[K3CAL] K3CAL Repeaters and APRS

[KB3WFV]

Hello all,

A fellow CARA member has asked me if the CARA repeater system has any space available to support APRS. The answer is it does, but is there any interest in  doing so?

APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System) is digital communications information channel for Ham radio. As a single national channel (see APRS.org), it gives the mobile ham a place to monitor for 10 to 30 minutes in any area, at any time to capture what is happening in ham radio in the surrounding area. Announcements, Bulletins, Messages, Alerts, Weather, and of course a map of all this activity including objects, frequencies, satellites, nets, meetings, Hamfests, etc. The APRS network has grown to most countries with strong Amateur Radio populations. 

Winter is coming. This is a great aspect of amateur radio for the club to collectively learn about and work on together. If you have any interest in learning about APRS, how to use it, and supporting it. Then attend this weeks Club meeting at the Harriet Brown Building in Prince Fredrick at 7:30pm. Be sure to bring the subject up when New Business is asked for. 

Please keep in mind that this weeks meeting agenda is pretty full with the Maryland QSO Party and a presentation about the up coming Simulated Emergency Test, so there probably won't be a lot of time to discuss APRS. But at least we can get a sense of those who are interested and perhaps schedule a separate Zoom meeting at another time to discuss further.

Brian
KB3WFV
CARA Vice President