Now that Redpark are marketing an Apple-approved serial connector for the iPad, I sincerely hope that someone will write a PROPER iPad APRS app, i.e one that allows the iPad to connect to/control a radio (as well as connecting to the Internet). If you'd are an iPad developer, you know your next task! The APRS apps which only connect to the Net, are all well and good, but it's not REAL APRS!! Nigel GJ7LJJ, Is. of Jersey
Sure it's real. What do you think an iPhone or iPad is?
A TRANSCEIVER !!!
How? Simple. Let's simplify things by using the iPhone.
The iPhone (Like any other cell phone - Smart or not) TX/RX somewhere up in the Ghz. bands (I believe it's around the 5 Ghz. region if I'm not mistaken though someone can correct me on that

). The Internet itself also TX/RX somewhere around that same region. Routers also operate up there (I know for a fact because I have a Dual Band router)
Guess what -
ANY LICENSED HAM CAN GET ON THOSE BANDS !!!
All you need is an outlet to get on the Ham bands and you're all set. In this case, it's an APRS app. I don't know what's out there for iOS devices but I use APRSDroid since I own an Android. Once I start it, I'm logged onto the APRS network through the local I-GATE & from there my call goes out to the world on the APRS network (In fact, I'm beaconing now as KB0OXD-5 - Feel free to send me a message via APRS

)
So to say that APRS via an iOS device (Or any other non-Amateur device) is somehow not "Real" APRS is just a myth. That's just like saying the device isn't a Transceiver. We all know that to be a lie because
IF IT EMITS RF - IT IS A TRANSCEIVER !!!
The fact ithe RF is digital & not analog doesn't matter. The fact you're using your smartphone (Or in your case your iPad)
ALSO doesn't matter. What DOES matter is that it's a device that emits RF on a band which Hams have
LEGAL ACCESS TO !!!
Now if you wanna argue the Rules & Regs, we can argue that till we're blue in the face & not get anywhere. Hams have been trying to use this trick
FOR GENERATIONS to argue against EVERY new "Fandangle" snazzy way of "Hamming It Up" &
HAVE YET to get anywhere with it. So why bother trying? You're only engaging in an act of futility

*LOL!*
JMO.....
Cheers & 73
