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SMS Text and Email via APRS using APRSdroid

Discussion in 'Audio & Video' started by Prerunner1982, Nov 9, 2017.

  1. Nov 9, 2017 at 10:35 AM
    #1
    Prerunner1982

    Prerunner1982 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I have run APRS for awhile and have used it for tracking and sending messages to other APRS users and sending packets through the International Space Station, and while I have known that APRS was capable of sending SMS text and emails I had not looked into it until recently.

    APRSdroid is what I use and it has a simple interface so I will show below how to do both SMS and email.
    This does require the user to be a licensed amateur radio operator and to be within a couple of digipeater hops of an I-gate.

    SMS Text sent from RF:
    Your APRS radio should be on and your phone/tablet connected with APRSdroid running.
    Go to the top right hand corner of APRSdroid, you will find three dots lined up vertically. Select them and the first option in the drop down menu is Messages. Click it and you will be taken to another screen, at the bottom you will see a button "Send Messages to..."
    Messages are sent to "Callsign" SMSGTE.
    The "Message Text" includes the phone number you are sending the message to and the message you want to send. All of this is limited to 67 characters, including the phone # so an Alias can be set up. That's worse than Twitter, speaking of Twitter you can post from APRS to Twitter. I am not a Tweeter so I won't include the how to though it will be found in one of the links below.

    Screenshot_20171109-104657.jpg

    Screenshot_20171109-112504.jpg

    ALIAS:
    To create an Alias you first have to create a log in by simply sending a message to SMSGTE from APRSdroid with the message of #mynumber add (insert your number).

    Screenshot_20171109-093702.jpg

    You will get a confirmation message on APRS confirming your number is now associated with your callsign.
    2017-11-09_09.42.57.jpg

    You can now set up a password from your cell phone by first sending yourself an text from APRS. You will receive a text from the unlisted SMSGTE phone number. You simply reply to the text with #password set (insert password).

    2017-11-09_09.39.47.jpg


    Once you have done this you can go to http://smsgte.wixsite.com/smsgte/alias-manager
    You can set up Alias via your phone as well and the links I will provide at the end of this will have more info to do that, but frankly it was just easier to go to the web and do it.

    Go to the blue box on the left, complete the form and info and add (or delete).
    Though on APRS your callsign will appear with an SSID (a - and a number following your call sign such as -9 for mobile) you do not enter the SSID when logging into the Alias Manager.
    SMSGTE1.jpg

    This allows you to enter more subject in your text as the phone number will take up less of the 67 characters.
    Your message would now look like this:
    Screenshot_20171109-111800.jpg

    The person you are texting may respond IF they are a license ham as their messages will be passed over RF.

    EMAIL sent from RF:
    There are a couple of servers that facilitate passing an email from RF, I like EMAIL-2 as it offers some options and seems easy enough to use.

    For email you will use EMAIL-2 for the callsign.
    Your "Message Text" will include the email address and message, again limited to 67 characters. Alias's can be set up here as well.

    Screenshot_20171109-101547.jpg

    To set up an Alias for email you would again send a message to EMAIL-2 and in the message put the Alias (Insert email address - lower case).

    Screenshot_20171109-101646.jpg

    Again this will allow you to send a slightly longer message as the email will now take up less characters.
    Screenshot_20171109-101715.jpg

    Using the EMAIL-2 server also allows the email recipient to reply, but as with SMS they too must be a license ham as the message will be sent over RF. You must set them up as an Alias first to keep spam off of the APRS infrastructure. There is also a specific format their email must have. The subject line of the email would need to include your call sign WITH SSID, : (colon must be present) and their message to you. The body of the email would simply be: userid: (their alias): Again the colons must be present.
    Subject: KF5WUF-9:be safe
    Body: userid:wife:

    The EMAIL-2 server will send you acknowledgements that the email has gone through.
    If the recipient replies to your email and you are not currently running APRS the server will hold your email for 24hrs and you may retrieve it by sending "get" to EMAIL-2.

    Helpful Links:
    http://smsgte.wixsite.com/smsgte
    http://www.algissalys.com/amateur-radio/aprs-services
    http://www.aprs-is.net/email.aspx


    Let me know if you have any questions about this or ham radio in general.
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2017
    chris4x4 likes this.
  2. Nov 30, 2017 at 5:58 PM
    #2
    Prerunner1982

    Prerunner1982 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Sent a text to my wife from the ham radio in my Jeep through the International Space Station. #radionerd
     
    JKBob 25 and chris4x4 like this.
  3. Nov 30, 2017 at 6:20 PM
    #3
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine Moderator

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    That's AWESOME!!
     
  4. Nov 30, 2017 at 6:36 PM
    #4
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    Seriously dude. Wow.. Hope you don't get a call from NASA. Sucks being called to the Principles office. Lololol. :annoyed:
     
  5. May 13, 2023 at 4:27 PM
    #5
    Ol guy

    Ol guy New Member

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    None
    The fellow running this feature has shut things down so probably is done for.
     
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