amateur radio
APRS
automatic packet reporting system
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docker
ham radio
KISS TNC
radio amatur
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APRS TNC Web – A Simple, Modern Interface for Your KISS TNC
If you’re like many amateur radio operators, you’ve probably tinkered with APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) at some point. It’s a brilliant way to track stations, weather reports, messages, and more over the air. But most of the software out there is either old, clunky, or designed primarily for Windows.
That’s where APRS TNC Web comes in.
What Is APRS TNC Web?
APRS TNC Web is a lightweight, Docker-powered web application that gives you a clean, modern interface to interact with your APRS traffic using any KISS-compatible TNC (Terminal Node Controller). Whether you’re on a Raspberry Pi, a server in your shack, or just your laptop, this tool makes APRS monitoring and messaging effortless.
Why Was This Built?
The motivation is simple: a lot of us want to keep track of local APRS traffic or send a quick message—but without booting up a heavy GUI or running Windows-only software like APRSIS32. Damian (SQ2CPA) created this project with usability in mind, and it shows.
🔧 Features at a Glance
- ✅ Connects to any KISS TNC over TCP/IP
- ✅ Human-readable decoding of APRS frames
- ✅ Raw frame display for deeper analysis
- ✅ Send and receive APRS messages from your browser
- ✅ Fully Dockerized: Runs with a single command
- ✅ Cross-platform: Access from any device on your LAN
⚡ Quick Setup (Yes, Really!)
If you have Docker installed, you’re already halfway there.
- Clone the repo or create a project folder
- Copy the example
.envanddocker-compose.yamlinto the directory - Customize your
.envfile (port, DB settings, TNC host/port) - Run:
docker compose up -d
That’s it. Visit http://<your-device-ip>:8000 and you’re live.
🗺️ What You’ll See
Once it’s running, APRS TNC Web gives you a real-time view of decoded APRS packets. Frames appear instantly in a sleek interface, with options to toggle raw views and message interfaces.
You can go to Settings to configure your callsign, SSID, and KISS device IP. After that, you’re ready to send and receive APRS messages directly through your TNC.
🛠️ What’s Missing (For Now)
The current release is focused and stable—but intentionally lean. Some advanced features like:
- Object or item beaconing
- Real-time maps
- Advanced filtering or analytics
…are not yet included, but may come in future versions. If you’re a dev with an itch to scratch, contributions are very welcome!
🎙️ Final Thoughts
As an active ham, I found this tool refreshing. It strips APRS down to its essentials without losing the things we actually use. It’s also ideal for club deployments or APRS field kits, where simplicity and reliability matter.
If you’re tired of fighting with outdated interfaces or installing bloated software just to decode a few packets, give APRS TNC Web a try.
Project repo: github.com/SQ2CPA/aprs-tnc-web
Author: Damian, SQ2CPA
License: MIT
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