APRS Windows Phone

Description

This app is a client for the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS). The app implements live-tracking of the user's geolocation. The tracking can be either performed automatically or manually. The automatic mode can be switched off.

There are also pending customer requests to support tracking via RF i.e. with a radio transmitter connected via Bluetooth or Sound Modem. These are features for the next versions the still will run also on Windows Phone 8.0.

More advanced features like APRS messaging, list of nearby APRS stations or a map view of surrounding APRS stations might be implemented in new Universal Windows App for Windows 10 devices only. This depends a little bit on support for Windows Phone 8 by the development tools like the upcoming Visual Studio 2017.

Together with the geolocation the app sends the following information to the APRS Internet Service:

- APRS IS credentials - HAM Radio Callsign - A choosen symbol like car, dog, bike or truck - A comment entered by the user - Altitude, speed, course

The APRS app retrieves the geolocation from the phone's location service. In compliance with the Windows Store rules the user needs to opt-in before this functionality is enabled. The access to the phone's location service can be granted in the app's settings page for the location service.

In order to get access to the APRS Internet Service (APRS-IS) one need to enter a passcode. When you have a valid HAM radio license you can request the passcode by sending your callsign to the support email address or using the contact form on www.radio.cc. If you want to use the app for Citizen Band APRS (cbaprs.de), please do not enter a passcode.

The APRS Internet Service provides public access to all collected APRS data. You can look at the data using an internet browser to visit websites like aprs.fi or openaprs.net.

Please send me your feedback about the app or feature request via my blog www.radio.cc