APRSdroid integration !
Not planned
Being a licensed ham and traveling to teach all over the North American continent, i use the aprsdroid app for tracking and messaging when in areas with digipeater access but no cell service. I also do disaster relief work and provide medical education to disaster responders.
Integrating APRSdroid with Gaia GPS would make your great app (both apps) even better.
When in groups in remote areas, APRS users can locate others and communicate through simplex (no need for digipeaters or repeaters), being able to see the location of other group members right on the Gaia app (with the excellent maps available) would be ideal !
APRS would be very useful for disaster responders and SAR teams. Integration with quality nav systems is the logical next step.
Please consider this, Backcountry Navigator just came out with APRSdroid integration that is still in beta,
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Official comment
Hi everyone,
Thanks for posting. I can definitely see how this would be a helpful feature.
While this currently isn't on the roadmap, I appreciate the feedback and wanted to let you know that we are listening.
I encourage folks to continue to show their interest in this feature by upvoting this thread. -
Agreed. This would be a great feature addition.
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Great idea and added feature set!
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Great idea, please add.
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Please do it! Apple user here
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This would be fantastic!
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This would be awesome!!
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This would be a major addition for a lot of SAR and volunteer groups
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This would be a great addition to both apps. As jhguth said, a great asset to search and rescue
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Really cool idea. Allows communication over RF when cellular service is not available.
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This would be huge please consider Gaia, thank you
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I'm an ios user but I think this would be a fantastic addition!
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It would be great to have the APRS integration
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Apple user here as well. Gaia is great, but would be even better with APRS integration. I am a ham - KI7GHB - and want to use APRS on my remote 4X4 trips. Thankyou
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Apple user as well and think an APRS feature on Gaia would be a great asset for many especially SAR-ES and any emergency responders. However I would like to see it with an APRS platform that is supported by more than just droid devices. Would be better with aprs.fi or similar. Like I said, support for all devices and platforms.
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Please please please make this a thing!!! It would greatly simplify my setup and provide great data points
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Adding APRS functionality into the app will make Gaia GPS my go to app when on the trail. Although I am a Droid user it would be great to see it have Apple supportability as well.
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The addition of APRS capability on Gaia would certainly be a benefit to disaster preparedness. Display of
fixed and mobile stations at the local Emergency Operations Center would be very useful.
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This would be very beneficial! I would love to see Apple support as well.
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I have over 30 years of Emergency Management and public safety supervisory experience, and APRS would be very useful for all levels of emergency aid and assistance, as well as for hobby purposes such as off-roading, hiking and other pursuits. Integration with quality nav systems is the logical next step, and I am primarily an IOS user, but use Android as well. I respectfully request that GAIA begin the requested APRS support for these common platforms, as Backcountry Navigator has begun in Beta. Thanks for your consideration!
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As an iOS user I have to reluctantly say I don't see a clear path for integrating APRS into GaiaGPS on iOS. Since iOS doesn't support serial bluetooth, the only method for getting offline APRS is via the headphone port. For me that's a deal killer since I use my headphone jack to connect to my truck's music player. This would also require GaiaGPS's developers to dive into decoding audio packet data.
However, GaiaGPS for Android could relatively easily integrate with APRSDroid, which is compatible with Mobilinkd bluetooth TNC.
So, that's my long way of saying I'd LOVE to see this come to GaiaGPS for Android. I'd switch to an Android tablet from my iPad if that happened.
I do think that APRS integration aligns really well with GaiaGPS's use in S&R and emergency operations. Even more so for us 4-wheelers who are in large numbers moving to ham radio.
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surprised this isn't done already with the growing popularity of ham on the trails. this would be a wonderful addition.
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Found a link to this from a forum asking for support of the request.
As both a Beta User on Android and a paid premium user on Ios I do not support this addition directly. Early on I requested Spotwalla integration to compliment/replace the RECORD button. Spotwalla is a free tracking hub that integrates Spot, Bubbler, SWConnect, Inreach, Wireie, and finally APRS. It allows all users to have access not just a specific licensed group of Ham radio operators like myself.
APRS integration is a nice option, but Spotwalla is more universal for all users
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Great feature, please add and help build a better app for all of us users.
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Curious, how would the addition of APRS work in a disaster situation when the cell towers are out or when you are so remote that no cell service is available? Never mind, I think I figured it out... carry on!
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The RAVEN, the desire for APRS integration is because so many use both GaiaGPS and APRS in areas without any cell coverage. Spotwalla looks like a neat service but it is web based so will require a data connection. APRS shares location and messages without the need for data, if GaiaGPS added APRS support (via APRSdroid running a background service) it could allow you to see the location of other users and repeaters integrated on the same map you are using for navigation all without needing data service.
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The Raven, I think you misunderstand the desired functionality behind this feature request. Spotwalla’s APRS integration requires internet service to work. Integrating with APRSDroid would allow APRS users to see nearby APRS stations with an internet connection. APRSDroid listens to radio transmissions (through an attached ham radio) with GPS data in them in order to place them on a map. This is useful in remote areas. Spotwalla would certainly be a valuable integration but isn’t as complete a substitute for APRS as you’d suggest.
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I do not use Gaia currently, I just joined this to comment due to the efforts of one of your users to promote interest in this feature. I'm one of possibly a good number of individuals who would likely purchase Gaia if it had APRS functionality that integrated well. I'd most likely get it if for no other reason than to tinker with that feature. Who is to say I would not start using it primarily if I was introduced for another reason.
I currently use and am fond of BackCountry Navigator, they are attempting to implement APRS functions but it is currently very basic and cumbersome in practice. Adding APRS that worked well and gained the support of users would potentially bring in new users and keep you competitive with BCN.
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Just a followup to my earlier comment. To give the advocate of this feature the benefit of the doubt I approached it as many newcomers would. I purchased APRSdroid, a Baofung HT, an external antenna and followed all the instructions I could find for APRS. I ended up having the ability to read my packet via a packet translator on my ipad that was captured on my FT60. Though I could not get any on the digirepeaters to pickup my signal and could not update my location in Maryland where I am now.
Needless to say I stick to my prior feelings on the system. While it may be useful to some, or those using APRS-is I just see the equipment requirement and the technical requirements far surpass the needs of the average user.
I should also mention that I also purchased Backcountry Navigator (Which I do like in some ways better than Gaia) to test the APRS functionality and found it clunky to use at best.
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Raven, you’re clearly passionate about Spotwalla, and that’s great. I hope Gaia integrates it for you. I believe everyone here would appreciate it if you stopped shitting on APRS and our effort to get Gaia to integrate it just because you don’t get it.
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