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- APRS at Essex Raynet events
- APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting
System) is being utilised by Essex Raynet more frequently at
events. It is hoped that more members will embrace this
mode of communication to allow greater flexibility to planners
and controllers to deploy operators to specific positions.
- The ability to transmit positional data which can be
displayed on a PC.
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- An APRS system requires a GPS, a Packet radio transmission
system on one end and a packet radio receiver and a computer on
the other end of the system.
- The first system (mobile operator
either on foot or in a vehicle) acquires its location
from a GPS receiver and encodes it in a standardized format as a string of
text and transmits that information as a beacon. The
transmission is NOT directed at any one station but rather
beaconed out for all listening stations to hear and interpret.
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 The second system
(control Station) receives the information and using APRS software
(e.g. UI-View), decodes the packet and, typically, places an icon on a map
showing the transmitting station's location.
How APRS used by Raynet
Operators and vehicles equipped with APRS can be tracked by the
event control station. This information can then be
used to deploy the nearest operator to an incident. At a
charity event this may be to the site of a medical emergency or to a
rest centre during a major incident.
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- At the St Helena
Hospice Midnight Walk in June 2009, the event
control were able to track the ambulance, support
vehicle and sweeper.
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- This is a
time-lapsed representation of what was achieved by
using APRS.
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- St
John Ambulance
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- St
Helena support vehicle
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 (Callsign)
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Checkpoint
operators |
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- Sweeper
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The more members who operate
APRS, will assist event controllers with decision making
and planning.
For help establishing a fixed or
mobile APRS station, contact your area controller.
More information to follow in due course.
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