Show threadKonrad Roeder (WA4OSH)Mar 13

@Aegewsh
100% AX.25 Packet radio was invented in 1978's after I got my HAM license 50 years ago.

It was a point-to point network with digipeaters in the middle. The first TNCs were designed by #TAPR in 1983.

Bob Bruninga took AX.25 packet and confined it to mostly a weather station and GPS tracker protocol (on the left).

#LoRaAPRS was the initial work of Peter Buchegger OE5BPA, Bernd Gasser OE1ACM, Christoph Gasser OE1CGC and Christian Johan Bauer OE3CJB. That's the vision on the right.

Show threadKonrad Roeder (WA4OSH)Mar 13
@Aegewsh
Stetryczaly, I'm curious. How formal is your #LoRaAPRS development? Did you write a Systems Requirements Document and a Systems Design Document? Or is this an Agile project where the architecture and software just evolve?
Show threadKonrad Roeder (WA4OSH)Mar 13

@rocking_horse #Reticulum seems to be non-ham radio protocol. It's purpose is to send traffic over all sorts of different PHY layers. It's distributed and encrypted. There are more #preppers than there are HAMs

#LoRaWAN is an unlicensed IT protocol maintained by the LoRa Alliance. Not #HAM radio

#LoRaAPRS originated in Austria. I helped translate German documentation into English and Spanish to bring it to ITU region 2. It's more wide-spread in Spanish speaking countries than the US.

Show threadKonrad Roeder (WA4OSH)Mar 13

@Aegewsh #LoRaAPRS #APRS

I fully agree with you that the AX.25 / APRS (Bob Bruninga's implentation of AS.25) standard only supports SSIDs numbered 0-15. It's a radio protocol.

However, an iGate is an internet device. It never hears the tracker's RF transmission. It's not the destination of packets.

On APRS.fi / internet side: Anything goes — higher SSIDs (or even letters) are fully supported and displayed because it's all text over the 'net, not constrained by the ancient 4-bit field.

Show threadKonrad Roeder (WA4OSH)Mar 12

@Aegewsh

My #LoRaAPRS nodes are CA2RXU based. It would be useful to also be able to message to and from, monitor as well as admin those nodes as well.

Is the limit of SSID 0 (or none) to 15 overly restrictive? My LoRaAPRS igate is on SSID 20. I receive traffic from other nearby SSID's here in the front range of Colorado also out of the 0-15 SSID range. Eg. WD4IXD-40

Go to APRS.fi and search for WA4OSH* then look at the info page.

Stetryczały SzydercaFeb 11

IT'S OFFICIAL! #LoRaAPRS App v1.0.0 for Android is Live!

I'm thrilled to announce the release of the first official version of the #LoRa #APRS App for Android! As of January 25, 2026, we have formally adopted semantic versioning to bring you a more structured and reliable experience.

This update is a massive step forward. While we stick to our core philosophy-pure messaging, true off-grid capability, and no unnecessary bloat - we have completely overhauled the engine under the hood.

Here is what's new in v1.0.0 (25 January 2026):
Comprehensive Multi-Device Support - Connect all your stations (car tracker, home station, portable TNC) in one place!
- Seamless Switching: The app intelligently connects to the next available device via Bluetooth (Classic/BLE) or TCP/IP.
- Auto-Reconnect: Transitions happen in the background without manual intervention.

Advanced Messaging System Rebuilt from the ground up for reliability!
- Smart Grouping: Conversations are grouped by callsign. The app handles SSIDs intelligently, ensuring replies go to the right station.
- New Tools: Send Normal messages, CQ, or Bulletins easily.
- Field Ready: Use Predefined Messages for quick updates (perfect for SOTA/POTA!) and built-in Query Commands.

Multi-Language Support - The interface is now fully translated into 7 languages! 🇺🇸 English, 🇩🇪 German, 🇪🇸 Spanish, 🇫🇷 French, 🇮🇹 Italian, 🇵🇱 Polish, and 🇵🇹 Portuguese.

Compatibility Guaranteed - This app is designed to work perfectly with the SQ2CPA firmware available on my flasher tool. You can grab the compatible software here: https://flasher.lora-aprs.pl/

📚 Documentation - Need a deep dive into the features? You can find the complete wiki for the application here: https://wiki.lora-aprs.pl/lora_aprs_mobile_app/index/

Feedback & Support:
Found a bug? Have a feature request? I want to hear from you!
🔹 GitHub Issues: https://github.com/SQ2CPA/LoRa_APRS_Mobile_App/issues
🔹 Email: [email protected]
🔹 Telegram: @SQ2CPA

Download the APK here: https://app.lora-aprs.pl/download

#hamradio

Show threadrocking_horseJan 29
Surprisingly (at least for me) #Reticulum is more known than #LoRaWAN and #LoRaAPRS not much less
Show threadStetryczały SzydercaJan 13
@davejohnson "Passive" - that is the one problem, and the second one is "internet". Everythin' must be directed to the internet network. Bloody hell, even cellular networks are more "on air" than most of #LoRaAPRS stations because mobile phones work bidirectionally
Stetryczały SzydercaJan 12

Edit: Text below is a voice of SQ2CPA, not main, sorry for misleading.

We need to talk about the direction in which our hobby is heading. Let's look back at the words of the father of APRS, Bob Bruninga, WB4APR (SK) 🕯️ He famously and repeatedly said:
"APRS is not a vehicle tracking system"
"APRS is a LOCAL RF network"

However, when we look at the current state of #LoRaAPRS globally, it seems we are drifting away from these core principles. 🌍
Instead of building a robust local network for information exchange, LoRa APRS is increasingly becoming exactly what Bob warned against: a system focused purely on vehicle tracking and generating dots on a map 📍🚗
The Technical Reality Check: #LoRa #APRS should be an incredible Physical Layer (PHY) - a carrier for standard APRS data. Instead, we are seeing the implementation of "invented wonders" and custom features that often have little to do with the original, well-designed APRS network architecture.

Are we building a communication network, or just a long-range GPS tracker? It is worth remembering the roots of the system we use every day. Let's focus on building a Network, not just a map display 📶

🤝 Let's Build It Right - Together

I am announcing the creation of a new Telegram Group dedicated to bringing LoRa APRS back to its true purpose. If you want to move beyond simple tracking and build real networks, join the discussion!

📲 Join the Telegram group here: 👉 https://t.me/aprs_lora

💻 Ready to set up your gear? If you are setting up your true LoRa APRS devices, you can easily flash them using web flasher here: 👉 https://flasher.lora-aprs.pl/ #hamradio

Show threadStetryczały SzydercaNov 11
@bud_t
Look at the link below. It's a messenger using KISS protocol, made for LoRaAPRS, but should work with any device with TCP interface.
I have used it only with #LoRaAPRS (1200bps) and HF radio (with Direwolf sound modem 300bps) but you can try other modulations. It could be a nice extension for #AREDN with a mobile or handy devices. #hamradio
https://app.lora-aprs.pl
LoRa APRS App - The future of LoRa APRS messaging!