Can APRS messages constitute a QSO?

On the Bands Operating Procedures
1

I’m planning on taking my yaesu ft3d up Mount Battock as a second radio for the 145 Alive event tomorrow.

I plan to leave it running on 144.800 MHz, the UK and EU APRS frequency, sending beacons at regular intervals.

If I am beaconing and someone messages me, then I respond to the message, does this form a QSO? Now, I am talking a direct radio to radio message here, not via a digipeater, as I am thinking that counts as a normal repeater. Message path is easily checked by looking at the raw message data and also the conformation of reception can be viewed on aprs.fi

Thoughts appreciated. It woukd be a good addition to my arsenal tomorrow and APRS packets can often travel great distances.
Cheers,
Fraser MM0EFI

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2

If there is manual intervention at both ends then I would think it counts as a QSO. If FT8 counts then I don’t see why manual APRS doesn’t.

3

Yes, but only if it’s direct.

So MM0EFI>MM0FMF is a valid QSO for SOTA.

MM0EFI><some_APRS_digi><some_APRS_digi><some_APRS_digi>>MM0FMF is not a valid QSO for SOTA.

2 Likes
4

With ft8 there is:
CQ MM0EFI
MM0EFI G4TGJ -8
G4TGJ MM0EFI +10
MM0EFI G4TGJ RR73
G4TGJ MM0EFI 73

With APRS there is:
BEACON MM0EFI-7
Hi Fraser from G4TGJ-9
Hi Richard. Good to hear you from Mount Battock GM/ES-032 from MM0EFI-7

Then do you have to send me RR73 and then do I reply with 73?
OR
Do we check on aprs.fi that the message was received and log the QSO. That would save fiddling about with a tiny keyboard so much.

5

The FT8 you show is direct, MM0EFI’s radio signal is being received by G4TGJ’s radio.

If your APRS message travels through one or more APRS digipeaters it is NOT a valid SOTA QSO as the packets MM0EFI’s radio sends are not received by G4TGJ’s radio directly.

6

Yes, I know this. I was really asking if it is ethical to validate that the message was received by using a computer after the event. I know this happens on EME, 6 m sporadic E etc, but wasn’t sure about SOTA.

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7

Verifying them like that is OK.

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8

I think Richard should send a RR73 (or similar) just confirm he received your non-beacon message.

9

If you used a different frequency then your message isn’t digipeted but becomes a packet message, very easy to do with the FT-5D

4 Likes
10

Excellent Idea. I will use 144.650 MHz in that case, and to save everyone scurrying off to find their 2 metre bandplans - it can be used for Raynet or community events, according to the notes.