[aprssig] How To Use APRS With Some Peace Of Mind - POB

[WD8ARZ]

Good Monday Morning All, looks like a cold snowy few days shaping up 
back this way in North West Indiana.

One of the concerns we have as hams, is not knowing whom might wish to 
take advantage of the information about us online and in the data we 
send over APRS.

Obviously we dont want our home burglarized while we are out some where 
else while our APRS signals are reporting where we are, and home is not 
that location. As well, we dont want our vehicle burglarized of our 
equipment either.

When using APRS I do my darnedest to not broadcast with in a couple 
miles of where I live or where I am visiting. I also turn off my APRS a 
mile or two before I make stops for gas, food etc. If I am going to be 
out of the vehicle for a while, I remove any antennas on the vehicle 
(all on quick disconnects including a heavy HiQ screw driver antenna), 
and remove all control panel heads from the dash area (all on velcro and 
main equipment installed out of side that those control heads operate).

Fortunately I have found that my mobile radio that has APRS built in, 
and two APRS Android programs that I use, allow me to truncate a number 
of the last digits for longitude and latitude. That allows for general 
location to be useful, but not exact.

To purchase items like software online, I use a single charge card that 
has a low level cap on it. Just a few hundred dollars. That is used for 
example on my Android phone for the apps I want. Every year or so, that 
card is changed. Am grateful for both Android phone applications I have 
purchased. Once I proved I was a ham just once, the code for my call 
sign then works on all APRS programs I put that call into. One time deal.

Another step one can take to help keep strangers from locating your home 
address in the FCC records that so many other sites have access to and 
post to strangers, is to not have your home address in that online data.

Latest edition of the FCC Form 205 Quick-Form Application for 
Authorization of Amateur Radio Services is at:
http://transition.fcc.gov/Forms/Form605/605.html Currently that form 
Edition Date is May 2013

Notice that Line 15 asks for your address as a post office box address. 
Line 16 is the street address location.

My last updating I did have information in both line 15 and 16. If you 
look at my call sign on QRZ, you will note that only my post office box 
number is listed, not my street address. On my license form, one side 
has the pob, the other side has the street address. As I read the 
current version of this form, the street address appears to be an option.

In my case, I have neighbors and family in /round my home that keep an 
eye on things while I am not there. Additionally, an alarm system with 
multiple methods to report intrusion is used, and remotely monitored by 
friends and neighbors. Multiple video / audio camera's are installed out 
side and inside that are recorded 24 / 7 and also accessible remotely by 
several methods. Those camera's are also monitored by family, friends 
and neighbors. Those links are user / password restricted and available 
any where across the country. Thats why it is easy for back up sites at 
other locations to also be recording 24 / 7 ....

Will this prevent problems one hundred percent? Of course not. But it 
has worked for me for several decades. Fortunately amendment 2 provides 
for other security methods as well, in the home and on my person. Both 
those options are equipped appropriately for the home and me (legally) 
as well.

73 from Bill - WD8ARZ Geiger Counter Mobile Station named NULL
that uses GPS and APRS location data - http://www.radiationnetwork.com/
WD8ARZ-7    HT TH-D7AG - APRS
WD8ARZ-9    Mobile TM-D700AG - APRS 100Hz pl - Monitoring 146.52
WD8ARZ-10  Android Smart Phone - "APRSdroid"  and "U2APRS" - APRS
"APRS Viewer" on Android for displaying APRS stations only, no beacon /
transmitting.
Using Kenwood's SkyCommand mode to operate HF with my HT