9M2PJU
amateur radio
APRS
aprs passcode
github
ham radio
python
radio amatur
9m2pju, AmateurRadio, APRS, aprsdroid, APRSIS, aprstools, digitalmode, hackyourradio, hamradio, hfaprs, igate, linuxham, offlineTools, opensource, passcodeGenerator, python, RadioAmateur, RadioSoftware, vhfaprs, Xastir, YAAC
9M2PJU
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Generating APRS-IS Passcodes the Easy Way — with Python
If you’ve ever set up an APRS client like Xastir, APRSdroid, or YAAC, you’ve probably hit that one annoying roadblock:
“Enter your APRS-IS passcode.”
It’s not something you can just request or retrieve from a server. The APRS-IS system uses a 15-bit hash of your callsign — and it’s been the same algorithm since forever. While it’s not secure (and not meant to be), it’s a simple gatekeeping measure to prevent random abuse.
📦 9M2PJU-Python-APRS-PassCode-Generator
This tool is exactly what it sounds like — a lightweight, fast APRS-IS passcode generator that:
✅ Accepts any valid callsign, even ones with SSIDs (like 9M2PJU-5)
✅ Supports callsigns that begin with digits (e.g. 4X1ZZ)
✅ Has zero dependencies — just Python 3
✅ Gives you the official 15-bit APRS-IS passcode instantly
✅ Works offline, with no Internet connection
And that’s it. No pip installs.
🚀 How to Use It
git clone https://github.com/9M2PJU/9M2PJU-Python-APRS-PassCode-Generator.gitcd 9M2PJU-Python-APRS-PassCode-Generatorpython3 9m2pju-passcode-generator.py YOURCALLSIGN
That’s all. You can now plug your passcode into Xastir, APRSdroid, or any other APRS-IS client.
💡 Why I Built This
Most APRS-IS passcode generators you find today are hosted as online web tools — meaning you need an Internet connection just to generate a passcode for your own callsign.
I decided to build a fully offline, open-source tool that anyone can use — without depending on any website.
With this Python script, you don’t need to open a browser. You don’t need to visit an online passcode generator. Just run it locally on your machine, and you’ll get the correct 15-bit APRS-IS passcode in seconds.
No Internet required.
No data sent anywhere.
And yes — the code is short, clean, and 100% transparent. Check it out, modify it, or even integrate it into your own tools.
🔐 A Note on Security
The APRS-IS passcode system is not secure encryption. It’s a lightweight check, not a privacy mechanism. You should never treat your APRS passcode like a password — but you also shouldn’t just share it blindly.
This tool helps you generate it locally, without transmitting anything over the Internet.
🧪 Bonus: Want to Hack on It?
Feel free. It’s MIT licensed. Fork it, integrate it, automate it.
You can find the full source here:
👉 https://github.com/9M2PJU/9M2PJU-Python-APRS-PassCode-Generator
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