General FAQ's

Q: Is PinPoint APRS an Open Source Project?
A: Not at this time. Maybe it will be Open Source sometime in the future.

Q: I have a feature request for future development. Can I send it to you?
A: Yes, absolutely. If enough people ask for a certain feature to be implemented, I may add it to the roadmap. Send it to ab0wv at arrl.net.

Q: Why does PinPoint APRS require a passcode to use APRS-IS if I want to beacon using the Internet?
A: It's actually the APRS-IS servers that require the passcode. It helps to prevent unauthorized use. The passcode is directly tied to your ham radio call sign (regardless of the APRS SSID you use) and never changes unless your call sign does. You can send me an email at ab0wv at arrl.net with your ham radio call sign to obtain your passcode.

Q: Does PinPoint APRS track my use of the application?
A: No. There is no tracking inside the PinPoint APRS application. The only time PinPoint APRS reaches out to the server where the website is hosted is to check whether there is a new version available. No personal information is passed to the server at that time. It just requests the latest (non-beta) build number and compares that to the build number of the running application. The https://pinpointaprs.com website has basic Google Analytics tracking installed, mostly so I can see if the website is actually being used and which countries people are visiting from. You can opt-out at the bottom of the website at any time.

Q: Do you have an overview on how to use APRS symbols, especially overlays?
A: Here are a few webpages that show which APRS symbols are in use and how to use overlays:
https://aprs-tools.temporarilyoffline.com/get-symbol.html
http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/APRS_symbols.htm
https://aprs.world/guides/aprs-symbols-explained

Q: Why are NexRad Weather Radar, Weather Alerts and Wildfire features only available in or near the USA?
A: It's because PinPoint APRS uses USA-based services for obtaining that data and they only have data available for the USA. In the future I may investigate integrating other data providers that provide similar data for other parts of the world.

Features

Q: Does PinPoint APRS support APRS Objects and Items?
A: Yes! You can place your own APRS Objects on the map by using SHIFT-Click on the map, and selecting the APRS Object menu item. PinPoint APRS can receive and interpret both APRS Object and APRS Item data.

Q: What kind of GPS is supported by PinPoint APRS?
A: PinPoint APRS supports any NMEA compatible GPS that outputs its data via serial port. The GPS can be USB, but must be presented to Windows as a COM port, which is common.

Q: What kind of TNC's are supported by PinPoint APRS?
A: PinPoint APRS supports all Kenwood radios with built-in TNC, Kantronics TNC's, Byonics TinyTrak4, any KISS TNC via network or serial port, Yaesu radios with built-in TNC (receive only, which is a shortcoming of the radio) and you can customize your own definition using TNC2 commands. In addition, it supports SoundModem, VARA, Direwolf and other applications that have a built-in soft-TNC via the network KISS interface.

Q: I don't like the default sounds. Can I change them?
A: Yes. The .WAV soundfiles are stored in C:\Program Files (x86)\PinPoint APRS\Sounds. You can change them into anything you like, just keep the names the same, since that's what PinPoint APRS looks for. Make sure to keep a copy, since every upgrade of PinPoint APRS will overwrite those files.

Q: Can I create my own custom TNC definition?
A: Yes, you can create your own configuration file for a custom TNC that uses TNC2 or something similar. Just navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\PinPoint APRS\TNC and find the file Startup_Custom.txt and Shutdown_Custom.txt. Edit those files to add the specific TNC commands your TNC uses. Then, Under Tools > Options > TNC, select the "Custom" TNC and enable the two checkboxes that send the initialization and shutdown script when connecting/disconnecting. Make sure to keep a copy, since every upgrade of PinPoint APRS will overwrite those files.

Q: Can I use my own APRS symbols?
A: Yes, the symbols are stored in three files in C:\Program Files (x86)\PinPoint APRS\Symbols. The files are primary.png for the primary APRS symbol table, alternate.png for the secondary symbol table and overlay.png for the overlay characters. The symbols are 24x24 pixels each, and 32 x 12 symbols for each file resulting in a size of 768x288 pixels in total. The files are all in PNG format, using a transparent background for each symbol. Make sure to keep a copy, since every upgrade of PinPoint APRS will overwrite those files.

Q: Can I use PinPoint APRS with the International Space Station (ISS)?
A: PinPoint APRS can be used to digipeat your APRS packet off of the International Space Station (ISS) and other APRS equipped satellites. In order to do so, you will need the following:
- A good, basic APRS transmitter setup. Chances are that your current 2 meter rig and a good antenna (either a base or even a mobile antenna) will work on medium to high passes of the satellite. Discones, verticals, Eggbeaters and yagis are all possibilities!
- A satellite tracking program such as Look4Sat will give you the expected passage times for your location.
The ISS and other satellites use a different frequency to uplink APRS traffic. It's usually 145.825 MHz. In PinPoint APRS, you will need to change the "APRS Path" under "Tools > Options" to the satellite's call sign. For example, the call sign for the ISS is ARISS. Set the minimum APRS beacon to at least every 30 seconds. These satellites are moving incredibly fast and you want to optimize your chances of being heard by the satellite.
Once a pass has completed, you can check to see if your packet was received. If it was successfully received by the satellite, digipeated and received by one of the APRS ground stations that are linked to the APRS network, you will be able to see the info on the regular aprs.fi website. Search for your callsign on aprs.fi. The ISS contact will appear as RS0ISS. If your info on an ISS pass does not show on aprs.fi, it could mean that your packet was heard by the ISS but just not received from the satellite by a ground station. However, you can also check the listing of the latest amateur station packets received by the ISS at ARISS.net. You may have made it after all!
All satellites including the ISS are not always available for APRS comms due to competing science priorities, on board power issues, etc. Keep trying! When you're finished, don't forget to switch your PinPoint APRS path in Options back to your regular setting. (Thanks to Craig, KB8AKZ, for this contribution).

Q: Which maps does PinPoint APRS support?
A: PinPoint APRS supports the following maps both in online (Internet) and offline (cache) mode:
OpenStreetMap family
- OpenStreetMap
- OpenStreetMapGraphHopper
- OpenCycleMap
- OpenCycleLandscapeMap
- OpenCycleTransportMap
- OpenSeaMapHybrid
- UMP
Bing
- BingMap
- BingSatelliteMap
- BingHybridMap
Google
- GoogleMap
- GoogleSatelliteMap
- GoogleHybridMap
- GoogleTerrainMap
ArcGIS
- ArcGIS_World_Topo_Map
- ArcGIS_World_Street_Map
- ArcGIS_World_Shaded_Relief_Map
- ArcGIS_World_Terrain_Base_Map
Carto
- Carto Positron
- Carto Voyager
- Carto DarkMatter
Stadia Maps (requires free Stadia Maps API key)
- Stamen Toner
- Stamen Toner Lite
- Stamen Toner Blacklite
- Stamen Terrain
OpenAIP Aviation (requires free OpenAIP API key)
- OpenAIP + World Topo Map
USGS
- USGS US Topo
- USGS Imagery Topo
Other
- OpenTopoMap
- ESRI World Imagery
- WikiMapiaMap
- SpainMap
- SwissTopo
- LatviaMap
- LithuaniaMap
- LithuaniaHybridMap
- LithuaniaHybridMapOld
- LithuaniaOrtoFotoMap
- LithuaniaOrtoFotoMapOld
- LithuaniaReliefMap

Troubleshooting

Q: Windows is warning me this is suspicious software when I download it or try to install it. Why is that?
A: That's because I don't pay Microsoft an annual fee for a security certificate that makes this software known to Microsoft. Fee free to run the download through a virus scanner first. If you're not sure how to proceed, there's usually a solution online for the message you are receiving and your version of Windows.

Q: I use display scaling in Windows and as a result some things in PinPoint APRS don't render quite right. For instance, the red crosshairs (Tools > Options > Map > Show crosshairs at map center) on the map are also not in the center.
A: Windows Display Scaling can be an issue sometimes. A way around it that may work (besides turning it off or setting it to 100%) is to right click on the PinPoint APRS icon on the desktop, select Properties, select the Compatibility tab, click the "Change high DPI settings" button and enable both checkboxes on the window that pops up. Leave the dropdowns as "I signed in to Windows" and "Application". That may fix it for you, but no guarantees.

Q: PinPoint APRS crashes when I start up the application or the map doesn't show up.
A: It's possible that the PinPoint APRS configuration file was corrupted somehow. You can reset PinPoint APRS by exiting PinPoint APRS first and then going to your user directory (usually C:\Users\{yourusername}) and find the AppData subdirectory (which is usually a hidden directory, so you may have to unhide that first in View > Show > Hidden Items, depending on your Operating System), then navigate to the Local directory. Inside the Local directory, delete any directory that starts with PinPoint. You can now start PinPoint APRS and you will have to configure it again. Don't forget to drag the map to you location, SHIFT-Click on your location, and "Set As My Position" and also enter you call sign under Tools > Options > APRS.

Q: When selecting a new map provider, I noticed that there are a number that don't work. Why is that?
A: PinPoint APRS uses an Open Source mapping library called GMap.Net (GreatMaps). The maps in the dropdown list are the ones that the library provides. I will probably spend some time in the future to filter out the ones that don't work and see if I can add others.

Radio/TNC Related

Q: Does PinPoint APRS interact directly with my radio?
A: No. PinPoint APRS needs a TNC (Terminal Node Controller) to talk to via serial port or network port that converts bits and bytes into very specific signals for your radio, like a modem during the dial-up Internet days. The TNC can also be a piece of software (combined with a simple radio interface) that runs on the same (or separate) computer, like SoundModem, VARA or Direwolf. The TNC controls the radio. PinPoint APRS talks to the TNC.

Q: Can I get both internal GPS data and the KISS TNC connected to PinPoint APRS with a Kenwood D74 or D75?
A: Yes, but you will have to define the GPS interface as Bluetooth or USB and the built-in TNC as the other interface (USB or Bluetooth) and connect the USB and Bluetooth as separate COM ports to PinPoint APRS, and connect the GPS inside PinPoint APRS to the COM port for the GPS and connect the TNC to the COM port for the TNC. The radio can not pass both GPS and KISS TNC signals over the same interface.

Q: My Kenwood TM-D710G has a built-in GPS. Can it share GPS data into PinPoint APRS together with providing TNC access?
A: The last time I looked at this, the firmware inside the TM-D710G was unable to output the GPS data at the same time, on the same serial interface to PinPoint APRS. There are some 'hacky' ways to do this, but PinPoint APRS does not currently support this. However, if you connect an external GPS to the TM-D710G, you can use GPS passthrough mode as long as the TM-D710G is in TNC2 mode (meaning, not KISS mode).

Q: I have an AnyTone APRS capable radio. Can I use it with PinPoint APRS?
A: The AnyTone APRS implementation is self-contained inside the radio with no external TNC access, which means no external software can control the TNC inside the AnyTone radio, so for this to work you would have to connect an external TNC between the radio and PinPoint APRS.

Q: Can PinPoint APRS control APRS on Yaesu APRS capable radios?
A: While PinPoint APRS can display APRS data received by the Yaesu radios that are APRS capable, PinPoint APRS can not control the TNC inside the Yaesu to send anything out, since the TNC inside the radio is 'deaf', meaning it doesn't respond to external commands, hence the 'receive only' limitation.

Q: I have a TNC that requires different commands than the standard Kantronics KPC-3 or Kenwood TNC's. Is that supported?
A: Yes. Select the "Custom" TNC inside of PinPoint APRS, under Tools > Options > TNC, and then go to the location where PinPoint APRS is installed under the TNC directory (usually that is C:\Program Files (x86)\PinPoint APRS\TNC). Find the Startup_Custom.txt and Shutdown_Custom.txt files and edit those with the commands your TNC requires during TNC connect (startup) and TNC disconnect (shutdown). Make sure the "Send initialization script when connecting to TNC" and "Send shutdown script when connecting to TNC" checkboxes are enabled under Tools > Options > TNC, so these files actually are sent to the TNC when Connecting and Disconnecting.

Known Issues & Shortcomings

Position reports with position ambiguity enabled should show up as a rectangle within which the station is located, because the position report that was sent gives an approximate location. Right now, Pinpoint APRS just shows the position based on the latitude and longitude digits that are known. While this feature is not used a ton, I will probably need to spend some time to re-implement this type of position report to clearly show the position ambiguity.

Currently, PinPoint APRS only supports Digipeating through turning the feature on in a TNC2 capable TNC, which means that PinPoint APRS itself doesn't digipeat, but it tells the TNC to do it if the feature is enabled. This means that no digipeating is currently supported for non-TNC2 TNC's, like KISS. This will likely be added sometime in the future.

PinPoint APRS only supports receive-only iGate functionality and will not iGate from APRS-IS to the RF network at the moment. This is a feature that will likely be added in the future if there is enough demand for it.