Signing up for the OpenAPRS system:
When you start up iAPRS for the very first time you are greeted with the screen below once it finishes loading on your iPhone or iPod Touch.
This is to alert you that the program will provide you with nothing but errors if you don't configure iAPRS for your account at OpenAPRS and other pertinant details of your preference.
In order for you to use iAPRS you MUST have a free OpenAPRS account.
Signing up with OpenAPRS is free and simple but you cannot do it via the iPhone because the OpenAPRS website uses a popUp window for this functionality. Make sure to set your web browser to allow popups from OpenAPRS.net.
Please visit http://www.openaprs.net and at the upper left corner of the page is a pulldown menu with the title 'OpenAPRS'.
Select 'New Account Signup' from the menu and in the popup window enter your first and last names, your email address, and the password you would like to use to access the system. If you are a licensed amateur radio operator, scroll down and provide your callsign.
When done entering the above hit the 'Signup' button at the bottom of the scolled down popup. In a couple of minutes you should receive an email at the email address you provided.
In the email received there will be an activation URL for you to click on in order to verify that the email you provided is accurate. Once your web browser accesses that special URL at OpenAPRS your account will now be activated but not validated.
Activated but not validated means that you can log onto OpenAPRS from the phone in MONITOR MODE and download the map showing the APRS equipped hams in your area but you cannot upload your position to the APRS network.
Validation (sometimes refered to as 'verification') is required in order for you to upload your location to the APRS network (so you show up on the OpenAPRS and Findu.com maps and to other iAPRS users).
Validation requires you to have an amateur radio license and access to a radio transceiver that uses APRS from the radio spectrum. Once validated you can turn Monitor mode OFF in the iPhone iAPRS application and then post your position to the APRS network.
To validate your account (and prove the existence of your ham license) you must return to the OpenAPRS.net website and log into the website.
Once logged in on the OpenAPRS.net website, pull down the menu in the upper left corner under the 'OpenAPRS' heading and select the 'Verify Account' option.
In the popup window will be the instructions on how to create the encrypted key text that you must send via an APRS equipped radio transceiver using the APRS messaging mode. You will need a fully featured APRS radio setup to use the messaging mode, but the procedure is not too difficult and the verification process works quickly. (Note: the Kenwood mobile APRS radios handle this easily)
If you do not have access to an APRS radio system that can send messages there is an alternative method available that is mentioned on the OpenAPRS verification page.
If all you wish to do with iAPRS is to monitor the APRS traffic in your area you do not need to be verified. Anyone (even non-hams) can use the MONITOR mode with an unverified OpenAPRS account.
From this point, you should visit our CONFIGURATION page for instructions on how to load your new OpenAPRS account information and your callsign into the iAPRS application.