This guide takes you from a radio with APRS capability (or a radio and a separate APRS device) to a station that shows up correctly on the map. The SSID and symbol details are quoted from the recommendations on aprs.org.
1Use your ACMA call sign
Your APRS station identifies with your own call sign. Note that ACMA stopped issuing F-series call signs partly because they're "incompatible with some digital modes" (ACMA call sign policy).
2Choose an SSID
The SSID is the number after your call sign, so one operator can run several stations. These are "recommendations" from aprs.org (6 February 2012), not a formal standard:
-0: Your primary station usually fixed and message capable
-1 to -4: generic additional station, digi, mobile, wx, etc
-5: Other networks (Dstar, Iphones, Androids, Blackberry's etc)
-6: Special activity, Satellite ops, camping or 6 meters, etc
-7: walkie talkies, HT's or other human portable
-8: boats, sailboats, RV's or second main mobile
-9: Primary Mobile (usually message capable)
-10: internet, Igates, echolink, winlink, AVRS, APRN, etc
-11: balloons, aircraft, spacecraft, etc
-12: APRStt, DTMF, RFID, devices, one-way trackers, etc
-13: Weather stations
-14: Truckers or generally full time drivers
-15: generic additional station, digi, mobile, wx, etc
"The SSID of zero is dropped by most display applications." So a handheld would typically be your call sign with -7, and a car -9.
3Choose a symbol
The symbol sets the icon on the map. A few from the aprs.org symbols list:
/- House QTH (VHF)
/> CAR (SSID = 9)
/_ WEATHER Station (blue)
/# DIGI (white center)
/& HF GATEway
/k TRUCK (SSID = 14)
/b BIKE (SSID = 4)There's no dedicated iGate symbol; by convention iGates use the gateway symbol with an "I" overlay.
4Set frequency and path
Set the APRS frequency to 145.175 MHz and the path to WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1 for urban or mobile use, or WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2 in rural, low-activity areas, as the VK APRS Network recommends (see the previous tutorial). Then set a sensible beacon interval and turn on your position source.
5Software and internet access
Many apps and software packages can act as an APRS station or connect to the APRS internet network.
This guide doesn't recommend specific apps, and doesn't cover the procedure for logging in to the APRS internet network, because those details haven't been checked against a primary source. Follow the documentation for whatever software you choose.