KD0TLS: A brief history of metro messaging

 The landscape changes in the metro over the years. Some operators leave the scene, new operators appear. Software and hardware changes. Infrastructure (gateways, digipeaters, objects, etc.) constantly shifts. 

 As always, you can click on any of these images to enlarge them.

Messaging capable stations 11/26/21

 Here (11/21) we have a relatively robust APRS messaging community. It's a mixture of -IS and RF stations, mobile and home stations. At this point in time, it seemed that APRS messaging traffic was strong and increasing. There was traffic nearly every day, and my home gateway would handle nearly 50 messages each month. 

Messaging capable stations 12/22/21

 Just a month later, there are fewer messaging capable stations in the metro. But traffic levels didn't drop perceptibly. Instead, we had more messages being exchanged from further away, and the operators that stuck around experimented with SMSGTE to send/receive APRS messages to/from cellphones. 

 

Messaging capable stations 5/29/22

 And several months later, we see somewhat fewer stations with a mix skewed more to base stations than mobile. But we also saw operators experimenting with HT APRS operation using messaging, and proving the viability of that option. Traffic levels remained steady at nearly 100 messages each month, though the bulk was from -IS stations. This was also a time when metro operators experimented more frequently with automated services, such as MPAD and WXBOT. There was also a Turkish station that messaged local operators frequently.

 

Messaging capable stations 12/10/22

 Here (12/22) we see even a smaller base of operators, mostly geared to base stations. The daily exchanges had tapered off, though chats took place more often as operators became increasingly familiar with messaging. The APRSH daily net was a new thing. SMSGTE remained popular, and we began to see local messages sent over the ISS. As more local operators began monitoring APRS, we saw the metro become an appealing target for global hams to find a receptive audience for their own explorations. Bulletins and announcements became somewhat more common, making casual users of APRS aware of messaging. Use of automated services remained steady. By this time, a typical month saw 180 messages passing through the metro. 

 

Metro messaging capable stations 2/23

 Now we see more messaging-capable stations, and new operators. For mobile operators, things like trackers (which are not capable of messaging) are being replaced with radios that have native APRS messaging (Kenwood D710, Yaesu FT-300D, etc.). Increasingly, metro operators are using smart-phone apps that are capable of APRS messaging over the -IS. More operators are getting in the habit of checking for messages on the apps that they use, and they are increasingly familiar with messaging. 

 

 Overall, what we see in the metro is a relatively small group of hams that use APRS in a more advanced way than they did before. And there's a larger group of hams that are just becoming aware of what APRS messaging can do. 

 

 Much of this is due to the popularity of ANSRVR and the HOTG #APRSThursday events. Though many hams might not get on APRS every day, the idea that APRS is far more than just position reporting or weather information is seeping through to the consciousness of the general amateur community. 

 

As I've said before, APRS is ripe for future development. Anyone that can write a Python script can potentially develop a new APRS application. We've already seen "mashups" produce graphical representations of 2M propagation data using APRS traffic. We already have the ability for mobile operators to find the nearest repeaters to them (down to the desired band). We already have nets where virtually any local operator can connect with other hams all over the globe. We have the ability to tweet over APRS. And we've integrated APRS messaging into DMR, D-Star and System Fusion. You can find out the next pass of a ham satellite by using APRS. And you can use HF to directly connect to gateways and operators in distant locations. 

 

 There are experiments with using store-and-forward messaging, much like WinLink. If we can integrate this with the ISS digipeater, we could have information passed around the globe by operators using an HT. It's possible we could see APRS used to set up EchoLink QSO's or set up HF phone nets in emergency situations. We may even see UHF networks set up on APRS in urban areas to avoid overcrowding on the simplex 2M frequency. 

 

 In the metro, we're already laying the groundwork for the future. The community is exploring the potential of APRS, and passing along the results of their explorations to others. Get some software on your smart-phone or laptop and connect to the world once in a while. Help others find their way.