APRS Self-Spotting for Summits On The Air (SOTA)

Too often in Ham radio, operators can struggle to find all they need, concisely, on the web to get what they want done. I definitely have felt this pain in various niches of the hobby. This lack of clear guidance can be very frustrating, especially those new to amatuer radio.

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I recently found this to be true again when attempting to set up my HT, a Kenwood TH-D72(A), for self-spotting while activating for Summits On The Air (SOTA). I usually have adequate cell coverage to be able to use the SOTAgoat app on my iPhone to self-spot, but in the spirit of ham radio I would prefer to self-spot utilizing the Ham spectrum and associated technology. The built-in GPS and APRS features of the DH-72 were significant features I liked in this radio when considering what was on the market at the time. Time to put them to use.

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The point of this post is to list the steps to be able to send APRS messages and email, assuming you already know how APRS works. For a quick how to, on setting up the DH-72 to use APRS, check out W6GPS’ YouTube video. Other radio manufacturers’ setup are likely similar and should be a few searches away on YouTube.

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I pulled the information below together from the Kenwood manual, and the APRS2SOTA website.

Setting up your radio, depending on the brand, is important but if your call sign is not on the APRS2SOTA gateway white-list, your spots sent from your HT will go nowhere. Attempts to send your message without this access will only clog up the APRS frequency.

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Step One:

You have to be added to the APRS2SOTA gateway white-list. To do so, email Stewart, G0LGS, at misc@g0lgs.co.uk. Just send him a short message that you would like to be added. Don’t forget to include your call sign, and say thanks.

Step Two:

[Kenwood TH-D72 Specific Checklist]

Sending an APRS message

(to self spot or to another Amateur APRS radio)

1. Press “f” (f = function key) then the “MSG” key

2. Enter “SOTA” or callsign ( i.e. SOTA / KA7FBI / N7KUN / etc) press “OK” twice

3. Enter text (for SOTA SPOT enter using the following format:

Association/Region-Summit (space) Frequency (space) Mode (space) Call Sign (space) Optional Message

For Example: W0C/FR-063 ([0] space) 14.061 ([0] space) CW ([0] space) CALLSIGN ([0] space)__ Comment like “CQ or QRV in 15 mins”. (Bold is required information)

4. Press OK to send. As soon as you press Ok (twice) after entering your message, your radio should transmit the message once the APRS frequency is not busy.

Sending email:

1. Press “MSG” Key
2. Select Menu
3. Select NEW
4. Enter “EMAIL” in the TO field
5. Enter email address and leave one space blank after email address ([0] space)
6. Enter email text
7. Press OK to send

73 and Safe Hiking,
~ KH7AL ~
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__References:

APRS2SOTA website

Kenwood Radio Support Page for the DH-72A

I also found KR7W’s YouTube video to be invaluable to pre-program messages before heading out on the trail. This video shows how to use the Kenwood proprietary programming software, MCP-4A.