The Bigfoot APRS Messenger is a project developed by NA7Q, aimed at providing an easy-to-use APRS messaging system. It is associated with the Bigfoot Amateur Radio Club WA7BF and is actively being improved and maintained. While BUGS are guaranteed, the software is continuously refined as time permits. Currently, only a few known issues exist.

Getting Started

To install the necessary dependencies for Bigfoot APRS Messenger, simply run:

pip install aprslib requests flask flask-socketio socketio netifaces websocket-client

This will install all required libraries to ensure the software runs smoothly.

OSM Mapping Integration

Bigfoot APRS Messenger integrates OpenStreetMap (OSM) for visualizing APRS data. If the map does not open automatically at startup, users can manually access it via:

http://127.0.0.1:5000

Important Notes:

• The browser must remain open for stations to be plotted and tracked.
• Data is cached locally, ensuring APRS information is retained across reboots and browser restarts.

Repository and Files

The project is open-source and available on GitHub. You can find the repository here:

Bigfoot APRS Messenger GitHub Repository

Files Included:

• README.md – Documentation and setup instructions
• messenger-dark-nomap.exe – Dark theme version without map support (Windows)
• messenger-dark.py – Dark theme Python script
• messenger-light-nomap.exe – Light theme version without map support (Windows)
• messenger-light.py – Light theme Python script
• osm-map.zip – Map files for OSM integration

Ongoing Improvements

NA7Q is actively working on enhancing the software, fixing bugs, and adding new features. Since development is a continuous process, users are encouraged to provide feedback and report any issues they encounter.

Visit https://github.com/na7q/aprs-messenger