In order to start using APRS,  you'll need the following equipment,
much of which you may already own:

     I.   A two-meter transceiver.   Neither CTCSS nor frequency agility
is necessary.  Lots of older rigs, particularly HT's, can be had for al-
most nothing at hamfests.

     II.  A TAPR-2 compatible Terminal Node Controller (TNC).  This cov-
ers practically every TNC built for the past fifteen or so years.   Kan-
tronics, PacComm and AEA are popular brands to choose from.   Older ones
can also often be found on tables at a 'fest.

     III. A computer.  There are versions of APRS written for Macintosh,
Windows, Linux, WindowsCE and the Palm OS.  The DOS version, however, is
able to run on practically *any* PC-compatible computer ... even ancient
8086's!  These articles focus on APRSDos (which runs just fine under Win
3.x, 9.x, NT and 2k and Linux (using dosemu), and the following descrip-
tions are for installing it and getting it running on a PC.

     IV.  Assorted cabling, power supply, antenna, etc.

     V.   The program.  Simply point your browser at the archives of The
Tucson Amateur Packet Radio organization (or use FTP), by going to:

               ftp://ftp.tapr.org/aprssig/dosstuff/APRSdos/

and look for the latest version.  It ought to be just large enough to be
able to fit onto one floppy disk.  While there, go up a few levels, then
burrow down into the Maps/PCmaps area.   You'll find a file there called
"nynyc01.zip", which contains street-level maps of most of New York City
made by the author of this article.

     In this example I'll use the non-existant APRS version 9.99, which
would be called "APRS999.zip."  Substitute the appropriate file name for
this.

     If you use  PkZip204,  put the  APRS disk into your floppy drive of
choice (I'll call it drive A) then expand the APRS files, using the fol-
lowing commands on the hard drive of choice (C in this example):

     Change to the root directory  C:\>CD\
     Make an appropriate directory C:\>MD APRS
     Change to this directory      C:\>CD \APRS
     Switch to the A drive         C:\>A:
     Run PKUNZIP with directories  A:\>PKUNZIP -d APRS999.zip C:\APRS

     Don't forget to use that "-d" switch.  This lets it create the nec-
cessary subdirectories.

     If using WINZIP, change to drive A and double-click on APRS999.zip,
click the expand button,  tell it where you want APRS to live and follow
onscreen directions.

        Make sure your TNC is in Terminal or Command mode (whatever it's
called by the manufacturer.)  At the C:\> prompt, go to your chosen APRS
folder and invoke "APRS999.exe".   If you're using Windows, just double-
click on that file.  This brings us to the LOGO screen.  Enter your call
and SSID, if any.   Tell it which  TNC  you're using.   Answer the other
various questions.  When you're done, the main map screen will appear.

     Now press the arrow keys (or use your mouse) to bring the cursor to
your approximate location (keep your eye on the upper left corner of the
screen which shows latitude/longitude of the cursor.)   Then press  HOME
to center the screen on it.   Use the PgDN key  to zoom in a few screens
and tweak the cursor to your EXACT QTH.  Once the cursor is at the right
spot hit the HOME key again.

     Press I(nput) M(y) P(osition) and confirm your lat/long.  Then pick
a symbol for yourself, type in a brief comment, and verify it.  Once you
press that "Y" you're essentially ready to go on the air.   In it's most
basic form, you're configured!  Tune the radio to 144.39, hook it up and
see what you can see.  It might take a few minutes for other stations to
appear (assuming there are some)  but if you get a little impatient, try
pressing  X(mit)  Q(uery) and give it a radius such as 64 to force posi-
tion reports from others.

     Look for stations whose symbol is a green star.  THESE ARE THE WIDE
DIGIPEATERS!  Is there one near you?  Now press the "D" key.  If an ast-
erisk  (*) appears next to a callsign  (hopefully that nearby WIDE), you
hear it directly.   Make a note of that nearby WIDE station's digipeater
path.

     Now you're going to set YOUR digipeater path.  Press O(perations)
E.  If you heard that WIDE station directly, enter it's callsign and its
ssid, if any.  Follow this with a comma, then type in "WIDE".  For exam-
ple: "N2MH-15,WIDE" would be how I might enter it here in The Bronx, but
the nearest WIDE to YOU is what YOU'RE looking for.

     Next you want to set your Power-Height-Gain figures.  Press I(nput)
M)y) P(ower)  and tell it how many watts you're using,  the elevation of
your antenna above AVERAGE terrain  (look at a topographical map of your
area,) it's gain in dBd and the antenna's directional pattern in degrees
or 0 (zero)for an omnidirectional antenna.

     Finally, set your Status Text by pressing I(nput) M(y) S(tatus) and
typing in a short comment, different than what you used in your Position
Text earlier.   At this point, you're about as far as you need to go for
now.

+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Arte Booten  (n2zrc@arrl.net) AEC for Digital Services, NYC ARES/RACES|
|Riverdale, New York    [FN30bu]    !4052.71N/07354.06WNPHG5370/A=00240|
|PGP Key Fingerprint: D73E B889 C630 6F4A F31F 3083 56BD 0AAD 9996 3B03|
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
		

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