APRS users can lookup the license type and general location or address associated with an Amateur Radio Callsign by sending a that callsign to WHO-IS (or WHO-15 for “clients and IGates that do not support non-AX.25 SSIDs.” ¹)

General Location

> W0ILO
< C/RED RIVER RADIO AMATEURS/ND/United States

Address

> f W0ILO
< W0ILO: RED RIVER RADIO AMATEURS/C
< W0ILO: PO BOX 3215
< W0ILO: FARGO ND United States

License Type Codes

These codes are displayed at the beginning of the general location message and at the end of the name line of the address message

About WHO-IS

WHO-IS is an APRS Service which may be globally accessed from RF or TCP/IP APRS clients. WHO-IS is maintained by Peter Loveall AE5PL and is a part of the APRS-IS software stack.

Other APRS Services include:

• APRS-IS Servers
• CQ Server
• Email Access
• NWS Message Server

Amateur radio operators can use the APRSlink gateway to manage their Winlink accounts using an APRS equipped radio.

The APRSlink gateway allows APRS users to:

• Read short email messages sent to their callsign@winlink.org account
• Send short email messages to any valid email address or Winlink 2000 user
• Perform email related maintenance
• Be notified of pending Winlink email via APRS message
• Query APRSLink for information of the closest Winlink RMS packet station

Complete gateway documentation, including a command reference, is available on the APRSlink page.

This collection of videos demonstrates some APRSlink features using a Yeasu FTM-400DR transceiver.

About Winlink

Winlink, also known as the Winlink 2000 Network, is a worldwide radio messaging system that uses amateur-band radio frequencies to provide radio interconnection services that include email with attachments, position reporting, weather bulletins, emergency relief communications, and message relay. The system is built and administered by volunteers and administered by the Amateur Radio Safety Foundation Inc., an American charitable entity and 501c(3) non-profit organization. [ 1 ]

Winlink website: http://www.winlink.org/

About APRS

Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) is an amateur radio-based system for real time digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area. Data can include object Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates, weather station telemetry, text messages, announcements, queries, and other telemetry. APRS data can be displayed on a map, which can show stations, objects, tracks of moving objects, weather stations, search and rescue data, and direction finding data. [ 2 ]

APRS website: http://www.aprs.org/

Footnotes

[ 1 ] “Winlink”, Wikipedia, retrieved July 18 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winlink.

[ 2 ] “Automatic Packet Reporting System”, Wikipedia, retrieved July 18 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System.