APRS and Echonet - what are they for?
APRS is a data service that can run on Amateur radio networks. What its for: It's for providing tracking data, as in sending your GPS position via radio when you're out of range of cell service. Like container ships at sea, or hikers in the wilderness, mountain climbing. How it works: Plug your GPS device into your Beofeng handheld radio via a data cable. Your position is transmitted to a website where you can be tracked. Generally one would use an Android phone which has GPS built in and there's an app to run APRS on it. You can buy HT radios that have GPS built and support APRS, so you don't need to plug in your cell phone. However those radios generally cost $500+. And you already have the GPS receiver built into your phone. Just download the app, and turn off cell, wifi, Bluetooth on your phone to extend battery life. Other nice features of APRS are it supports a simple messaging service like SMS. You don't need a radio to receive APRS data, it appears...