Getting Started with APRS and Direwolf

In this video we show how to decode APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) packets using Direwolf. We show how to setup the hardware (connecting the radio to the computer, various interface cables, etc.) as well as the software (Direwolf configuration file, log file, parsing/extracting data from the APRS packets, etc.)

Topics and timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction
4:12 – Connecting radio to computer
17:06 – Direwolf setup
27:38 – Testing setup

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[howdydoodyb]

You, my friend, are a good teacher! Thanks.

[mikebohemia]

Thanks Chris for taking the trouble to inform us. Very interesting and useful. 73 and good health.

[rvhacks]

You made APRS very easy! Thank you! Glad you used an inexpensive Baofeng which is probably the only radio out there that almost every ham has. No exotic hardware and open source software - bravo! Where did you get your 1-foot "Reverse Cable Adapter" ? I can't seem to find one of that description. While anyone could use a trrs cable and break it out to mic and speakers, I liked the single cable you used - very clean and no extra connectors dangling.

[maurogiovanardi]

Very well explained, thank you, greetings from PU8BLG.

[gobfranklin]

Appreciate the information! Just starting out in getting my ham lic.

[buxt-tech]

I noticed a cubesat packet in the list, that outlier is probably from a satellite!

[ag]

You are going to capture and interfere with a huge area with a 5 second beacon for others using APRS.

[joel]

Have you covered adding a GPS unit like the UBlox?

[VKAV]

Great video. I tried to find your video you mentioned re the arduino aprs tracker but couldn't find it. Can you please post a link? Many thanks Tim.

[jodyTm]

Hello Chris and others here. I am trying to get my SAR team on APRS for our roaming DMR network in the fiedl to report back locations when we dont have connectivity to the internet. this seems like the right solution we normally have 10-20 assets we would like to track on a unified map.
Someone has mentioned CivTAK with LoRa modules, but i would need to outfit and wire our command posts and mobile units for hosting those compared to having one or two dedicated radios for APRS decoding to direwolf. would this solution (in the right rx environment be able to host that many assets comfortably? sorry I'm new to aprs.

[thomasmanson]

This is really cool Chris! I’ll be anxious to follow along with your weather balloon (I hope I’m not way too late). 73 Tom KC3QAC-7

[ManuelPinner]

I Use Sdr Angel, With a SDR Play Dx,

[alistairboyd]

This is surely one of the worst ill-prepared videos I have ever watched on the subject of APRS, why are you speaking so fast? Are you nervous? You show a box that has a rats nest of cables that you ramble on about. Delete the video. Take time on what you are trying to do and start again. I have learned ZILCH.

[morlanius]

What a shame, this is too hard to watch, I'll find another video on the subject. He uses too many words to say very little, adds pointless steps and repeats himself too much.

[kcstafford]

my kids could have wired up that box better intrest....

[kleinbiker]

Very informative video! I finally got my digirig to work and listen to APRS packets.

[cossda]

Bro....I realize this is old but I sincerely hope you didnt beacon every 5 seconds with that thing. That is awful etiquette.

And its AX.25 protocol.

[howdydoodyb]

I don't recall you saying, but did you have to turn on vox on the radio, and, if so, what setting?

[dalewarnok]

I believe that all those other stations' packets are being heard because especially with your Baofeng radio laying down in a vertically-polarized radio medium, you are receiving from a nearby high-powered bi-directional iGate that is receiving over the Internet from those distant stations.

There are many such iGates in the Puget Sound region.

[AGEMilan]

Long time ago, packet radio is used to be send and receive text. But no more. Only receiving. How ??