CSS to Debut New APRS Touchtone Software at Hamvention

Radio Spotter™ Software Planned for Release in the Summer of 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Muscle Shoals, AL, May 11, 2009 — Creative Services Software, Inc. (CSS) will debut Radio Spotter, a coming addition to its radio software product line, at Hamvention in Dayton, Ohio later this week. Radio Spotter is the industry’s only software for APRS® touchtone-to-packet communications. The software receives and decodes DTMF (touchtone) transmissions, converts them into an APRS packet and transmits through the APRS system.

A beta version of Radio Spotter will be demonstrated by CSS in Booth 108-109 throughout the convention, and by APRS Founder Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, during the APRS forum on Friday, May 15.  Radio Spotter is a licensed implementation of the APRStt™ specification as developed by Bob Bruninga, APRS Engineering LLC, and has been certified as compliant. The software will be released in the summer of 2009.

Radio Spotter is an APRS touchtone (DTMF) gateway that monitors a radio for operator DTMF transmissions on a simplex frequency such as 146.58, decodes the DTMF into an APRS packet, and then transmits the packet on the national APRS frequency of 144.39. A voice or morse code response to the DTMF is sent back on a second radio on the DTMF channel.  In addition, Radio Spotter offers an interactive dashboard and command center for monitoring and managing DTMF receive and APRS transmit conditions, logging transmissions and controlling the attached TNC or soundcard.

The software will run on any Windows PC, laptop or netbook (with Windows 2000 or later) and requires only a soundcard or TNC to connect to a radio transceiver.  Optionally, operators can connect to multiple soundcards and/or multiple TNCs.  Using Radio Spotter with the Radio Operations Center (ROC)Digital Desktop™ from CSS, along with multiple soundcards or a dual-port TNC, allows operators to continue running Radio Spotter while using ROC Digital Desktop to work other modes and frequencies on the HF port.

“Radio Spotter allows anyone with any HT or mobile radio to check in on APRS and become part of the global APRS network,” Bruninga said.  “Just store your call sign in DTMF format in a DTMF memory and you’ll appear on APRS with just the press of a button on any existing VHF radio with a keypad.”

“Operators key in their call sign and position in seconds, and Radio Spotter logs their call sign, location and the time their DTMF was received,” said Rick Ruhl, W4PC, president of CSS and software developer.  “Simply connect a PC running Radio Spotter to a radio transceiver and nearby operators can check in to APRS with only a handheld VHF radio.”

Radio Spotter will serve the routine communications needs of an emergency response team, local club or area, and is an ideal application for special events.  With Radio Spotter operating at a special event, not only the APRS volunteers, but now all volunteers with nothing but an HT or mobile with DTMF can report their positions via the APRS system.

“With Radio Spotter, all ham radio operators can participate in the APRS information system, not just those with specialized APRS radios or those with mobile TNCs and laptops,” Bruninga continued. “This lets the other 95 percent of amateur radio operators exchange useful data for special events or emergency operations with the APRS system and other users.”

Visit www.cssincorp.com for more information, or to sign up to be notified when Radio Spotter version 1.0 is released. 

About the Radio Operations Center

The Radio Operations Center software suite from CSS is the only amateur, MARS and commercial radio software solution that combines the integration, automation and multitasking capabilities of Microsoft^® Windows with the flexibility and control to operate on multiple TNCs, soundcards and radio hardware in all the digital modes. The Radio Operations Center allows users to control radios, TNCs and rotors, as well as access logging applications, call books and more. The software formerly known as PKTerm™ (for Timewave/AEA TNCs) and PacTerm™ (for Kantronics TNCs) are now called the Radio Operations Center (ROC) Digital Desktop™. Other Radio Operations Center products include EmComm Ops, Marine Radio Ops and Weather Ops. 

About CSS

CSS is a privately held software and technology consulting company specializing in software connectivity for commercial and amateur radio operators; office automation and network management solutions for business; and custom software development for specialized Web and wireless applications. 

###