Top APRS Bots in the APRS Network: Enhance Your Ham Radio Experience

The Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) is a powerful tool for amateur radio operators, enabling real-time communication, tracking, and data sharing over radio waves. One of the most exciting features of APRS is the availability of bots—automated services that provide valuable information and functionality to users. Whether you’re using APRS software or an APRS-enabled radio, these bots can significantly enhance your experience. Here are the top 10 APRS bots you should know about:

1. WXBot: Your Weather Forecast Companion

WXBot is a must-have for any ham radio operator who needs up-to-date weather information. By sending a query to WXBot with a location or grid square, you can receive detailed weather forecasts, including temperature, wind speed, humidity, and more. This bot is especially useful for outdoor activities like camping, hiking, or field operations.

https://sites.google.com/site/ki6wjp/wxbot

2. FIND: Locate Callsigns in the APRS Network

The FIND bot helps you locate a specific callsign within the APRS network. Whether you’re trying to find a friend or track a station, this bot provides the last known position and status of the requested callsign.

How to use: Send a message to FIND with the callsign you’re searching for (e.g., FIND N0CALL).

3. ISS: Track the International Space Station

If you’re interested in satellite communication or just want to know where the International Space Station (ISS) is, the ISS bot has you covered. It provides the current location of the ISS, including its latitude, longitude, and altitude.

How to use: Send a message to ISS to get the latest position.

4. REPEAT: Find Amateur Radio Repeaters

The REPEAT bot is a handy tool for finding information about amateur radio repeaters. Simply provide a location or grid square, and REPEAT will return details like frequencies, tones, and offsets for nearby repeaters.

How to use: Send a message to REPEAT with your location or grid square (e.g., REPEAT EM12).

5. SATBOT: Satellite Pass Predictions

SATBOT is perfect for satellite enthusiasts. By entering a grid square and the name of a satellite, SATBOT will provide pass predictions, including the time, azimuth, and elevation of the next pass.

How to use: Send a message to SATBOT with your grid square and satellite name (e.g., SATBOT EM12 SO-50).

6. WHO-IS: Operator Information Lookup

The WHO-IS bot allows you to look up an operator’s name and DXCC (DX Century Club) information based on their callsign. This is particularly useful for identifying unfamiliar stations or confirming contest participants.

How to use: Send a message to WHO-IS with the callsign (e.g., WHO-IS N0CALL).

7. SMSGTE: APRS to SMS Gateway

SMSGTE bridges the gap between APRS and SMS messaging. With this bot, you can send text messages to mobile phones directly from your APRS device. It’s a great way to stay connected even when you’re off the grid.

8. NTSGTE: National Traffic System Gateway

For operators in the United States, NTSGTE provides a gateway to the National Traffic System (NTS). This bot allows you to send and receive NTS messages via APRS, making it easier to participate in traffic handling.

9. APSPOT: WWFF, POTA and SOTA to APRS Spotting

If you’re a WWFF, POTA and Summits on the Air (SOTA) enthusiast, APSPOT is your go-to bot. It converts SOTA spots into APRS messages, allowing you to share your activations with the APRS network.

10. WTSAPP: APRS to WhatsApp Gateway

WTSAPP is a relatively new bot that enables APRS-to-WhatsApp messaging. Similar to SMSGTE, this bot allows you to send messages to WhatsApp users directly from your APRS device.

https://wtsapp.org

Conclusion

APRS bots are an incredible resource for amateur radio operators, offering a wide range of functionalities that can enhance your communication, tracking, and information-gathering capabilities. Whether you’re checking the weather with WXBot, locating repeaters with REPEAT, or sending messages via SMSGTE, these bots make APRS even more versatile and powerful.

Next time you’re on the air, give these bots a try and see how they can improve your APRS experience. Happy transmitting!

Do you have a favorite APRS bot that we missed? Share your thoughts in the comments below!