aprs.fi

[wb0qir]

I have an Icom IC-2200h and a garmin vista gps.  I am able to see my location in the IC2200h and am showing up on the dstarusers list.  I am not showing up on aprs.fi.  Does anyone have any ideas why I'm not?

[Pete AE5PL]

Have you configured your radio with the path specified at http://www.aprs-is.net/dprs.aspx (mandatory)?  Be sure the local repeater is in RPT1, the local gateway in RPT2, and CQCQCQ is in URCALL.

Hope this helps.

73,

Pete AE5PL

[n5ebw]

Pete,

Can you clarify for everyone why the G setting needs to be in RPT2?  I remember you saying that it needed to be in order to send the traffic to the APRS monitor software that has been added to the gateway, but I don't remember exactly the reasoning.  I know without a setting in RPT2, the traffic doesn't go to the gateway computer on it's own.

[Pete AE5PL]

You basically answered your question: without the gateway in RPT2, the gateway never sees the bit stream that the repeater sees.  Having the gateway in RPT2 tells the repeater controller "send this bit stream to the gateway in addition to repeating the signal on RF".

This is also necessary if, for instance, you want to talk to someone who is using a DVDongle.  They will only hear people on the repeaters if those people have the gateway in RPT2.

Gateway in RPT2: gateway sees the transmission
RPT2 empty or misconfigured: gateway only sees that you transmitted, not what was transmitted.

Hope this helps.

73,

Pete AE5PL

[KC9UBS]

I have bought the Icom 2820H.
I have not yet got the digital add-on yet but have some questions about APRS.
I am confused about what I have been reading over the net.
One place says that to use Dstar and have it work with APRS that you have to have a TNC and a computer.
So places, like here, say all you have to do is setup the radio with GPS-A and setting RPT1 and RPT2.

So here are my questions.
Can it be done?
How do I do it?
What all do I need?
I want my position to show up on aprs.fi
Is there a map like aprs.fi for Dstar users?

Sorry I know these question are simple to y'all but I am new at this and very confused.

Thanks,
Tommy

p.s. Not a ham operator yet but will be very soon.

[Pete AE5PL]

I have bought the Icom 2820H.
I have not yet got the digital add-on yet but have some questions about APRS.
I am confused about what I have been reading over the net.
One place says that to use Dstar and have it work with APRS that you have to have a TNC and a computer.
So places, like here, say all you have to do is setup the radio with GPS-A and setting RPT1 and RPT2.

So here are my questions.
Can it be done?
How do I do it?
What all do I need?
I want my position to show up on aprs.fi
Is there a map like aprs.fi for Dstar users?

Sorry I know these question are simple to y'all but I am new at this and very confused.

Thanks,
Tommy

You can either run the IC-2820 as an analog radio with a tracker or other TNC on one channel and your voice on another (same as how it was done with the IC-2720) OR you can run one side in D-STAR mode and communicate via the myriad of repeaters.  I say this as an "exclusive or" because D-STAR allows you to carry your GPS information (GPS or GPS-A mode) in the same bitstream as your digital voice.  Most D-STAR repeater systems have the ability to feed APRS-IS with your D-STAR position reports (this is the definition of D-PRS).  You can find out more about D-PRS at http://www.aprs-is.net/dprs.aspx

Hope this helps.

[KC9UBS]

No sorry that does not really help LOL  
I am a little slow on this.

I have looked at that site and from what i get is that;
All I have to do to get my 2820H to work with APRS and display my location on aprs.fi is set the GPS-A and PRT1 and RPT2 and UNPROTO. No other equipment to buy or hook up. (Other than the Dstar board and GPS antenna)
Is this correct??

Or do I have to have a TNC and computer hooked up to 2820H?

Also wanted to know if there is a mapping web site for Dstar users like aprs.fi?

Thanks,
Tommy

EDIT;
One other thing that just crossed my mind.
Can the 2820H use APRS without going through the Dstar repeater (incase there are no Dstar repeaters where I might be, I travel)
I think Pete said something about this "with a tracker or other TNC on one channel". How would this be done?

[Pete AE5PL]

Repeat after me: D-STAR is not APRS; APRS is not D-STAR; D-STAR supports concurrent transmission of GPS information which can be translated at a D-STAR repeater to APRS format on APRS-IS.

My previous post differentiated between APRS and D-STAR.  Forget about the Internet (and aprs.fi) for the purpose of this.  You are talking about the IC-2820H -radio- on RF.  For it to operate APRS on RF, you must run it in analog mode (not D-STAR mode) with an external tracker or other TNC.  For it to send its position as part of a D-STAR, you must have the digital module and enable the internal GPS or GPS-A mode.

As a benefit of D-STAR, the GPS information is automatically sent (when enabled) when you transmit in digital mode (D-STAR).  A further benefit is your position will be translated to an APRS format and injected into APRS-IS (APRS on the Internet) at most D-STAR repeater sites.

What I am telling you is that APRS does not equal D-STAR or vice versa.  Properly configured D-STAR radios being used to talk on a properly configured repeater will have the position translated to APRS and sent to APRS-IS.  This translation only occurs on D-STAR repeaters and other radios connected to PCs or other devices running D-PRS software.  That is where the equivalence ends.  The radios do not know how to spell APRS, let alone do anything with it ;-)  The radios can send GPS information (not APRS format even though GPS-A mode looks like it might be APRS; it isn't) when you are talking and software connected to a receiver (repeater in most cases) can translate that GPS information into APRS format.

Don't try to think of them as the same and you will start to understand.

[KC9UBS]

Oh ok. I guess that might be my fault the way I tried to explain it. I know APRS and Dstar are different. But was confused on how to send the GPS data to work with the repeaters.

So all I have to do is setup the radio correctly (GPS or GPS-A) with the Dstar module install. The GPS data will be converted by the Dstar repeater.

So I guess then if there is no Dstar repeater around I cannot transmit my GPS data? (well that is kinda a stupid question LOL)

Sounds simple. Then why are all the other site I look say you cannot do it without a TNC?

Thanks for bearing with me. I might sound stupid on this but I was really confused.

Thanks,
Tommy

[Pete AE5PL]

Then why are all the other site I look say you cannot do it without a TNC?

Because your question was about APRS and that requires an analog TNC in their minds.  D-PRS is the conversion of Icom GPS information contained in the D-STAR digital voice bit stream to APRS format.  For the IC-2820 to be used directly with APRS, it requires a TNC to transmit AX.25 packets.  For the IC-2820 to be used in D-STAR mode, it does not require a TNC as D-STAR is a digital bit stream already.

Hope this helps and have fun!

[n5ebw]

Here's something that I drew in the interest of visual learning, because that works for me.  This isn't intended to be 100% technically accurate, but hits on the high points of the concepts you're asking about.  Just a forewarning so the APRS experts don't burn me at the stake (although I wouldn't mind being taken out for STEAK!)    Here are the two setups you were wanting clarification of, and the piece parts involved to make each of them go to aprs.fi, with, and without the D-Star module.  If you don't have a D-Star repeater in range, you need the analog option to make your coordinates show up on aprs.is, but bear in mind that SOMEWHERE down the line, a gateway to the internet is involved, whether on a receiving digipeater with an i-gate installed, or a D-Star repeater with an D-PRS gateway installed.

EDIT: Fixed per Pete's suggestion.

[Pete AE5PL]

Call the "APRS Gateway" at the repeater site a "D-PRS Gateway" as it is a translation gateway from D-STAR to APRS (definition of D-PRS).  Also, rename "aprs.fi" to "APRS-IS".  aprs.fi is a database web site just like findu.com, jfindu.net, and a myriad of other web sites.  APRS-IS is the network they all monitor and APRS-IS is the network that the packets actually pass through.  It is problematic that people think any one of these database web sites is APRS-IS; they are not.  APRS-IS is the network that interconnects amateur radio RF networks, APRS RF networks and D-STAR users with GPS data.

[KC9UBS]

Cool now I got it
Thank y'all so very much for bearing with a stupid noobie 

Thanks,
Tommy

[n5ebw]

Thank y'all so very much for bearing with a stupid noobie 

You're not stupid, and we were ALL noob's at one point in time.

[KC9UBS]

p.s. Not a ham operator yet but will be very soon.

Just an update;
I have passed my tech exam and as soon as I get my call sign I will change my username here.

Thanks,
Tommy