On 7/27/99 8:58 AM Hamish Moffatt ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote:
>
>I'm finally linked in to our local APRS RF net (which now consists of
>3 stations, 2 of which are permanent (not mine yet)). I'm using WinAPRS,
>but obviously want to be running something on Linux instead.
>
>Here are the features I would like; can somebody who knows about APRS
>on Linux (eg Steve) tell me what can be done now and what with?
>
>My basic list:
>
>* Transmit my fixed position on VHF using the kernel AX25. I'd like to use
> a dedicated computer with the soundmodem, leaving my TNC for other packet
> work.
>* Receive position reports.
>* Send position reports to the internet, ie offer an igate or whatsitcalled.
>* APRS digipeating.
>
>I think aprsdigi can do all this stuff? Perhaps except #1?
>
It only does 1 and 4, to the best of my knowledge. A program called aprsd
does the igating, available at http://www.wa4dsy.radio.org. So far, it
isn't compatible with the Linux AX-25 support, it accesses the serial
port directly. The source code is available and just needs someone to add
the support.
Receive the position reports...well, to some extent both do this, but
neither has any provision to display what they have received.
>Nice things to have:
>
>* Receive and send APRS text messages. I've used these on WinAPRS tonight
> and they're kind of handy.
>* Graphical map viewer with station positions indicated.
>
There are two embryonic X clients for APRS. Both access the serial port
directly (though both plan to support kernel routines), and both are
alpha. One of them, xastir, is released with source code, though so far
no-one has offered to help the author. See
http://www.eazy.net/users/fgiannan/xastir/
The other is being done by the Sprouls, the authors of MacAPRS and
WinAPRS. These version, as well as their upcoming WinCE version, all
share a common code base. This means when they get their X routines done,
the client will have a very mature feature set. Info on this version is
available at http://aprs.rutgers.edu, and the program can be downloaded
from ftp://aprs.rutgers.edu/pub/hamradio/APRS/Xaprs/
>It appears that if a text message can't be delivered straight away,
>the sending system keeps it and retries. So unless I actually had my
>visual client connected, I wouldn't be able to receive messages. It would
>be nice if there were some way to receive them anyway and just view them
>all when I connected my client, ie the igate would buffer them.
There is an IRC interface available, which monitors the internet stream
looking for messages, it would be another option that works
cross-platform. Info on this is available at
http://fastolfe.net/ham/ircserve/
Steve K4HG
