If you’ve ever been involved in emergency communications, public service events, or even casual ham radio APRS tracking, you’ve likely searched for software that’s reliable, offline-capable, and easy to use. PinPoint might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Developed by Frank, AB0WV, PinPoint is a free, Windows-based APRS application that has been battle-tested by ARES volunteers in real-world field scenarios — from weather spotter deployments to emergency exercises. While many APRS tools exist, PinPoint stands out for its combination of simplicity, capability, and field-readiness.

What Is PinPoint?

At its core, PinPoint is a visual APRS tracking and communication tool designed for ham radio operators. It allows you to see the real-time location of stations (and objects) on a map, whether you’re using a TNC and radio or just listening in on APRS-IS.

But PinPoint is more than just dots on a screen. It’s a tactical tool for field operations. Imagine a storm spotter network where the incident commander can track every mobile unit’s position and guide them safely around bad weather — that’s the kind of use case PinPoint excels at.

Why Hams Like It

Here are a few reasons why PinPoint has been well-received by the amateur radio community:

• Modern, clean interface
• Built-in map support (Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, etc.)
• Offline-capable – Maps are cached and stored locally
• Supports a wide range of TNCs and soundmodems
• No Internet required during operations
• Free for personal use

It was even featured in the September 2018 issue of QST magazine, which says a lot about its credibility.

Features That Matter

PinPoint includes some thoughtful features that are rare in other APRS clients:

• Flexible mapping: From street maps to satellite imagery — all cached for offline use.
• Mouse-friendly UI: Most actions can be done with a click — no arcane config files or obscure hotkeys.
• Tactical awareness tools: Designed with real-world deployments in mind.
• Built-in APRS-IS support for iGate (receive-only).
• Modular and straightforward setup, especially for new users.

It’s clear that the author designed this with usability in mind, without sacrificing the serious features needed for actual field use.

What You’ll Need

To get PinPoint up and running, you’ll need:

• A Windows machine (Windows 7 to 11 recommended)
• .NET Framework 4.7.2 installed
• A radio + TNC setup (or soundmodem like DireWolf or VARA)
• A GPS if you’re going mobile
• APRS-IS access if you’re operating online
• And, of course, a valid amateur radio license

Ideal For…

• ARES and RACES deployments
• Severe weather spotting teams
• Mobile APRS tracking in vehicles
• Field Day and public service events
• Any ham who wants a clean, offline-friendly APRS solution

Still in Active Development

What’s impressive is that PinPoint is still actively maintained. If you have feedback or suggestions, you can reach out directly to the author via email. Frank listens to the community, and features are added based on actual user needs. It’s refreshing to see a ham radio app that doesn’t feel abandoned.

Final Thoughts

There’s a lot to like about PinPoint. It strikes a balance between powerful features and user-friendliness. And for emergency communications, where tools need to work without Internet, PinPoint delivers. It’s free, reliable, and tailored to the kinds of real-world challenges hams actually face in the field.

If you’re a Windows user and looking for an APRS tool that’s more than just a viewer, give PinPoint a try.

Download PinPoint here

The post A Look at PinPoint APRS: Field-Tested, Feature-Packed, and Free appeared on Hamradio.my - Amateur Radio, Tech Insights and Product Reviews by 9M2PJU.

Download the Required Software

Before starting the setup, ensure you have the necessary software installed:

• Download the latest version of APRSdroid (NA7Q) from NA7Q’s website.
• Download the SPP GUI Program, which is essential for managing the Bluetooth serial connection between your devices.

Pairing Your PC and Android Phone via Bluetooth

1. Open Bluetooth Settings on your Windows PC.
2. Enable Bluetooth and set it to “Allow Bluetooth devices to find this PC.”
3. On your Android phone, navigate to Bluetooth settings and search for nearby devices.
4. Select your PC from the list of available devices to begin pairing.
5. A PIN will be displayed on both your phone and computer. Confirm that the PIN matches on both devices.
6. Accept the pairing request on your phone first, then confirm on your PC.
7. Once the pairing is successful, your PC and Android phone will be connected via Bluetooth.

Configuring the Bluetooth Connection for APRSdroid with VARA HF

1. Open Bluetooth & Other Devices settings on your PC.
2. Click on More Bluetooth Options.
3. Navigate to the COM Ports tab.
4. Click Add, select Incoming communication, and then click OK to save the settings.

Configuring the COM Port in SPP GUI Program

1. Launch the SPP GUI Program on your PC.
2. Set the COM port to the one added under Bluetooth options.

Configuring VARA HF

1. In the SPP GUI Program, locate the Program to Run option.
2. Browse to your VARA HF installation folder and select vara.exe.
3. Enable the Autostart Bridge option.
4. Set the Port in SPP GUI to your VARA HF KISS Port.
5. Assign the COM port in SPP GUI to the VARA HF KISS port for communication with APRSdroid.

Adding SPP GUI to Windows Autostart

For convenience, you can configure SPP GUI to start automatically when Windows boots:

1. Press Windows key + R, then type shell:startup and press Enter.
2. Create a shortcut inside the Startup folder pointing to spp-gui14.exe.

Setting Up APRSdroid to Use Bluetooth SPP Connection

1. Open APRSdroid and navigate to Connection Preferences.
2. Select the PC device name from the list of Bluetooth devices.
3. Start the SPP GUI Program.
4. Configure the settings as needed and start the bridge.

Final Notes

• Ensure your Bluetooth device is connected and paired before starting the setup process.
• Double-check COM port settings and the VARA HF installation path to avoid issues.

For more details, visit the official guide on NA7Q’s website.

By following this guide, you should have APRSdroid successfully communicating with VARA HF over Bluetooth.

The post Setting Up APRSdroid with VARA HF Over Bluetooth appeared on Hamradio.my - Amateur Radio, Tech Insights and Product Reviews by 9M2PJU.

Introduction to APRSDroid and LoRa APRS Tracker

APRSDroid is a popular Android application that allows amateur radio operators to send and receive APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) data. It is widely used for tracking, messaging, and weather reporting in the ham radio community. The NA7Q modded version of APRSDroid includes additional enhancements, making it more versatile for different setups, including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) compability.

The LoRa APRS Tracker is a compact device that enables long-range APRS communications using LoRa technology. It is widely used for transmitting position reports, messages, and telemetry data over the APRS network. When paired with the modded APRSDroid app, users can effectively use their LoRa APRS tracker with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and TNC KISS mode for seamless APRS communication.

Steps to Set Up NA7Q APRSDroid with LoRa APRS Tracker

1. Download and Install NA7Q Modded APRSDroid

First, download the NA7Q modded version of APRSDroid from a trusted source. This version provides additional features not available in the standard APRSDroid application.

2. Configure the LoRa APRS Tracker

To set up your LoRa APRS Tracker in BLE and KISS mode, follow these steps:

1. Power on the LoRa APRS Tracker.
2. Switch the tracker to AP Mode for configuration.
3. Connect to the tracker’s Wi-Fi network using the default password: 1234567890.
4. Access the tracker’s web configuration page via a web browser.
5. Navigate to the settings page and enable BLE and KISS mode.
6. Save and reboot the tracker.

3. Configure Connection Preferences in APRSDroid

Once the LoRa APRS Tracker is set up, configure the NA7Q APRSDroid mod to connect to it via Bluetooth:

1. Open APRSDroid (NA7Q Mod) on your Android device.
2. Go to Preferences > Connection Preferences.
3. Select TNC (KISS) Protocol.
4. Under Connection Type, choose Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
5. If your LoRa APRS Tracker is not already paired with your Android device, pair it via Bluetooth settings.
6. Select the paired LoRa APRS Tracker as the TNC Bluetooth device.
7. Save the settings and return to the main screen.

4. Start Using APRSDroid with LoRa APRS Tracker

Once configured, you can start using APRSDroid to send and receive APRS packets via LoRa APRS Tracker. Ensure that:

• The tracker is powered on and in BLE mode.
• The APRSDroid app is running and connected.
• Your APRS packets are being transmitted and received successfully.

Here is a demonstration video

Conclusion

Using the NA7Q modded APRSDroid with a LoRa APRS Tracker in Bluetooth Low Energy and KISS mode provides a seamless way to communicate over APRS. This setup is particularly useful for portable and mobile APRS operations, offering long-range communication with minimal power consumption. Try it out and enhance your APRS experience with LoRa technology!

Visit:

1. https://na7q.com/aprsdroid-osm/
2. https://github.com/richonguzman/LoRa_APRS_Tracker

The post How to Use NA7Q APRSDroid Mod with LoRa APRS Tracker in BLE and KISS Mode TNC appeared on Hamradio.my - Amateur Radio, Tech Insights and Product Reviews by 9M2PJU.