Join us Monday, Apr 21 to learn about APRS & Tuesday, Apr 22 for DMR Tech Net TV with Steve White N2REW about APRS.to

Every Monday night, join us on the DMR Tech Net as we try to make Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) fun to use and easier to understand!

Monday night, April 21st, the DMR Tech Net team welcomes Steve White N2REW to discuss APRS, digipeaters, and his APRS.to website (https://aprs.to/). We’d love to hear your questions and comments about Automatic Packet Reporting System.

We’re on Brandmeister Talk Group 31266 (Michigan Nets channel) for the DMR Tech Net on Monday, starting at 7:30 PM ET. The net will conclude at 8:25pm to allow time for you to QSY over to BrandMeister talk group 3126 for the Michigan One DMR Net at 8:30 PM ET until May 5^th. More details about the new MichiganOne DMR Tech Net are in the newsletter further below.

DMR Tech Net TV is a monthly show broadcast on Zoom on the third Tuesday of each month. We’ll be live April 22 from 8pm ET-9pm ET with Steve White N2RWE explaining APRS.

To join the DMR Tech Net TV Zoom meeting, click the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84447664395?pwd=djZMbFZaWVRkRDRudkRFeWc2WWV4UT09

Another option is to go to https://zoom.us/, then select “Join” (in the top right-hand corner), and input the following details to connect to the DMR Tech Net TV Zoom meeting:

Meeting ID: 844 4766 4395
Passcode: 370040

To join with only your phones’ audio, dial (312) 626-6799 and input the following:

Meeting ID: 844 4766 4395

Passcode: 370040

DMR Tech Net upcoming topics:

April 18 World Amateur Radio Day (WARD)
April 21 Steve White N2RWE discusses APRS & how you can set up an APRS digipeater
Tuesday, April 22 DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom with Steve White N2RWE explaining APRS.to
April 28 DMR etiquette and best practices
May 5 Using Software-Based Radios (like DroidStar or BlueDV) to connect to DMR
May 12 Robert Bretzman K4WZV and Steve Smith KWØZ answer your questions about the TGIF Network & TGIF Products Store
May 16-18 Dayton Hamvention
May 19 Dayton Hamvention 2025 recap
Tuesday, May 20 DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom with Steve Smith KWØZ about the TGIF Network
May 26 How to learn more about DMR
June 2 What is HamShack Hotline & Hams Over IP?
June 9 Stan WB8QJZ explains AllStarLink (https://www.allstarlink.org/)
June 16 Handheld & mobile Antennas for DMR radios
Tuesday, June 17 DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom with Benoit Sylvestre VE2VB from BrandMeister
June 23 Using a Bluetooth headset with DMR
June 30 DMR mobile radios hints and tips
Jul 7 DMR apps to use on your cellular phone
Jul 14 Maidenhead Grid Square location system
Tuesday Jul 15 DMR Tech Net TV on Zoom going over the Open GD-77 firmware
Jul 21 Using your radio’s side/hot keys
Jul 28 Simplex vs Duplex Hotspots
Aug 4 TOT, the Time-Out Timer
Aug 11 Brad KE8WNV goes over the Open GD-77 firmware for your radio
Aug 18 Tom N8TJ will discuss Q-codes

If you have a topic suggestion for a future DMR Tech Net, please let us know! Send the email to [email protected]

To read this complete newsletter, open the attached .pdf or go to our website: https://michiganonedmrtech.net/

🔍 What is APRS with DMR?. 4

⚙️ How to Set It Up (Using Anytone D878UVII+ as an example) 4

📡 How to Use APRS on DMR.. 5

🛠️ Troubleshooting Common APRS Issues. 5

🧭 Practical Applications. 5

✅ Pros and ❌ Cons of APRS on DMR.. 5

🌐 What is APRS.to?. 5

🌍 What is APRS.fi?. 8

📊 APRS.to vs APRS.fi Comparison. Error! Bookmark not defined.

🧠 Which One Should You Use?. 9

📬 How APRS Messaging Works (Traditional Method) 9

📲 Using APRSdroid (Android Example) 9

📡 Can You Send APRS Messages with a DMR Radio (like Anytone 878UVII+)?. 9

🔁 Workaround: APRS Messaging with DMR support 10

✅ APRS Messaging: Summary. 10

APRS & DMR Enthusiast

The next generation of APRS mapping technology is here! Visit aprs.to for live, real-time data feeds of telemetry from APRS, CWOP, and more.

The site also offers several other tools for APRS enthusiasts, including geolocation searching, reverse-address lookup, as well as diagnostic tools like live packet streams, station stats, history, coordinates conversion, etc. For those into Summits on the Air (SOTA), we process SOTA information that is sent over the APRS-IS network and link it to a variety of SOTA websites.

Our servers collect and store data from the Citizens Weather network, which can be presented several forms, including weather gauges for current conditions (including dew point and wind chill), graphs of historical data, and exportable table views of weather data. There’s also a weather almanac view that shows the past 7 days of weather data recorded for every site, including daily extremes like high and low temperatures, humidity, etc.

Beyond that, check out the N2RWE APRS iGATE’s and Digipeaters…

N2RWE(-0): Home QTH TX/RX i-Gate Node running Direwolf on a virtual server cluster.
N2RWE-6: An experimental solar-powered Digipeater powered a Microsat APRS Voyager. This digipeater located in a remote area of the Tug Hill Plateau in Lewis County, New York.
N2RWE-10: An iGATE and Digipeater node located at my seasonal campsite near the Blenheim-Gilboa storage reservoir in Gilboa, NY. This node is powered by XASTIR on a Raspberry Pi and uses an old Kenwood TH-D7A(G) HT as the TNC.

My mobile APRS nodes include…

N2RWE-5: My Apple iPad for APRS.fi, use it send/receive APRS SMS.
N2RWE-7: My primary HT, an Anytone 878UVII HT.
N2RWE-9: My primary mobile, an Anytone 578UVIII Plus mounted in my Ford F-250 pickup.

I also have 2 APRS-enabled DMR Hotspots…

N2RWE-A: My home QTH in Syracuse, NY.
N2RWE-D: My RV in Gilboa, NY.

More info at aprs.to (under construction).

Steve White N2RWE

Automatic Packet Reporting System

APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) is a digital communications protocol for exchanging information among a large number of stations covering a large (local) area. It was developed by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, in the 1980s. APRS uses packet radio technology to transmit and receive information, such as location data, weather reports, text messages, and telemetry data, between amateur radio stations. It is a digital communication system that sends packets of data via radio waves to exchange messages and information over short distances.

🔍 What is APRS with DMR?

APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) is a digital communication protocol that allows real-time sharing of:

GPS position data
Weather reports
Messaging
Status and telemetry

When used with DMR (Digital Mobile Radio), APRS typically works by sending location and data packets through a DMR repeater or hotspot using a digital data channel, then relaying it to internet-based APRS-IS networks via BrandMeister.

⚙️ How to Set It Up (Using Anytone D878UVII+ as an example)

Turn on GPS:
- Menu → GPS → GPS On
Enable GPS Data Transmit:
- Menu → GPS → GPS Send → Turn ON
Configure APRS Settings (in CPS software):
- Under APRS settings:
  - APRS Type: DMR
  - APRS TG: 310999 (or your BrandMeister regional APRS TG)
  - APRS Report Channel: Choose a channel with your hotspot or repeater
  - Your Call Sign
  - Symbol (icon): Choose a symbol (like a car or person)
  - Send Interval: Typically every 60s–300s
- Save and write the codeplug to your radio.
Set the Right Channel:
- Create a channel that uses the TG for APRS (like 310999) on TS2.
- Link it to your hotspot or repeater.
Set GPS to Broadcast Automatically:
- Menu → GPS → GPS Send Interval (select a reasonable time like 1–5 minutes)
Connect to BrandMeister:
- Use a hotspot or repeater that supports BrandMeister.
- Log into your BM dashboard and enable APRS in your self-care.

📡 How to Use APRS on DMR

Once set up, your Anytone will periodically transmit your GPS location via the selected APRS TG.
The BrandMeister network will receive it and forward to APRS-IS.
You can check your position on aprs.fi by searching for your callsign.

🛠️ Troubleshooting Common APRS Issues

Problem	Possible Fix
Not appearing on aprs.fi	– Make sure you’re on the right TG (usually 310999) – Confirm GPS fix (satellite icon appears) – Check BrandMeister self-care settings
GPS not locking	– Move to open sky – Enable GPS in settings
Nothing is transmitting	– Check that GPS Send is turned on – Confirm the APRS interval is set – Use a known-working hotspot
Wrong location or symbol	– Double-check CPS APRS config – Ensure correct symbol code is used

🧭 Practical Applications

Search and Rescue: Track individuals or vehicles in the field.
Public Events: Coordinate net control, aid stations, mobile units.
Traveling Hams: Let others track your location en route.
Beaconing info: Broadcast status messages or weather data.

✅ Pros and ❌ Cons of APRS on DMR

Pros	Cons
✅ Integrates with digital nets and repeaters	❌ Less flexible than analog APRS
✅ Great for GPS tracking and mapping	❌ Needs correct BrandMeister setup
✅ Uses existing radio and network	❌ Limited to APRS-GPS data (no messaging on Anytone)
✅ Can run passively in the background	❌ Relies on DMR infrastructure and internet access

Here’s a breakdown of APRS.to vs. APRS.fi, both tools in the APRS ecosystem—but with different vibes and use cases.

🌐 What is APRS.to?

APRS.to is a modern web-based APRS viewer and utility designed to be:

Fast, mobile-friendly, and minimalist
An open-source alternative to aprs.fi
Focused on location tracking, station info, and quick searches
Integrated with other ham tools like HamClock and Dashboard software

✨ Key Features:

Clean and responsive UI (great on mobile)
Shows location, heading, speed, and last heard info
Built-in QRZ.com integration (if callsign is registered)
Simple URL structure (you can link directly to https://aprs.to/YourCallsign)
No ads or extra clutter
Good for rapid lookups and embedded use

APRS.to vs APRS.fi Comparison

Feature	APRS.to	APRS.fi
🧭 UI Style	Minimal, mobile-first	Feature-rich, desktop-style
📍 GPS Tracking	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
⏱️ Beacon History	❌ Limited (recent only)	✅ Full history available
🗺️ Map Features	Basic	Advanced with overlays
📩 Messaging Support	❌ No	✅ Yes (with supported radios)
📊 Telemetry & Weather	❌ Not shown	✅ Fully supported
🔧 Technical Tools	❌ Minimal	✅ Digipeater/iGATE diagnostics
📱 Mobile Usability	✅ Optimized	⚠️ Usable, but more cluttered
🔗 Embed/Integration	✅ Easy URLs	✅ with API
💵 Cost/Ads	Free, no ads	Free with some ads

📟 Example:

Go to https://aprs.to/N8TJ and boom—you see your info, location, path, and time last heard.

🌍 What is APRS.fi?

APRS.fi is the original powerhouse APRS mapping site. It provides:

Full-featured map views with history
Beacon tracking
Messaging (when supported)
Digipeater/iGATE/hardware diagnostics
Telemetry and weather station info
Embedded map tools and historical playback

✨ Key Features:

Comprehensive data history
Map overlays (OpenStreetMap, satellite, etc.)
Station filtering, sorting, and tracking multiple stations
Messaging support (when your client supports it)
Deep analytics and logging
Good for detailed investigation or multi-station monitoring

🧠 Which One Should You Use?

Use APRS.to when you:
- Want to quickly check a station (especially on mobile)
- Are embedding APRS info in a dashboard
- Want a clean, no-nonsense display
Use APRS.fi when you:
- Want historical tracking, telemetry, or map overlays
- Need to troubleshoot a digipeater or iGate
- Want messaging, weather data, or multi-station tracking

Sending a text message via APRS is a cool feature that lets you send short messages from one station to another, often using a callsign as the recipient. Here’s how to do it, depending on your setup. Since you’re working in the DMR world with an Anytone 878UVII+, I’ll explain both traditional APRS messaging and what’s currently possible with DMR radios like yours.

📬 How APRS Messaging Works (Traditional Method)

APRS messaging is like texting over radio. Each message is sent to a callsign, and can be:

Unicast (to a specific station)
Broadcast (to a group or object)
Acknowledged or unacknowledged

Messages are usually 67 characters or less and can be sent using:

APRS-enabled radios (like Yaesu FT2DR/FT5DR, Kenwood TH-D74)
Desktop clients (e.g., APRSISCE, YAAC)
Mobile apps (e.g., APRSdroid)

📲 Using APRSdroid (Android Example)

Install APRSdroid.
Enter your callsign and APRS-IS passcode.
Connect via Internet or Bluetooth TNC (if using RF).
Go to Messaging tab.
Type recipient callsign (e.g., KC0MYP), enter message, and send.
APRS-IS or RF will try to route it. If successful, the recipient can reply.

📡 Can You Send APRS Messages with a DMR Radio (like Anytone 878UVII+)?

👉 Not directly.

The Anytone 878UVII+ and most DMR radios currently only support APRS position beaconing, not full APRS messaging. This means:

You can send GPS coordinates via DMR TGs (like 310999 on BrandMeister).
But you can’t send or receive text messages via APRS from the radio itself.

🔁 Workaround: APRS Messaging with DMR support

You can do limited messaging if you:

Use a DMR-to-APRS gateway (like Pi-Star with Python scripts).
Interface with software (Direwolf + YAAC) via computer and TNC.
Use apps like aprs.fi’s messaging page (internet only).

✅ APRS Messaging: Summary

Method	Works on Anytone 878?	Notes
Position Beaconing	✅ Yes	Sends GPS via BM APRS TG
Text Messaging (RF)	❌ No	Not supported natively
APRSdroid Messaging	❌ Needs Android device	Internet or TNC required
Messaging via aprs.fi	❌ Not via radio	Browser-based texting
Yaesu/Kenwood APRS Radios	✅ Yes	Full APRS messaging support

If you can’t join us live for the DMR Tech Net, you can always listen to us via BrandMeister’s mobile Hoseline app or their Hose desktop software: (https://hose.brandmeister.network/).

We do record the show, so if you miss out and want to listen, or re-listen, to it, you can. The audio link is located at the very bottom of this post (after the show ends) on our website, along with the AI interpretation of the audio so you can read along.

You can always chat with the DMR Tech Net team on TGIF talk group 31268, the DMR Tech Net channel or Brandmeister talk group 31266, the Michigan Nets channel.

Join the DMR Tech Net team on Telegram. Just search for “DMR Tech Net.” To download Telegram, go to: https://web.telegram.org and/or https://desktop.telegram.org/

Join the DMR Tech Net team on Discord: To join the DMR Tech Net team, click this link: https://discord.gg/EV82GNuCaS . To download Discord, go to https://discord.com

If someone else forwarded this newsletter to you, why not get rid of the middle-man and subscribe yourself?!? It’s easy to join the DMR Tech Net email distribution list. Just send an email to: [email protected] with your name and callsign. If you need to unsubscribe, follow the previous procedure but put “unsubscribe” in the subject line. We’ll miss you!

To see previous newsletters, check out our website: https://michiganonedmrtech.net/

On May 5^th, the MichiganOne DMR Net will be moving to BrandMeister Talk Group 31266, the Michigan Nets Channel and combined with the DMR Tech Net. After much discussion, the DMR Tech Net team, decided this would be the best way to continue running both nets. The bottom line is that the DMR Tech Net and MichiganOne DMR Net are flip-flopping times.

The new combined net will be renamed as the MichiganOne DMR Tech Net. We will start the combined net with the check-in portion for your comments at 7:30pm. After all check-ins, re-checks, and comments are completed, we’ll switch to the DMR Tech Net segment (we estimate 8pm ET).

We’re looking for more net control operators to help us with the check-in portion of the combined net. If you are interested and would like to volunteer, notify any member of the DMR Tech Net team and/or send an email to [email protected]. Stay tuned as more changes are coming. Here is the list of the upcoming NCS (Net Control Stations) for the Michigan One DMR Net:

Apr 21 Brad KE8WNV
Apr 28 Rick AD8KN
May 5 Steve KC8WXM kicks off the new MichiganOne DMR Tech Net beginning at 7:30pm on BrandMeister talkgroup 31266 (Michigan Nets channel)

https://www.michiganonedmr.net/