APRS Text Messages :: Protect Your Privacy

Let's take a look at how to use the SMSGTE service to protect the phone numbers of those you send text message to from your APRS radio.
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[@MI7DJT]

I'm a new UK Ham and followed this guide today with ease. Sent myself and a few friends SMS messages to test the system then went promptly to donate a few quid. What an amazing idea! Still can't beliieve I sent and received SMS messages using a handheld DMR radio.

[@AD6DMDennis]

This is fantastic. Makes APRS messages that much more usable.

[@timmanwell2538]

Thanks, as always, Kevin. Got my aliases rocking/rolling now.

[@davidsradioroom9678]

Really cool! Thanks for sharing.

[@markg6jvy135]

Good info as always Jason 👌👏👏

[@mattrunyan1221]

You can also set a 2-character APRS SSID for SMSGTE in that 3rd field next to alias and number. Saves a couple characters. Example message To: SMSGTE-ME test msg

[@Blue-Collar-Radio]

Great info! Thank you!

[@pablod6872]

Clear and to the point. Nice work. i will have to set up a few aliases, if for no other reason than it saves me from entering the full number, digit by digit, on my FTM-100DR.

[@KD6TAV]

Great information. Thank you

[@RookieLock]

Very helpfull Thank you Jason !

[@borriskarlov8140]

crushing it man!

[@darrellcollins877]

Critical information ! I just learned how to sms aprs message, looked at the map, saw the phone numbers there, and thought ? hmmmm this is not so cool, great timing Thanks !

[@UPSmech5999]

Man I am studying for my tech license and I can't wait to try this out with my HT. Btech 6x2 pro. I hike alot in areas with no cell coverage hopefully this will work for me if I ever need it.

[@KM4ACK]

Good luck on your test!

[@andrewhamop6665]

Heh, I know it has nothing to do with this video Jason, but, let me give you a wholehearted thank you for making the Build-a-Pi script. I've been running around in circles for days trying to get my own setup working for Boy Scouts of America Jamboree on the Air, on the 17th of OCT (I'll be running digital for my club during the event). And I'm fairly good with Linux, I've got a few cool radio setups under my belt, but one thing or another I'd have some issue. Just stumbled onto your Build-a-Pi videos, if anybody asks how I got everything running smoothly, I'll be sure to tell them who and where. I had something kinda working but I couldn't get it running smoothly, and the whole point of JOTA is to get kids my age or younger interested in radio, and I wanted them to experience digital amateur radio coms at their fullest. Next time I get a chance I think I'll throw a few bucks your way for putting an end to lots of headaches, mine and many other people's. Only one question with it, how would you go about changing the GPS settings after you are done with the install, I wanted to setup most of the software before I got the USB GPS that you said works on your website. Thank you for all that you do, I always love watching your videos and learn something every time. 73 de W8IJC

[@KM4ACK]

The easy way to update the GPS is to reinstall the GPS software using the build a pi update. You will find it in the preferences category of the main menu. Glad you are enjoying the build :-)

[@andrewhamop6665]

@@KM4ACK Yup, found that out shortly after installing everything. It's just worked, pretty much no set up other than configuring the other pieces of software. Thank you so much!

[@jlibertyparks8160]

I have a QYT 8900 and the programming cable. Now I know the programming cable overrides the mic and speaker of the radio. Can it be used to connect it to my laptop to run aprs? And if so, what aprs program should I use?

[@angelscomputers]

I think that will work very nice IF THE WEBSITE IS MAINTANED! being trying to register about 7 times for months and the system doesn't work, keeps throwing "Error: The callsign or alias password could not be verified", contacted support and no answer, it feels like is a maintained project. I was expecting to even donate but not if is a dead project.

[@shuumai]

That was actually a lot to digest for this noob. Heh Got it to work though! Thanks!

[@chrisp7563]

Isn't using the alias for a phone number the same thing as using a code word? Someone on youtube once told me that if you were communicating with someone via ham radio, you couldn't use a code like say "let's meet at place zzf" to mean "let's meet at the safehouse". That alias is transmitted in-band.

[@MI7DJT]

The number used is a method of connection only.. it isn't the message itself therefore all is good with aliases.

[@davechristensen7146]

Does the alias have to be unique at the website and did you just luck out that "web" was available? Great video. Unlike "Spirit" said below, this is legal because your callsign and text were sent in the clear. Messages can be sent "encrypted" IF the algorithm is publicly available. Most digital modes compress (not encrypt) the message to save time which makes it not clear text and this is legal because the compression routines are not setup to be exclusively private or "encrypted"

[@KM4ACK]

The alias just needs to be unique to your account as far as I know. No telling how many hams have @wife as an alias. hihi. Great explanation on encryption. Thanks :-)

[@bob76451]

Sadly, because of abuse and spam, he’s had to shutdown the gateway. He’s trying to figure out a way around all that, but until he does it’s no longer available.

[@jeffgrantham6076]

Great video! Have a question though. I have a raspberry pi direwolf aprs digipeater running. How can I send an aprs message from the command line? I used your instructios to get the digipeater up and running. It is not connected to a radio right no but sends to aprs.fi. Is this possible?

[@KM4ACK]

Yes. The easiest way is to send them from YAAC or Xastir. Both have the capability built in. To send from the command line check out github.com/wa1gov/Simple-Shell-APRS

[@jeffgrantham6076]

@@KM4ACK Thanks. Trying to figure out how to use it though. How would I send a message to SMSGTE and then have it send to one of my aliases? Can't get that to work. I get invalid packet?

[@micaguidry1389]

GrandRising KMACK, I have followed all of the steps for SMSGTE and received transmission confirmation and yet I am still having challenges with registering. Any suggestions?

[@KM4ACK]

Reach out to SMSGTE on twitter and he should be able to help - twitter.com/SMSGTE

[@gautealarsen2580]

dos it work in Norway to a Norwegian phone?

[@KM4ACK]

Not sure. Reach out to the developer on twitter twitter.com/SMSGTE He will know

[@kq6up]

Can the recipient of the text respond to it? Can my wife (not a ham) originate a text from her cell phone?

[@kq6up]

I see that she can respond :D. Can she originate?

[@KM4ACK]

Yes. She can respond. I believe I remember a way to originate once you have sent the first text from the radio. Double check the documentation on the SMSGTE website.

[@kq6up]

@@KM4ACK Yes, it seems to work. Looks like it is using the last known path. It probably retries 6 times for an hour until it gets an ACK. That is my guess.

[@LivingInWestchesterCounty]

But, the recipient will have your callsign. In the US a quick google search of a callsign reveals name and address via FCC. So even less private than a standard text message.

[@KM4ACK]

True, the main purpose is to protect your mobile number or the numbers of friends/family.

[@chrissewell1608]

Cool, but obviously not every radio can send a text message!

[@timk7749]

Good info. 👍 73 de KF7VUT

[@michaelo6003]

Jason, Your video was very helpful. By any chance do you know how to reset a password on SMSGTE? For some reason I don't understand, the site is telling me it can't verify my callsign or password. I see no way of changing or resetting it. No one from SMSGTE is responding to requests for help. Also, none of my texts are getting to their destination, but they still show up on APRS.fi. I'm really confused! Thank you! Mike-WB2ADK

[@KM4ACK]

Not sure how to reset the password. I have only communicated with him via Twitter in the past - twitter.com/SMSGTE

[@michaelo6003]

@@KM4ACK Thanks, Jason. As it turns out, the SMSGTE servers were probably down because everything started working fine again on Sunday night. I was able to log on to the site and my texts started going through again. I tried communicating to the site using Twitter and the contact form, but there was no response from anyone. They didn’t send out any notice, either, about the server being down. Oh well. Thanks again for all you great content! Mike-WB2ADK