APRS or Automatic Packet Reporting System is used on our event to help augment our voice com net.

In the net-control/route manger unit there is a tablet PC running UI-VIEW with street level mapping and route overlays. There is a VHF radio installed as well as internet connection to the APRS-IS stream.

Our medical units are now equipped with Argent Data Tracker2 boards with VHF radios and a Garmin NUVI 350.  This allows our medical units to have 2 way messaging and object routing right on there dashboards with out having to run a full computer.  Here is a short video showing how it works.

SAG and Supply units are equipped with a mix of Byonics TT3/TT4′s.  We are in the process of switching out all or our TT3 units for Argent Data OT1+’s. The TT3 while it does sense audio energy does not decode the packet data stream.  It also runs MIC-E only. Where the OT1+ will do compressed packets. OT1 has ability to send it’s current voltage and temp. good for knowing if a unit is parked with engine running or not. Or if a supply truck battery is about to die.  The conversion is easy as they all use the same radio pinouts.

We also have tracking gear for staff/people. It is in the form of Boostmobile prepaid iden phones running instamapper java software.  These devices send there position data every 5 seconds to the instamapper server and i have scripts that run every 2 – 5 mins and pull that data from the server and send it to APRS-IS stream so that we can see them all in one big picture..

We also have small APRS trackers that we have installed onto VIP bikes to see where they are.