APRSPoint: Overview
APRSPoint is a software application that gathers GPS information from APRS* of a specific radio and displays it on a map. The software is not free and you must have Microsoft MapPoint 2004 or 2006(also not free) to actually run the software. For VAST, this is an indispensable tool. It allows the VAST Communications team to track the balloon during flight, thus allowing an easy retrieval once it has landed.
*APRS(Automatic packet tracking system) is a nationwide radio system that allows for the transfer of data packets by radio.
Getting Started
When getting started, check to make sure that all of the components needed are connected and setup. This primarily refers to the transceiver that should be connected to the PC. The transceiver should be set to listen to 144.390.
Once you get APRSPoint installed and hardware setup, follow these simple steps to allow realtime tracking of an object.
To register your own location:
1. On the toolbar, click on Tools, then on Settings
2. Fill out your callsign in the clearly marked callsign box
3. If you are not attached to a GPS, go to the position tab.
4. Zoom in to your current location on the map.
5. Click on the pen above the tabs in the Settings box, and mark where you are on the map. The coordinates should be filled.
6. The rest of the boxes deal with the station your at and are optional. In order they are: your current altitude, the power of your radio, and the height of your antenna.
7. The weather tab is optional. So unless you are attached to a weather station, it is better to ignore it.
8. The message tab allows you to change what messages you wish to receive.
9. The misc tab deals with were data is sent once it is received from APRS.
Tracking
To be continued…
Resources:
http://www.aprspoint.com/
