Live RF data on an interactive
Internet map
[Live
RF Feed via VU2NCT on
144.800 MHz]
This page
demonstrates the ham radio capability in penetrating the Internet to serve useful
purposes. This is a live APRS data feed page. APRS® stands for Automatic
Position Reporting System. But this is not to be mistaken just as a
mere automatic vehicle tracking system. It is real-time two way digital radio
communication where many of the vital information are exchanged almost automatically.
Non-hams can monitor ham radio APRS digital communication using this page.
To just get
a feel of how APRS activity is going on at other parts of the world here are a few links:
| AE5PL | | WA4DSY | | SV1CNS | | HB9PVI |
Radio & Beyond!
On the New
Delhi map displayed below, we can see hams doing APRS® communication [If they wish they may talk or
otherwise exchange APRS digital data using their radios]. If they transmit APRS
digital data on 144.800 MHz [which is VU2NCT APRS frequency], an APRS ready radio [Kenwood TH D7 AG] hooked to the
Internet at VU2NCT can pick up the radio signal and
in-turn feed the data to the Internet. During this demo, in a simulated exercise, the
mobile station VU2MUE-9 [In most probability this may be during a
demonstration. So if you don't see VU2MUE-9 on the map please feel free to contact him]
appears on the map from RF originated data. There may be position reporting from Non-RF
originated stations also. The station WB4TLP
appearing with a WX icon is a ham weather station
feeding weather data to Internet and these data are also available on the map for utility.
How to use the map?
[1] Wait for the map to fully load [121 kb]
[2] If a message like 'allow the Signed Java
Applet to run' appears. Do that by clicking 'YES' or 'OK'. Because doing so is safe.
[3] Click on the map to activate the JAVA controls.
[4] Initially when we see the map, we may not
see VU2NCT icon (our club call-sign). This means that the automatic position
beacon from VU2NCT is not yet sent. Have patience till the beacon is sent. There are
different beacon rates used by different stations depending on speed and necessity. The
icon may also not come on the map if VU2NCT does not position report.
[5] When VU2MUE-9 [This is SSID of VU2MUE representing a mobile
ham station] appears on the map, 'CLICK' it. A small text line below the map
tells the position information of the mobile station. It not only tells the position
information but also tells other information like Speed of the
vehicle, direction of travel [course], AMSL [Altitude, i.e.
Above Mean Sea Level] etc. If a text message is sent, the message can
also be read.
[6] To read messages. Press the 'M'
key. Pressing M key writes the messages to the 'Java Console'.
Where to find the Java console?
The JAVA CONSOLE can be opened from
Internet Explorer Browser's TOOLS > SUN JAVA CONSOLE
Problem opening
the map?
If your browser is not JAVA enabled, the map would not load. Download JAVA 2.0 Runtime
environment. If you get an 'Error opening Data' message in the browser status bar, it may
be due to a LAN proxy connection. |