I have a working prototype of a APRS messaging to SMS gateway working, - IT is still limited as to what it can and can not do. I am not storing any personal information for any length of time, just long enough to get the job done - I am using APRS.FI, Telku, Findu, and Imified.
What I am working on is going to be 2 way, so a HAM using SMS could send a message to a HAM on APRS - and visa/versa - however as it stands right now, the messages coming from APRS get sent FROM one phone number, and the messages being sent TO APRS go into a different phone number, In order to keep non-HAM out of the system I setup a "PASSCODE" system, so you must know your passcode in order to send a message from SMS and get it into the APRS system.
That part of the what I am trying to put together, will also try to verify your call sign (Unfortunately at this time this will only work for U.S. hams), IT will only work with base call signs at this point, - IE: NO SSID - thou you can still send a message to someone using an SSID. (I just need to set down and rewrite the code a bit to allow SSIDs, just haven't done it yet)
The 2nd part, would be what you do on the APRS side of things -
Send a message to SMS2 - the phone number of the ham you want to contact, a "|" and a brief message
so it would be something like this
1231231234|this is a test
the 2nd part of the my script checks aprs.is system (I'm thinking maybe every 5 mins) - and if a message is new, it will forward it to the phone number
I guess the question would - what if you don't know the phone number? I don't want the responsibility of storing anybodies personal information, so I don't want to make a hugh data base of hams and the phone numbers.
SO the question is would there maybe be a better way for the APRS to SMS response?
Honestly, I can't think of anything, but there are people who are much smarter then I am.
Any thoughts? any ideas?
This is still very much a work in progress. VERY VERY much a work in progress.
LeRoy, KD8BXP
