README.COM             COMMERCIAL VERSIONS OF APRS


COMMERCIAL VERSIONS OF ARS ARE AVAILABLE and we can engineer specific
needs and applications.  Two developments so far are OPTIONAL INTERFACEs SO
THAT APRS CAN SEND POSITS TO OTHER SOFTWARE PACKAGES.  Some of these other
packages can zoom into the individual street address and contain untold other
data base access for dispatching of fleet vehicles.  There are currently two
methods of doing this:


STREETS-ON-DISK:

    This version writes all position reports to a file so that the other
program such as STREETS-ON-DISK, can display all object positions from that
file (you run both APRS and STREETS in a multi-tasking environment)  The
STREETS program is sold by KLYNAS Engineering 805 583-1133 for about $225
but costs an additional $95 per county.  The APRS interface to STREETS is
available from the author or PACCOMM at an introductory rate of $95.


DELOREM MAPING:

     For other maping and data base programs tha accept a NMEA input on a
serial port,  APRS can output NMEA data via its second serial port to
simulate the output of a GPS.  In this method, the APRS operator hooks any
object on the screen, and that position report is sent as a NMEA string over
to the other program that plots it on the map.  In this scenario, APRS CAN
MAKE AN IDEAL FRONT END PACKET COMMUNICATIONS PROCESSOR FOR ANY OTHER DATA
BASE SYSTEM!  PACCOMM suggested this approach when DELOREM quoted over
$15,000 to modify their software!  We did it much cheaper for them so it is
ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE COMMERCIAL VERSION of ARPS distributed by PACCOMM.


            APRS NMEA-0183 OUTPUT for OTHER COMPUTERS

APRS can output NMEA-0183 position data to other computers via a 4800 baud
data link.  This option is useful if you have existing software that takes
NMEA-0183 position data (for a single unit) and you want to have the multi-
station capabilities of APRS.  In this arrangement, APRS serves as a front end
processor to handle all APRS reporting and communications with multiple
stations and vehicles, while sending selected position reports over to another
computer running other Geo-location software.

Since many other Geo-location software packages accept NMEA-0183 data from
GPS and LORAN devices, APRS will simulate a GGA/VTG data format as if it
was comming from a navigation device.  To select an object or station for
output from APRS to the other computer, simply use the cursor to HOOK the
station.  Each time you hook a station, a NMEA-0183 report will be sent to
the other computer via the selected COMMport (usually 2 if your TNC is on
COM1).  If you want to track a particular station continuously, simply hook
the station on the P-List and select TRACK function.  Then, every position
report from that station will generate a NMEA report to the other computer.
Also the +/- keys can be used to quickly step through every station in APRS
and transfer those posits over to the other computer.

This pre-processor arrangement allows APRS to keep the big picture of where
everyone is on the big maps, and allows the normal APRS communications
capabilities between stations.  All detail maping functions and database
applications are then run on a companion computer indpendent of APRS.  The
communications operator simply hands off position reports to the database
operator whenever further detail on a unit is needed.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:   PACCOMM                813 874-2980 BUSINESS
                                 4413 N. Hesperides St  813 875-6417 TECH
                                 Tampa, Fla 33614-7618