The APRS Messenger program provides a simple way to send and receive APRS messages from an APRS TNC Digi Tracker on VHF and by APRS over PSK and GMSK modes on HF.

Features include:

• Serial terminal program to setup APRS TNC Digi Tracker

• APRS over PSK-63 and GMSK-250 for high performance HF APRS using the PC soundcard

• Receive only Igate for VHF APRS and HF APRS over PSK-63 and GMSK-250

• APRS over PSK and GMSK has packet error checking and frequency hopping receiver AFC

• GPS beaconing over APRS over PSK-63 and GMSK-250 for HF mobile use

• Now with nine simultaneous receivers for PSK-63 and GMSK-250

• Now has PSK-63, GMSK-250 and APRS-IS only transmit options

• Simple to use for APRS messaging to the latest APRS specification

• Emergency messaging format for special event and emergency use

• Packet converse mode for multi-operator net messaging

• All messages saved to separate transmit and receive log files on the computer hard drive for later evaluation

• Can send messages with non-English characters depending on Windows language settings

• TCP/IP output on port 8063 to connect to RadioMobile or APRSIS32 for map display

• Tested on all versions of Windows from Windows 95 to Windows 7

APRS Messenger version 2.85 can be downloaded as a freeware 1.3 MB zip file here.
This version has APRS over PSK-63 and GMSK-250.
This version has four or more software receivers per mode to improve the receive performance with a revised receiver routine.
The GMSK modes are useful as they can be run at full power through a SSB transceiver or Class C amplifier.
It also has an APRS-IS transmit option to send messages to other radio amateurs directly via the APRS-IS internet system.
This version will run on all versions of Windows and uses minimal CPU resources so will run on older PC's.
It has also been tested running on Linux on Ubuntu 10.04 running on Wine.

The frequency used for APRS over PSK or GMSK is 10.1497 MHz. Radio frequency on a SSB transceiver is dial frequency + tone frequency USB or dial frequency - tone frequency LSB. Igates in Europe and the US are already in operation. Please use an SSID of -63 for APRS over PSK and GMSK operation. The original program only had PSK-63 hence the choice of -63.

Take a look at the Cross Country Wireless End Fed Antenna if you need an efficient high performance 30m antenna.

Although the program is designed to promote our APRS TNC Digi Tracker it will work with other serial TNC's that accept the conv and Ctl-C commands for converse operation.

info@crosscountrywireless.net for more details or to provide feedback on the program.

Click to join cross_country_wireless

APRS is a registered trademark of Bob Bruninga WB4APR. Click here to view Bob's website.
Cross Country Wireless (2009) Ltd is licensed by the trademark holder so that our APRS TNC Digi Tracker can be offered as a commercial product.

APRS is an international network of amateur radio stations providing real-time GPS based vehicle or event position reporting, weather reporting and simple message handling for educational, experimental or emergency use. APRS uses a common radio frequency of 144.800 MHz throughout Europe. Digital repeating (digipeating) is used to extend the range of mobile and low power stations over a wider area. In addition to the radio network internet gateways provide a two-way port to the APRS-IS (APRS Internet System) so that stations local to the gateway can be seen worldwide on APRS viewing programs such as Xastir or UI-View.

APRS over PSK and GMSK is a new mode allowing mobile or fixed station APRS operation on HF from remote areas away from the coverage of the VHF APRS network. Using 10.1497 MHz as a common frequency in Europe and the USA a typical range of 400 to 2000 miles from fixed and mobile stations using modest equipment can be expected. There are several Igates operating in Europe and the USA transferring received packets and messages from 10.1497 MHz to the APRS-IS.


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