one packet, it will be there for up to 10 days. The age of the packet is also shown. You can only have one such position packet existing at any one time and using gridsquare, the position will only be approximate. New ones will replace old ones. But you can have as many MESSAGES as you want. Type this:
:BLN1ABCDE: Operating times today will be 1430z from Grand Canyon
The above web page will now have a link to ALL of your messages, which will include this bulletin. Additional bulletins can be BLN2, BLN3 and so on. The "abcde" is just to make sure that you padd the format to the indicated number of bytes.. You can even send someone an email. Just type:
:EMAIL : [email protected] hi joe, will arrive tonight at 10PM.
There has to be four spaces after the EMAIL in this case for padding and the first thing after the colon has to be a valid email address. Do it correctly, and it will get delivered.
MULTIPLE OBJECTS: Another good example for a mobile traveler might be to put out future waypoints. But each waypoint has to have its own callsign. The easiest way to do that is to change the MY CALLSIGN in the TNC. Make W6GMT-1 be the first waypoint, and say W6GMT-2 be the second waypoint.... So make each MYCALL change in the TNC, then type in the way point in the above gridsquare format:
For MYCALL W6GMT-1, type: [EN45gh] Waypoint for 1400z on 25 Mar.
For MYCALL W6GMT-2, type: [EN46ab] Expected location on 1500z Friday
And so forth. That is why the universal web page for any HAM on the FINDU system should end in an asteerix (*) so that all of his waypoints or other objects will show up. For example http://map.findu.com/wb4apr*
Just think of it. Carry a TNC with you in your car, and you can communicate with the world anywhere, anytime, via the Internet. Just a tiny example of all the potential applications of packet radio and APRS and the web to improve our ability to communicate
APRS, it is NOT just vehicle tracking!
Bob, WB4APR