Choosing between a full-time APRS or packet station?

3 years ago by minorsecond to c/hamradio

I love playing with packet, and I love playing with APRS. So how do I decide?

There’s quite a bit of both packet and APRS activity in the area. I don’t want to put up another antenna at the moment because funds won’t allow, otherwise I’d get another cheap 2m rig for APRS.

On packet, I occasionally check in with other hams and send messages. I mostly keep it running because my webmap at packetradiomap.com uses my radio to map locally received stations. I could modify the webmap to not use my radio though.

I feel running an APRS station is more “useful” though, as my area isn’t covered very well by iGates or digipeaters.

So if you had to choose, would you go full time APRS or packet?

UnexampledSalt 4 points 3 years ago

I would personally go for packet because it fits my preferences. Im not really looking for location tracking or iGates. I'm wanting a dedicated message system. Packet would be my choice for that.

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minorsecond 2 points 3 years ago

That's kind of what I'm leaning toward. The only real reason I'm considering APRS is because my FT-5D can't hit any iGates or digipeaters when I'm around my house. But do I really need APRS when I'm at home? I don't think so.

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K0STK 2 points 3 years ago

Do what ever "scratches your itch". The choices of random internet users aren't applicable to your situation.

In our area both "modes" are effectively dead. There are two packet nodes and no meaningful traffic. And APRS is full of position reports from repeater objects and DV hotspots; we don't use APRS for anything ... no messaging, no event support, etc.

It's all quite sadly pointless. The luddites in our club are not interested in anything more than working DX and oversharing on repeater nets.

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minorsecond 1 point 3 years ago

Do what ever "scratches your itch"

That's the problem, lol. They both do, and both modes are popular here. I'm thinking of actually just going ahead and putting up another antenna and seeing what happens with the neighbors. No HOA or anything, so I think it'll be ok.

Sucks that you don't have packet there. It's very fun to play with.

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W6KME 1 point 3 years ago

I was asking myself the same question a couple of years ago, and there wasn't any real need for either. I ended up making it a Winlink RMS which actually does get regular use.

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