NOVARS UHF APRS iGate on 432.200 MHz

NOVARS is proud to host a UHF iGate covering the Findlay, OH area as an alternative to the standard 144.39 APRS frequency in the United States! Currently expecting a coverage area of ~10 miles.

"Why would I want to use that versus the standard frequency?"

Many digipeaters and iGates on the APRS network will, of course, repeat your packet to extend your coverage, and will send your location to the APRS-IS network for viewing through internet platforms. However, there are many objects on the APRS network that do not travel via RF paths. This can include MMDVM hotspots, CWOP weather stations, users of Andriod/iOS APRS applications, and even severe weather events.

Most digipeater/iGate owners choose not to forward this traffic from the internet over RF, usually do to a concern of flooding the APRS channel with packets, or even accidentally repeating packets that have already been sent out, causing a loop. By using a non-standard frequency, we do not have to worry about overcrowding the frequency, as we are the only iGate using 432.200 MHz. All stations and objects within a 20 mile radius of the NOVARS iGate are sent out over RF. 

A great use case for this could be during a SKYWARN severe weather net, where spotters can quickly see temperature shifts and rain rates between weather stations located on opposite sides of town. This is also useful during SKYWARN nets as a way for the Net Control Station to add reports to APRS-IS, such as road blockages, flooding, and locations of emergency response centers; objects that cannot easily be added to the APRS network via traditional RF sources. Spotters will have immediate access to this information via their radios they are already using, helping them stay informed of rapidly changing conditions.