APRS Question

[KK6CHE]

First off, Hello everyone!

I am fairly new to amateur radio and soaking it up like a sponge.  I picked up a Kenwood TM-D710A a few weeks ago, what a great radio.

I do have a question in regards to APRS though.  Can I setup a private APRS network?  I am thinking this could be helpful when I go off with the Jeep club to keep an eye (so to speak) on the other members in the group without bogging down the main APRS system.

Thanks for your time and help.

Sincerely,

Jeff
KK6CHE

[WN2C]

I wouldn't worry about 'bogging down the system'.  It can handle it.

Rick  wn2c

[N1ZZZ]

I would not worry about bogging down the system either.  What might worry you is dealing with all of the other stations you might not care about.  To fix this, just have everyone on an alternative frequency.  Just make sure that it's a normal packet frequency that isn't being used in your area.  I'd try 145.05 or something near that.

73
Jeremy N1ZZZ

[W5LZ]

Can you set up a 'private' APRS?  Sure, as long as you pick an unused frequency and expect to be interfered with occasionally (and keep it 'amateur').  Can you expect to set up an interference free system?  Nope, you can't expect that on any amateur band, not even 144.390 Mhz.
 - Paul

[AK4GA]

Can you set up a 'private' APRS?  Sure, as long as you pick an unused frequency and expect to be interfered with occasionally (and keep it 'amateur').

Absolutely. You can even try to look for activity on 144.99 MHz, the QRP/half duplex APRS input to see if it is implemented in your area. If it is not, set up your digi for it.

[KB0OXD]

Conceivably you could use frequencies in the All-Mode portion of any band for something like this AS LONG AS you pick one that's not in use BY anyone/anything else FOR anything else.  Depending on the size of your private group & where everyone else is, the frequency your group chooses would have to be one that's not in use ANYWHERE !!  In different parts of the country (Or even a state), this can be a difficult thing to identify

To make this job easier, I would look at different bands as well as different frequencies.  For example, 6 meters doesn't get much use REGARDLESS OF MODE yet many people wonder why that is.  What many of these people don't realize that if they've got one of those snazzy HT's capable of TXing on 6 meters, THEY CAN SET UP AN APRS DIGI THERE as long as it's either in the Digital or All-Mode portion of the band

Either way, it all depends on how creative you are & wanna be

But in any case, it boils down to this - IF WE DO NOT WANNA LOSE THE SPECTRUM WE HAVE - WE GOTTA USE IT !!!

Cheers & 73