QTH by Mail (English)
The mailserver db0lj.ampr.org in amprnet and internet and also the 
Packet-Radio-BBS DB0LJ-8 are able to accept position reports to the 
user address "QTH" and will send it to the APRS network on rf and 
internet worldwide.
This function is known from the Winlink2000-system.

The client-software Airmail3 is able to create such position emails
either manually or automatically at a specified time or with each mail
transfer. Airmail can do this on Pactor using a PTC2 controller, on 
Packet-Radio or via SMTP to the Internet.

DB0LJ can decode this position emails in 3 different formats and any
combinations of it:


1. Airmail/Winlink2000-Format

The format of the position report created by Winlink2000/Airmail looks
like this:

to-address of the email: QTH
distribution: WL2K

The body of the email is created by Airmail2000 automatically in the
following format:

TIME: YYYY/MM/DD hh:mm
LATITUDE: GG-MM.mm
LONGITUDE: GGG-MM.mm
COMMENT: Text



2. Customized Airmail-Format

You can configure Airmail3 to generate such a position report in a quiet
similar format addressed to any other email address.
With this it is possible to send this for example via this Pactor-GateWay
DA5UDI to the connected Packet-Radio-BBS DB0LJ-8.

The configuration is done using the page "Custom" in the menufolder
"Modules"/"Position Reports" with this parameters:

To-Address:
- using smtp (Amprnet or Internet):  qth@db0lj.ampr.org
- using Packet-Radio-Mail: qth@db0lj.#rpl.deu.eu / or short qth@db0lj

Title: anything you like

Message body:

Definition in Airmail3 syntax:

TIME: <date> <time>
LATITUDE: <lat>
LONGITUDE: <lon>
COMMENT: <max 43 characters of text>

"Preview" will replace the <Variables> by the actual values and shoes the
real content like it is sent. The format of the date is not exactly like
the WL2k-Standard and the degree-symbol is also different, but DB0LJ will
accept it.


Some additional features compared to WL2k:

TIME: can be missing, will then be replaced by the time of decoding. The 
format can be: YYYY/MM/DD hh:mm (WL2k) or  DD.MM.YY hh:mm (Custom-Format)

An optional line starting with ICON: or SYMBOL: can be used to set a special 
icon, otherwise a default-icon is used. This line should have 2 characters, 
first the declaration of the symboltabelle (/ or \), followed by the character
for the icon from this choosen table.
This option is for APRS specialists, more information can be found in APRS-
documentation or APRS-software.

You can also define an optional SSID for your call to be shown in APRS, this
is done in a line starting with SSID: followed by a number 1-15 (0 is default).
WL2K is always using the call with the default SSID=0.

It is also possible to tell the system to repeat sending this position.
The parameter REPEAT: followed by a value between 1 and 50 will repeat the
position every 30 minutes until the number is reached.
Off course this is only usefull for stationary system or people who can
not update their position during this time.

Sample of a position report in a customized format:

definition in Airmail3:

TIME: <date> <time>
LATITUDE: <lat>
LONGITUDE: <lon>
SSID: <0-15>
COMMENT: <max 34 character of text>
ICON: <Table><Icon>
REPEAT: <number 1-50>

format of the mail created with this:

#####################################################################

TIME: 16.02.2003 14:00
LONGITUDE: 00720.45'E
LATITUDE: 5023.30'N
SSID: 14
COMMENT: Test
ICON: /5
REPEAT: 10

#####################################################################


3. NMEA-format

It is also possible to send the position in a standard NMEA-format like you get
it from your GPS. You also get this from a PTC2 in hostmode with an attached 
GPS-receiver or in terminalmode in response to the command "POS NMEA".

This format can be combined with datas from format 1 and 2.
If any definition is given more than once it will be overwritten by later
values.

Sample of a mail with NMEA-datas and additional options:

#####################################################################

Testmail
$GPRMC,161050,A,5023.29,N,00720.45,E,000.0,360.0,190201,000.1E*7B
ICON: /5
SSID: 14
COMMENT: testbeacon by email
REPEAT: 10

73 de

Hans, DL5DI

#####################################################################

This mail will create an icon with the call DL5DI-14, a "5" in a circle
("/5" = "circle 5").



Using Airmail with GPS connected to the PTC2 you should take care that the
"HF-Terminal"-modul is activ during creation of the position email, otherwise
Airmail has no access to the PTC2 and with that also no access to GPS datas.
You can start the terminal modul automatically after start of the software
by configuration.

If you do not have GPS you can also enter position datas manually (menu 
"Modules"/"Position Reports" -> "Data Input").

To send the mail to the packet-radio bbs DB0LJ-8 through the Pactor-GateWay
DA5UDI using Airmail, you should start the HF-terminal, connect the GateWay
DA5UDI manually (keyboard symbol), after that enter "C DB0LJ-8" to get to
the bbs and after that switch to automatic transfer (handshake-symbol).
The rest will run without any manual action, the position mail and any
others will be sent, your incoming mails will be picked up and the connection 
disconnected.

If you have installed a password in the bbs you will not be able to access
it with Airmail. You either have to enter it manually or delete it.

Off course you can also create such an email with a position report manually
and send it with any other software that you have available.

In case of any problems, questions, ideas etc. please send me an email !

Good luck in Pactor !

73 de Hans
***end