APRS

Amateur Position Reporting System

APRS was developed by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for tracking and digital communications with mobile GPS equipped stations with two-way radio, weather reporting, and real time display of other tactical objects and their status.

APRS stations and digipeaters operate on 144.390 MHz in Central Florida and most of the continental United States.

The Orange County Communications Auxiliary has a number of APRS digipeaters in the Orlando Metro area.

The W4MCO-10 digipeater antenna is located at approximately 40 feet above ground at our Emergency Operations Center. This APRS digipeater covers most of the Northeastern part of Metro Orlando, with coverage for mobile stations extending about 12 miles in all directions.

The W4MCO-4 digipeater antenna is located at approximately 35 feet above ground, near the intersection of US Hwy 441, The Beachline Expressway (SR 528), and the Florida Turnpike (SR 91). Another nearby landmark is the Florida Mall. This APRS digipeater covers most of the Southern part of Metro Orlando, with coverage for mobile stations extending about 12 miles in all directions, including most of the theme park attractions areas.

The W4MCO-1 digipeater is located at the Apopka PSAP. The antenna is mounted approximately 25 feet above ground. This APRS digipeater covers most of the North-West corner of Orange County. W4MCO-1 will currently handle WIDEn-N paths up to 7-hops.
! This digipeater is currently off-line !

All W4MCO APRS digipeater antennae are dual-band, commercial antennas with approximately 7dB gain.

All W4MCO APRS digipeaters now correctly handle paths using the new WIDEn-N paradigm. Information on why WIDE1-1 is better than RELAY can be found here: http://web.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/aprs/fix14439.html

Additional APRS digipeaters are planned for Avalon Park and other strategic locations around Orange County to provide adequate coverage for local and travelling APRS users.

Click HERE FOR A MAP illustrating approximate Orlando area mobile APRS coverage for the W4MCO-10 and W4MCO-4 digipeaters, as well as some other local digipeaters.

We have some information about APRS Programs here. If Orange County, Florida Auxiliary Communications members have questions regarding APRS, please contact Paul, N2KIQ.

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