Member III
It appears the SMSGTE service has been shut down and it's future it unknown.
OB Approved SMS Text and Email via APRS
- Thread starter Prerunner1982
- Start date
Member III
This capability was down for some time but thanks to NA7Q it has been brought back with some changes. You are now required to opt in any phone # you will send messages to. You can opt in or out of the service at aprs.wiki.
You can still create an alias, so you aren’t transmitting the phone number every time you send a SMS message and it's much easier to do this time.
To do this, you would send a message to SMS with a message of #alias #add (alias) (phone number). Example: #alias #add Mike 555123456
Then when you go to send a message you would put @Mike instead of @555123456.
Glad that this service is back.
You can still create an alias, so you aren’t transmitting the phone number every time you send a SMS message and it's much easier to do this time.
To do this, you would send a message to SMS with a message of #alias #add (alias) (phone number). Example: #alias #add Mike 555123456
Then when you go to send a message you would put @Mike instead of @555123456.
Glad that this service is back.
Member III
I previously mentioned WXBOT but have just recently found MPAD… not sure how I missed this service!
By sending a message to MPAD you can get weather, satellite info, nearby repeater info, location of station on APRS in multiple formats, and local information using Open Street Maps, among a few other things.
Weather:
This is the default service so you can send a location to MPAD and it will send weather for the day, you can also send zip or your grid square. If you want weather for a future day follow your location designator with “for (day)”. Example: Guthrie, Ok for Monday.
You can also send CWOP to MPAD and get the current date from the nearest CWOP (Civilian Weather Observer Program) station.
Satellite info:
You can send SATPASS (satellite designation) and get the date/time, elevation, and azmuth of the next pass. Example: SATPASS ISS
You can send SATFREQ (satellite designation) and get the frequency information for that satellite. Example: SATFREQ SO-50
Repeater:
Send Repeater and get back the nearest repeater. You can also specify the type of repeater you want by adding a mode or band after the repeater command, such as 2m or C4FM. I wasn’t real satisfied with this service as when I specified a 2m repeater it gave me one 23 miles away when I know there is one within about 10 miles or so. I am not sure where the system may be pulling the repeater info, but it’s worth trying.
Whereami:
Send Whereis (callsign) to get the grid square, coordinates in two different formats, and possibly a nearby physical address. Could be handy to find your own location if needed, though it would likely provide the location of your last APRS beacon.
Open Street Maps:
Send OSM followed by something you want to locate, example: OSM HOTEL and the service should return the nearest one to you. I tried this and it couldn’t find any information. I am not sure if there is a distance requirement as I am out in the “country” and that may have been my problem. There is a list of thing you can search for, ATM, HOSPITAL, HOTEL, FUEL are just a few.
And for a little fun… Magic8Ball:
Send m8b and you will get a magic 8 ball response. Come to a fork in the trail, should I take the left trail (send m8b)..... "it is decidedly so".
By sending a message to MPAD you can get weather, satellite info, nearby repeater info, location of station on APRS in multiple formats, and local information using Open Street Maps, among a few other things.
Weather:
This is the default service so you can send a location to MPAD and it will send weather for the day, you can also send zip or your grid square. If you want weather for a future day follow your location designator with “for (day)”. Example: Guthrie, Ok for Monday.
You can also send CWOP to MPAD and get the current date from the nearest CWOP (Civilian Weather Observer Program) station.
Satellite info:
You can send SATPASS (satellite designation) and get the date/time, elevation, and azmuth of the next pass. Example: SATPASS ISS
You can send SATFREQ (satellite designation) and get the frequency information for that satellite. Example: SATFREQ SO-50
Repeater:
Send Repeater and get back the nearest repeater. You can also specify the type of repeater you want by adding a mode or band after the repeater command, such as 2m or C4FM. I wasn’t real satisfied with this service as when I specified a 2m repeater it gave me one 23 miles away when I know there is one within about 10 miles or so. I am not sure where the system may be pulling the repeater info, but it’s worth trying.
Whereami:
Send Whereis (callsign) to get the grid square, coordinates in two different formats, and possibly a nearby physical address. Could be handy to find your own location if needed, though it would likely provide the location of your last APRS beacon.
Open Street Maps:
Send OSM followed by something you want to locate, example: OSM HOTEL and the service should return the nearest one to you. I tried this and it couldn’t find any information. I am not sure if there is a distance requirement as I am out in the “country” and that may have been my problem. There is a list of thing you can search for, ATM, HOSPITAL, HOTEL, FUEL are just a few.
And for a little fun… Magic8Ball:
Send m8b and you will get a magic 8 ball response. Come to a fork in the trail, should I take the left trail (send m8b)..... "it is decidedly so".
