WXAPRS - A WinPack Add-On Program
---------------------------------

What It Does
------------
WXAPRS was originally written so that local WinPack users could get a
display of the data from my weather node, which beacons its data in APRS
format.

I later added the ability to save all APRS position beacons that WinPack
hears, so they can be loaded into the DOS APRS program and the
positions of the stations displayed. The program is intended for use in
the UK, where there is currently so little APRS activity that packet
users do not want to tie up their packet system running APRS, just so
they can plot a few position beacons.

WXAPRS works by establishing a DDE link with WinPack, so that it "sees"
all the data that WinPack monitors. It will work with WinPack V6.1 and
later, I'm not sure if it works with earlier versions - I haven't tried
it.

Limitations
-----------
BIG ONES!! My knowledge of APRS is limited to "playing" with the DOS
software and reading the docs. At the moment the only APRS weather node
I have ever heard is my own, and the format of the data from it is what
I think it should be - have I got it right?? The only APRS position
beacons I have ever heard have been from stations who set up their
beacons to my specification - have I got it right??

I need feedback, so, if you think WXAPRS isn't working properly, send me
examples of the data you are receiving and tell me what you think is
wrong with the way the program is processing it.

Installation
------------
Put WXAPRS.EXE and WXAPRS.XTR in your WINPACK directory.

If you want WXAPRS to automatically start when WinPack starts, edit
WXAPRS.XTR and change the third line from "False" to "True".

If you have WinPack V6.4 or later (not yet released at the time that
WXAPRS was released), and you want to have a button for WXAPRS on the
WinPack button bar, put WXAPRS.ICO in the WINPACK\ICONS directory and
add the following line to WXAPRS.XTR:-

Button=$WINP_PATH\icons\wxaprs.ico

Restart WinPack, and you will have an option "APRS WX Display" on the
File menu. Selecting that option will start the program.

In Use
------
Whenever WinPack hears a transmission from an APRS WX node, WXAPRS will
display the data. Whenever WinPack hears any other APRS beacons, WXAPRS
will recognise them, and can optionally record them in a .BK file which
can be loaded into the DOS APRS program.

Program Options
---------------
The WXAPRS system menu (click the top left corner of the window) has two
special options:-

Show Only APRS
--------------
If this option is checked, then only APRS position beacons are
displayed in the WXAPRS monitor window. If it isn't checked, then all
monitored traffic is displayed.

Save To File
------------
If this option is checked, then all APRS position beacons are saved in
.BK files that can be loaded into the DOS APRS program. The files are
saved in the directory specified by BK_PATH in the WXAPRS.INI file, the
default is the WINPACK directory. (The INI file is created the first
time you run the program.) The first .BK file is named according to the
time the program was started, the format of the name is MMDDHHMM.BK. If
WXAPRS is running as the PC clock passes midnight, a new file is
started. The data in the file is rewritten every 15 minutes, and only
the last beacon heard from each station is saved.

The first line in each file can be specified by the MAP_POSITION entry
in WXAPRS.INI. This is a 'c' line and a suitable entry can be found by
running DOS APRS, moving to a suitable map location and zoom level for
your area of interest then exiting the program. Edit BACKUP.BK in the
APRS BAKS directory and use the first line from it as the MAP_POSITION
entry. E.g. I use:-

MAP_POSITION=c, 52.9656 , 9.209564E-02, 4

Critical TNC settings
---------------------
HEADER ON (irrelevant if you are using WinPack in a host mode)
MON ON (or whatever command will result in UI frames being monitored)

Use Of This Program
-------------------
WXAPRS.EXE is supplied as freeware. You can freely pass it on to anyone
else, to use for whatever purpose they choose. However, the copyright of
the program remains with myself, and the program must NOT be sold. I
make no guarantee for the performance of the program, you use it at your
own risk.

PLEASE NOTE
-----------
The following applies mainly to users in the USA:-

WB4APR makes the following statement in the LICENSE.TXT file which
accompanies his DOS APRS software:-

"Other software engineers desiring to include APRS RECEPTION in their
software for sale within or outside of the amateur community will
require a license from the author."

I haven't got a licence from him, but I'm not selling WXAPRS, so I don't
think I need one. If you feel that I am infringing his licensing
requirements, please don't use this program.

Version History
---------------
V1.3  - the first version released for general use. (Previous versions
        were only intended for use by a few WinPack uses local to my
        weather node.)

V1.31 - Added the ability to recognise four character locators e.g.
        [IO92], previous versions only recognised six character locators
        e.g. [IO92XX].
        Bug fixed that was causing the log file to be updated more often
        than was necessary.

V1.32   A minor bug fix that only affected the display of the data in
        the terminal window.

V1.4    I have by now realised that the display of barometric pressure
        is definitely wrong! This version attempts to fix it. It also
        adds support for rain reported as 'p' (sliding 24 hour amount)
        as an alternative to 'P' (rain since midnight). There was also
        an error when parsing the APRS beacons from some systems which
        resulted in them not being recognised at all, this is now fixed.

V1.5    Some changes made so it will decode transmissions that previous
        versions didn't decode correctly.


73 - Roger, G4IDE
roger@peaksys.demon.co.uk

Last updated - 15 December 1998
