[aprssig] APRS programs Was: Future for aprs

[Bob Burns W9RXR]

At 06:10 PM 9/7/2012, Hans Hassemer wrote:

>I have yet to figure out the best online program to use for APRS and 
>how to use it when I download it.

You say "online program" and then talk about downloading it. I assume 
you are looking for a program to run on your computer to interface 
with your APRS device.

My quick assessment of the available Windows programs:

APRSPoint -- $77 with maps or $47 if you already have a copy of 
MapPoint. Fairly easy for a new user to get up and running. Lacking 
in some APRS features--can't send objects, can't digipeat, can't use 
a KISS interface to a TNC. Good maps--the program includes an older 
copy of the Microsoft MapPoint database, but you can purchase a newer 
copy of Microsoft Streets & Trips to get newer data. See the notes on 
Stephen Smith's web site 
(http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/MapPoint-Data-Update.htm) which talk about 
upgrading to newer map data.

UI-View -- Free. A little more difficult to set up than APRSPoint, 
but only slightly. In order to get pan and zoom maps, you'll have to 
purchase a copy of Precision Mapping and install a "map server" that 
UI-View uses to access the map data. Full-featured program, very well 
supported by the users, several useful add-on programs. However, the 
author died a few years ago and asked that the program's source code 
be destroyed, so there is no further development. Before installing 
UI-View, check Stephen Smith's notes at 
http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/UIview_Notes.htm .

APRSIS/32 -- Free. Lots of features and actively being developed by 
the author. The author has been scouring the APRS specification to 
make sure his program supports most of the APRS features. Uses maps 
from the Open Street Map project, so you need an Internet connection 
to get maps. You can pre-fetch maps for the area where you'll be 
operating and then run the program off-line. The learning curve is a 
little steep, but it's worth the effort. Lots of support in a very 
active Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aprsisce/ .

These are just my opinions. I'm sure others on here will have 
different thoughts.

Bob...