SOME REALLY SIMPLE BASIC INSTRUCTIONS ON GETTING APRS ON THE AIR NOW
by Arte Booten  N2ZRC (packet: N2ZRC@KB2VLX.#BRONX.NY.USA.NA)
                      (E-mail: N2ZRC@gnn.com)

    In this example I'm using the not-yet-released APRS version 9.9z, which
would be called "APRS99z.zip."  Substitute the appropriate file name for
this.

	If you don't use Windows, but have PKZIP204g, put APRS disk into the
floppy drive of your choice (I'll call it drive A) then expand the APRS
files by using the following commands on the hard drive of choice:

     Make an appropriate directory     MD APRS
     Change to this directory          CD \APRS
	 Switch to the A drive             A:
	 Run PKUNZIP with directories      PKUNZIP -d APRS99z.zip C:

    Don't forget to use that "-d" switch, which lets it create the neces-
sary subdirectories.

	If you use WINZIP, change to drive A and double-click on APRS99z.zip,
click expand button, tell it where you want it and follow onscreen direc-
tions.

*********************** V E R Y   I M P O R T A N T **********************
IF YOU ARE USING A KANTRONICS TNC, OPEN THE FILE "INITTAPR.TNC" (it's in
the "SYSTEM" folder) AND, USING ANY TEXT VIEWER, CHANGE THE LINE THAT SAYS
"PAR 0" TO "PAR NONE".  IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, YOUR TNC WON'T UNDERSTAND
ANYTHING THE PROGRAM WILL TELL IT!!
**************************************************************************


	Make sure your TNC is in Terminal or Command mode (whatever it's called
by the manufacturer.)  At the C:\> prompt, go to your chosen APRS folder
and invoke "APRS99z.exe".  If you're using Windows, simply double-click on
that folder.  This brings you to the LOGO screen.  Enter your callsign and
ssid, if any.  Tell it what kind of TNC you're using.  Answer the other
various questions.  When you're done, the main map screen will appear.

	Now press M(aplist) then C(hange), and tell it you want EAS(t map). Use
the arrows or mouse to bring the cursor to your approximate location (keep
your eye on the upper left part of the screen which shows latitude/longi-
tude of the cursor.)  Then press HOME to center the screen on it.  Use the
PgDN key to zoom in a few screens and tweak the cursor to your EXACT QTH.
You may have to zoom in to a very small scale to get the necessary resolu-
tion.  Once the cursor is at the right spot hit the HOME key again.

     Press I(nput) M(y) P(osition) and confirm your lat/long, choose a
symbol for yourself, type in a brief comment, and verify it.  Once you've
pressed that "Y" you're essentially ready to go on the air.  In it's most
basic form, you're configured!  Tune the radio to 145.79, hook it up and
see what you can see.  It might take a few minutes for other stations to
appear (assuming there are some) but if you get a little impatient, try
pressing O(perations) Q(uery) and give it a radius such as 64 to force
position reports from others.

	Look for stations whose symbol is a green star.  THESE ARE THE WIDE
DIGIPEATERS!  Is there one fairly close to you?  If there is, press the "D"
key.  If an asterisk (*) appears next to a callsign (hopefully that near-
by WIDE) then you're hearing it directly.  Make a note of that nearby WIDE
station's digipeater path.

	Now you're going to set YOUR digipeater path.  Press O(perations)
D(igipeaters).  If you heard that WIDE station directly, enter it's call-
sign and ssid, if any. Follow this with a comma, then type in "WIDE". For
example: "WA2JNF-4,WIDE" would be how I'd enter it here in The Bronx, but
the nearest WIDE to YOU is what YOU'RE looking for.

	Next you want to set your Power-Height-Gain figures. Press I(nput)
P(ower) and tell it how many watts you're using, your antenna's height a-
bove AVERAGE terrain (look at a topographical map of your area,) the gain
in dBd and the antenna's directional pattern in degrees or 0 (zero)for an
omnidirectional antenna.

	Finally, set your Beacon Text by pressing I(nput) M(y) S(tatus) and
typing in a short comment, different than the text you used for your Posi-
tion Text earlier.  At this point, you're about as far as you need to go
for now.

	I hope to see you all on my screen in the VERY near future.  Look for
me at cruise missile coordinates 4052.71N/07354.06W.  If you need to know
your exact lat/long, I have a mapping program that'll tell me.  Send me a
message with your street address and zip code and I'll get it to you if
possible.  That program doesn't seem to have street numbers on ALL streets,
so I'll try to get it as close as possible.  If I need more info to get it,
I'll be in touch.
		
