APRS software for GMRS

[WRUJ963]

I just got a BTech GMRS Pro Radio last month.  It can do aprs with other Pro radios but is there any software available that I can use with a tnc on another standard GMRS radio to receive messages.  I am looking at this more for emergency services usage and would like to be able to setup on the fly another radio to send and receive aprs.  I've seen a lot of how to for Ham radios but most of the software I find wants a Ham call sign to use and my GMRS call sign won't work.   Was curious about other folks setups.

[KAF6045]

Well, technically by NAME, APRS is Amateur (Packet/Position) Reporting System, so it is no surprise that most APRS software wants an Amateur call sign. That BTech is using the APRS protocol to send position just makes it another position reporting format -- like some Garmin GPS/FRS radios.

The other matter is if they are using AX.25 data packets -- that's what Amateur TNCs are using for analog APRS (D-Star and DMR /digital/ modes send position reports in a different format -- D-Star embeds position data within the non-voice portion of each packet)

 

[axorlov]

APRSDroid will gladly eat your GMRS callsign and will allow sending and receiving packets from air. Of course, no injection of data will be allowed into the APRS database over the internet. For this you must have ham callsign.

I'm regular APRS user, but always on 144.390 and never on GMRS.

[WRUJ963]

I did download APRSDroid, tried to get to work with my GMRS radio using my phone connected via APRS adapter that changes from k1 format to 3.5mm.  Maybe I am missing something, I'll have to mess around with it a little more.  I was trying to see if I could see the messages to show up through my GMRS radio to the GMRS Pro Radio.  Just wasn't sure if there were other software to try like Xastir on a Raspberry Pi that might work.  Figured this would come in useful in emergency conditions to get a message out quickly to someone listening along with GPS data etc.  I am working on studying for Technician Class license but got my GMRS license couple of months ago and have been tinkering around with it. 

[axorlov]

1 hour ago, WRUJ963 said:

I was trying to see if I could see the messages to show up through my GMRS radio to the GMRS Pro Radio

It is not clear if Baofeng follows APRS spec. They may very well do not. To determine, you probably need to set up a receiver with APRS decoder (APRSDrois will do) to see what exactly Btech Pro sends. It may not be compatible with bona fide APRS.

[WRUJ963]

That's what I was kinda wondering.  BTech may be using something similar but different, I was to understand from the info they gave that it was APRS but on GMRS frequencies.  I guess this will be my project this weekend to try and see if I can setup APRS through another radio and APRSDoid.  I will try and see if I can see if it is indeed APRS or something proprietary they came up with.  Thank you for the suggestions on this. 

[axorlov]

Hey, share your findings. It will be interesting to know if Baofeng (Btech) follows the existing spec for location data, and if it is compatible with APRS network.

[wrqa615]

On 10/5/2022 at 12:12 PM, KAF6045 said:

Well, technically by NAME, APRS is Amateur (Packet/Position) Reporting System, so it is no surprise that most APRS software wants an Amateur call sign. That BTech is using the APRS protocol to send position just makes it another position reporting format -- like some Garmin GPS/FRS radios.

The other matter is if they are using AX.25 data packets -- that's what Amateur TNCs are using for analog APRS (D-Star and DMR /digital/ modes send position reports in a different format -- D-Star embeds position data within the non-voice portion of each packet)

 

 

The A in APRS does not for amateur, but Automatic.  The initialism APRS was derived from WB4APR the call sigh for Bob Bruninga.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System

 

[wayoverthere]

I'll try to look for it later on am actual computer, but I thought I saw something in r/gmrs not too long after the gmrspro came out that someone was successfully decoding the position reporting with a yaesu radio (ftm400, iirc).

edit: here's the search link that got a few hits near the top.

[AdmiralCochrane]

Bob was one of my heros.  RIP

[WRUI365]

BTech Pro only sends a position report with your call sign, no messages. It is more like a MDC function then APRS. I'm also a APRS user going all the way back to my first which was a Kenwood TH-D7A(G) along with a TM-D700A

[E010584]

The BTECH GMRS Pro does not do APRS but has an APRS-like capability to send position information over the HT app.  I originally bought one hoping it would be compatible with my Garmin RINO and was disappointed it was not.  Admittedly I never ended up looking into it further using Rattlegram or something like that to decipher the different formats being sent.

[AdmiralCochrane]

Next you are going to tell us the emperor has no clothes 

[BoxCar]

33 minutes ago, AdmiralCochrane said:

Next you are going to tell us the emperor has no clothes 

Fashion by La Bare

[flashover52]

It’s similar to the Garmin Rino’s (GPS/GMRS radio combo) of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. It only sends data to other radio units. Only the Garmin units allowed you to send text messages to other folks close by without needing a phone.

[thenols]

I have this same question. i have a HAM and GMRS license, but my family members do not have HAM licenses, so I would like to get GMRS radios that transmit position data to a central system (with a nice, high, antenna) so as people are out and about, especially up in the mountains where there is no cell service, I could see where they are at, especially if there are any problems they need help with.

[Socalgmrs]

A spot or similar can do this.  Much more reliable than a gmrs radio when in the mountains. 

[WRXB215]

@thenols GMRS is allowed to transmit a very short burst of digital. See this radio for example.

[SteveShannon]

20 hours ago, thenols said:

I have this same question. i have a HAM and GMRS license, but my family members do not have HAM licenses, so I would like to get GMRS radios that transmit position data to a central system (with a nice, high, antenna) so as people are out and about, especially up in the mountains where there is no cell service, I could see where they are at, especially if there are any problems they need help with.

Here’s the problem: while there are GMRS radios that send location information, best among them being the Garmin Rhino radios in my opinion, regulations prohibit radios which send digital location data from having a replaceable antenna or transmitting location data through a repeater, which will make it more difficult to build the “central system (with a nice, high, antenna).

[WSCV533]

1 minute ago, SteveShannon said:

Here’s the problem: while there are GMRS radios that send location information, best among them being the Garmin Rhino radios in my opinion, regulations prohibit radios which send digital location data from having a replaceable antenna or transmitting location data through a repeater, which will make it more difficult to build the “central system (with a nice, high, antenna).

The Btech GMRS Pro has a removable antenna. Btech puts a little bit of glue to accommodate the regulations, but it is easy to remove.

 

20 hours ago, thenols said:

I have this same question. i have a HAM and GMRS license, but my family members do not have HAM licenses, so I would like to get GMRS radios that transmit position data to a central system (with a nice, high, antenna) so as people are out and about, especially up in the mountains where there is no cell service, I could see where they are at, especially if there are any problems they need help with.

I would get a Btech GMRS Pro handheld and a uhf amplifier. The radio has a "parrot repeater" function so you can have a little simplex repeater that will send/receive data, has 20-40 watts of power, and has the antenna height and range you would need.

[jwilkers]

If you want APRS, get an amateur license and quit trying to make GMRS into something it wasn't meant to be.

All you people wanting to turn GMRS into a clone of amateur radio need to just get their licenses.

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