Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica - Taller Integrador Server GR9

APRS Server with iGate Integration and Tracker Visualization

This project implements an APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) server using APRSC, designed to communicate with an iGate and provide real-time visualization of a tracked module on a map interface.

Overview

The system is built on Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS and integrates APRSC with web-based management tools to create a functional APRS infrastructure. It allows receiving, processing, and displaying APRS packets from trackers via an iGate.

Installation & Setup

System Requirements

• OS: Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS
• Processor: Any modern CPU or single-board computer.
• Memory: 256 MB to 512 MB
• Storage: 5 GB
• Internet access
• User with sudo priviliges
• Available ports:
  • 14580 (APRS-IS)
  • 14501 (status)
  • 80 (web)
  • 10000 (interface)

Step 1. Update system

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2. Install APRSC using apt-get

First, it's necessary to configure package repository for apt. Create a file a using:

deb http://aprsc-dist.he.fi/aprsc/apt noble main

Add the gpg key used to sign the packages:

gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv D43AD4708A2DA1139F250B3294E40E5320D8AE3C
sudo gpg --export D43AD4708A2DA1139F250B3294E40E5320D8AE3C > /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/aprsc.key.gpg

Next, download the package indexes and install aprsc:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install aprsc

Step 3. Install docker

sudo apt install -y git docker.io docker-compose nginx php php-fpm

Enable docker:

sudo systemctl enable docker
sudo systemctl start docker

Verify the installation:

docker --version

Step 4. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/qvarforth/trackdirect

Step 5. Install Webmin

sudo apt install wget
wget http://www.webmin.com/download/deb/webmin-current.deb
sudo dpkg -i webmin-current.deb
sudo apt --fix-broken install -y

Start Webmin and check its status:

sudo systemctl start webmin
sudo systemctl status webmin

You can access your Webmin interface by opening a web browser and navigating to your server's IP address and port. The default port will be 10000, which can be later changed:

https://<server-ip>:10000

Step 6. Configure APRSC

Open the tools tab inside the Webmin dashboard and click the File Manager tab. Look for the copied repository and open the config folder.

<Your_copied_path>/trackdirect/config

Edit the configuration file and define the main parameters:

Main Parameters:

• ServerId: my_callsing
• PassCode: my_passcode
• MyAdmin: "my_user, my_callsing"

Listening Ports:

• TCP/UDP 10152 → backbone (full feed)
• TCP/UDP 14580 → clients/igate
• UDP 8080 → packet sending

APRS-IS Uplink Configuration:

Uplink "Core rotate" full tcp rotate.aprs.net 10152

Logs and Resources:

• Run directory: RunDir data
• Log rotation: LogRotate 10 5
• File/connection limits: FileLimit 10000
• HTTP Status and Upload enabled on ports 14501 and 8080

Example configuration snippet:

ServerId TI3SRV
PassCode 18094
MyAdmin "Server, TI3SRV"
 
# Listening ports
Listen fullfeed  tcp 10152 fullfeed
Listen fullfeed  udp 10152 fullfeed
Listen igate     tcp 14580
Listen igate     udp 14580
Listen dupesent  udp 8080
 
# Uplink
Uplink "Core rotate" full tcp rotate.aprs.net 10152
 
# Resources
RunDir data
LogRotate 10 5
FileLimit 10000

---

Important

You can use this link to generate a passcode based on your callsign:

https://www.iz3mez.it/aprs-passcode/

---

Step 7. Start the server

sudo docker compose up -d

Verify the APRSC container appears as Up:

docker ps

Step 8. Access the Server

Open a browser and go to:

http://<SERVER_IP>

Troubleshooting

View docker logs:

docker compose logs -f

Restart services:

docker compose restart

Check used ports:

sudo lsof -i -P -n

Fix container startup issues:

docker compose down
docker compose up --build -d

Result example

Real-time visualization of APRS stations on a web map, with storage and historical data access.

Final Result

Features

• Real-time APRS packet processing
• Integration with RF-based iGate
• Centralized APRS-IS server
• Web-based system management
• Scalable architecture

Project Structure

.
├── config/
├── scripts/
├── docs/
└── README.md

Security Considerations

• Use firewall (ufw)
• Strong Webmin credentials
• Limit connections

Architecture

Backend

• aprsc: APRS-IS server that manages packet traffic
• Connection to the global APRS network via uplink

Frontend

• TrackDirect: real-time map visualization
• WebSocket for dynamic updates

Database

• PostgreSQL for historical data storage

Data Flow

1. Tracker sends APRS packets
2. iGate retransmits to APRS-IS
3. aprsc receives and processes
4. TrackDirect collects data
5. Data is stored in PostgreSQL
6. Data is displayed on the map

Authors

• Carlos Gutierrez
• Jorge Schofield

References

Canonical Ltd., ``Ubuntu Server Documentation (LTS),'' 2024. [online]. Available: https://ubuntu.com/server/docs. [Accessed: 2026].

Canonical Ltd., ``Ubuntu Server Guide,'' 2024. [online]. Available: https://help.ubuntu.com. [Accessed: 2026].

Webmin Developers, ``Webmin Documentation,'' 2024. [online]. Available: https://www.webmin.com. [Accessed: 2026].

aprsc Developers, ``aprsc: APRS-IS Server Software,'' 2024. [online]. Available: https://github.com/hessu/aprsc. [Accessed: 2026].

B. Bruninga, ``APRS Protocol Reference Specification,'' 2000. [online]. Available: http://www.aprs.org/doc/APRS101.PDF. [Accessed: 2026].

TrackDirect Project, ``TrackDirect: APRS Tracking Platform,'' 2024. [online]. Available: https://github.com/qvarforth/trackdirect. [Accessed: 2026].

IETF, ``RFC 6455: The WebSocket Protocol,'' 2011. [online]. Available: https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc6455. [Accessed: 2026].

Notes

Educational and experimental APRS deployment project.