Getting Started with APRS and Direwolf

In this video we show how to decode APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) packets using Direwolf. We show how to setup the hardware (connecting the radio to the computer, various interface cables, etc.) as well as the software (Direwolf configuration file, log file, parsing/extracting data from the APRS packets, etc.)
Topics and timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
4:12 - Connecting radio to computer
17:06 - Direwolf setup
27:38 - Testing setup
Direwolf - github.com/wb2osz/direwolf
All HAM radio videos in a single playlist
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You can support this channel via Patreon at / christopherwlum . Thank you for your help!

[@ChristopherLum]

In case it is helpful, here are all my HAM radio videos in a single playlist kzbin.info/aero/PLxdnSsBqCrrEUHbKHxcHHhPaBrHg_qKE4. All my high altitude balloon videos are located at kzbin.info/aero/PLxdnSsBqCrrH_mfqhVgLsPnxVjIlHWeLq. You can support this channel by clicking on the 'Thanks' button underneath the video or via Patreon at www.patreon.com/christopherwlum. Please let me know what you think in the comments. Thanks for watching!

[@howdydoody30204b]

You, my friend, are a good teacher! Thanks.

[@kleinbiker1]

Very informative video! I finally got my digirig to work and listen to APRS packets.

[@mikebohemia1947]

Thanks Chris for taking the trouble to inform us. Very interesting and useful. 73 and good health.

[@saberxebeck]

Thank you Chris, you're videos are always so wonderfully explained!!

[@ChristopherLum]

Glad you like them, thanks for watching!

[@gobfranklin6759]

Appreciate the information! Just starting out in getting my ham lic.

[@tunahancinar3590]

Incredibly well explained. Thank you for the series.

[@ChristopherLum]

Hi, Thanks for the kind words, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. If you find these videos helpful, I hope you'll consider supporting the channel via Patreon at www.patreon.com/christopherwlum or via the 'Thanks' button underneath the video. Given your interest in this topic, I'd love to have you a as a Patron as I'm able to talk/interact personally with all Patrons. I can also answer any questions, provide code, notes, downloads, etc. on Patreon. Thanks for watching! -Chris

[@maurogiovanardi3763]

Very well explained, thank you, greetings from PU8BLG.

[@TruculentGoose]

This was a great video, very detailed and clear, Thank you.

[@ChristopherLum]

Hi Warren, Thanks for the kind words, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. If you find these videos helpful, I hope you'll consider supporting the channel via Patreon at www.patreon.com/christopherwlum or via the 'Thanks' button underneath the video. Given your interest in this topic, I'd love to have you a as a Patron as I'm able to talk/interact personally with all Patrons. Thanks for watching! -Chris

[@dalewarnok4721]

I believe that all those other stations' packets are being heard because especially with your Baofeng radio laying down in a vertically-polarized radio medium, you are receiving from a nearby high-powered bi-directional iGate that is receiving over the Internet from those distant stations. There are many such iGates in the Puget Sound region.

[@iaroslavosmomysl7970]

Thanks, this helps alot.

[@davcorp]

Очень круто!!! Низкий поклон!

[@rvhacks7559]

You made APRS very easy! Thank you! Glad you used an inexpensive Baofeng which is probably the only radio out there that almost every ham has. No exotic hardware and open source software - bravo! Where did you get your 1-foot "Reverse Cable Adapter" ? I can't seem to find one of that description. While anyone could use a trrs cable and break it out to mic and speakers, I liked the single cable you used - very clean and no extra connectors dangling.

[@ag1382]

You are going to capture and interfere with a huge area with a 5 second beacon for others using APRS.

[@9A4GEMilan]

Long time ago, packet radio is used to be send and receive text. But no more. Only receiving. How ??

[@VK5AV]

Great video. I tried to find your video you mentioned re the arduino aprs tracker but couldn't find it. Can you please post a link? Many thanks Tim.

[@WadeAbout]

Thanks for a great video - on windows I want to have multiple configs - one for running a as a tracker, one for RX only etc - on linux I use a -c to tell which config to use.. how do you do that on windows? VK1MIC

[@joel6221]

Have you covered adding a GPS unit like the UBlox?

[@JoseArrom]

Multiple packets? There could be a repeater nearby?

[@omercelebi2012]

Because you selected something on console thats why you didn't get any output. You should press Enter to avoid that selection or ESC I think at 23:00. Thanks for the video. Can we encrypt that signal for personal use?

[@b4ux1t3-tech]

I noticed a cubesat packet in the list, that outlier is probably from a satellite!

[@viola5131]

I might be wrong but if you are using a splitter , I think the mic from radio should plug into the speaker port? and the mic port on PC should be plugged in speaker. The speaker is output, and the mic is input. One out with one in. Because the modulated signal sound is "played" on PC and sent to radio, so it should be out from the speaker port and goes through the mic cable into the radio.

[@jody8Tm]

Hello Chris and others here. I am trying to get my SAR team on APRS for our roaming DMR network in the fiedl to report back locations when we dont have connectivity to the internet. this seems like the right solution we normally have 10-20 assets we would like to track on a unified map. Someone has mentioned CivTAK with LoRa modules, but i would need to outfit and wire our command posts and mobile units for hosting those compared to having one or two dedicated radios for APRS decoding to direwolf. would this solution (in the right rx environment be able to host that many assets comfortably? sorry I'm new to aprs.

[@harshbhati5324]

Sir, what kind of material is this?

[@howdydoody30204b]

I don't recall you saying, but did you have to turn on vox on the radio, and, if so, what setting?

[@Hillbillyshakespeare]

No you don’t turn vox on as you are just receiving. Vox is only for your microphone to hear when you speak without having to press the PTT.

[@haxboi5492]

If you are transmitting, to the lowest setting

[@haxboi5492]

​@@Hillbillyshakespeare A iGate or other APRS gadget with transmitting ability is much more useful

[@Hillbillyshakespeare]

@@haxboi5492I’m not picking up what you are throwing down

[@thomasmanson1119]

This is really cool Chris! I’ll be anxious to follow along with your weather balloon (I hope I’m not way too late). 73 Tom KC3QAC-7

[@ChristopherLum]

Thanks for watching. The weather balloon video is up on the channel, please feel free to check it out and let me know what you think, thanks.

[@ManuelPinner]

I Use Sdr Angel, With a SDR Play Dx,

[@jifchosehismother]

every 5 seconds? stop

[@cossda]

Bro....I realize this is old but I sincerely hope you didnt beacon every 5 seconds with that thing. That is awful etiquette. And its AX.25 protocol.

[@alistairboyd5770]

This is surely one of the worst ill-prepared videos I have ever watched on the subject of APRS, why are you speaking so fast? Are you nervous? You show a box that has a rats nest of cables that you ramble on about. Delete the video. Take time on what you are trying to do and start again. I have learned ZILCH.

[@morlanius]

What a shame, this is too hard to watch, I'll find another video on the subject. He uses too many words to say very little, adds pointless steps and repeats himself too much.

[@kcstafford2784]

my kids could have wired up that box better .....lost intrest....

[@haxboi5492]

Well let's see that