Bob Bruninga's APRS, the tactical display application par excellence of hams on the move, is immensely popular because it is so useful. #Well, Sylvain, VE2FET, just made it even more so by incorporating a handy new "function" into the already sophisticated system.
From your APRS software, simply write an APRS message to DOQRZ and any amateur Call Sign as the sole Message Content. # Abracadabra and the clever interface will instantly link up to AA7BQ's world famous QRZ.COM website, fetch the station's particulars from Fred Lloyd's giant database and send them back to you on a flat bed.
All this, while you're driving at 70mph on the Interstate or elsewhere on the globe, in a car, a truck, an airplane, a boat, etc...
When your packet/APRS message is received by DOQRZ you will receive QRZ.COM info on the requested callsign.
Just try it, you'll see, it works!
Spread the word to the ones you know who use APRS. #Especially usefull when mobile or portable.
Thanks Sylvain and thanks again Fred!!!
**Note 1: DOQRZ is "Delta Oscar... not Delta Zero...".
**Note 2: Technical Note: #If you do not receive anything from DOQRZ make sure your packets reach an I-Gate station. # For questions or comments contact Sylvain directly at ve2fet@arrl.com or http://www.ve2fet.com
**Note3: If you are using UI-VIEW32. #Please make sure that in your "Messages" window that the following Option IS NOT selected. #Again, it must NOT be selected. #See under the menu OPTIONS on the "Messages" window that "Use Default Paths For Acks" IS NOT SELECTED (NO TICK). #This will tell UI-VIEW to use the same communiation path to send back the replies/Acknowledge to DOQRZ for each line received. #This is also the best way to communicate with any one.
**Note4: If you are using an APRS software (UI-VIEW32 or others) where you have an AUTOMATIC-REPLY configured, it would be better to turn it off when using a system like DOQRZ that returns you information.
Your automatic replies will be received by DOQRZ and processed as a request for QRZ.COM information.
If you must have an autoreply, just turn it back "on" after you received all the information lines from DOQRZ.
Useful??? #After playing with it for a while a few years back, I found it to be useless...with exceptions such as uses in Skywarn, weather spoting and search and rescue activities. #Other than that my opinion is that APRS is a waste of bandwidth.
"Playing with it"? #I'm assuming you are referring to APRS.
I can understand that your lack of knowledge (referring to "playing with it") of what is and how to use APRS and its many applications is what's driving your comment about APRS.
Free UI-VIEW32 APRS software for Windows (one of them) is available here to all "licensed" Amateur Radio operators: http://www.ui-view.org/
* On APRS and APRS-IS
VE2FET-7 Mobile
VE2FET-8 Maritime Mobile
VE2FET-3 Digipeater and WX Station
VA2REH-3 Digi and Telemetry data from repeater
VE2REH-1 Digi and Telemetry data from repeater
Quote[/b] (k3oq @ Aug. 08 2007,07:00)]Useful??? After playing with it for a while a few years back, I found it to be useless...with exceptions such as uses in Skywarn, weather spoting and search and rescue activities. Other than that my opinion is that APRS is a waste of bandwidth.
After talking about APRS with a policeman friend I decided against using it on a continuous basis in any of my vehicles.
It's just too easy for someone with an intent to harm to find you on the internet this way. That could include almost anything from car-jacking to kidnapping to robbery.
If I had a young child, especially a daughter, I would think twice before broadcasting their location on the internet using APRS.
My Law Enforcement friends run APRS. APRS is only on when I am in the car but my non-Ham xyl knows how to turn on and use the D700 and IC-706 in an emergency. As soon as the D700 is turned on it beacons it's position as the GPS is always on. I think that's a good thing if she needs help. I also get wx alerts, accident and road condition reports and Amber alerts, also good things. You can also send an email and if you have a boat it is better than a 406 EPIRB as it shows a history of your course even if you don't have time to deploy your EPIRB. Not sure about DOQRZ though. 73, Nate
Quote[/b] (k3oq @ Aug. 08 2007,07:00)]It's just too easy for someone with an intent to harm to find you on the internet this way.
I suppose that if it's a spur-of-the-moment thing and they even know what APRS is (probably well under 1% of people do?), yes... but if they have a premeditated intent to do you harm, presumably they already know where to find you (at school, work, follow you home, etc.) anyway.
I'd agree, that sure, there's a chance someone is just going to watch you on APRS and come and carjack you when they see you're in the middle of nowhere, but I think you're talking about odds there that are still many order of magnitude less than, e.g., simply being involved in a car crash. :-)
APRS-like technologies have far more significant negative uses when it comes to things like your boss knowing that you frequent his competitor's store, people finding out that you've attended meetings of "radical" political groups or "cult" religious groups, your insurance company knowing you routinely speed or that you routinely eat at McDonalds, etc.
Originally Posted by [b
