[aprssig] GoogleEarth and APRSWord interface

[Gregg Wonderly]

Tyson S. wrote:
> Ok, I got it to work, really cool, although I can't find anyone mobile
> at this hour, but I will look for it later. Good job to everyone
> involved. Gotta keep breathing life into APRS! And to those who don't
> know, if your beacon comment start with a web address URL, it will show
> up underlined and ready to click in Google Earth. Waaaay cool! Now will
> this leave a track behind a mobile station? or is it just the latest
> position displayed on the map?

This is a great service Jim, thanks to you for putting it in place, and thanks 
to Steve for his efforts too, and sorry he is still working hurricane issues.  I 
am continuing work on my aprs KML server project.  The approval of the 
http://aprskml.dev.java.net site is still pending :-(  But, you can download the 
jar file at http://www.wonderly.org/gregg/w5ggw/aprskml.  I have integrated my 
JeAPRS packet parsing engine so that I can process packets out of a TNC or AGWPE 
stream directly.

This project provides a small Java application that you can run on your desktop, 
and have connected to a TNC stream from a physical TNC through a serial port, a 
virtual TNC through AGWPE, or to the APRS-IS via the internet.  This server will 
collect packets and information (by connecting to the APRS-IS using a filter to 
limit traffic, but upcomming revisions will make this an optional step) for each 
station that is in the station list.  With a TNC connected, and APRS-IS access 
turned off, you can use it mobile.

Locally I am working on supporting the ORB (Oklahoma Research Balloons) and 
Oklahoma State University ASTRO folks.  They'll be able to have a google earth 
laptop with a TNC tuned to the balloons payload frequency, and the balloon will 
be projected at altitude above the ground, as the flight progresses.  This 
should be a cool view!

If you have needs for such, let me know and I'll work with you to try and 
accommodate whatever you need.

Gregg Wonderly
W5GGW