*THE* LINUX APRS client: Xastir
X Amateur Station Tracking and Information Reporting

Xastir provides excellent mapping support (114+ map formats), I-gate services, Messaging, Weather device, Gating of weather messages to RF, etc. Truely a full featured APRS client. Will use LINUX's native kernel AX.25 support or interface to a TNC via serial port. Can also use a networked GPS receiver. Best part is, it's Open Source Software licensed under the GNU GPL. Free as in beer as well as free as in speech! Check xastir often - this is a very dynamic project with code updates, feature additions and fixes almost daily.

Xastir's source code can be downloaded via anonymous (pserver) CVS with the following instruction set. When prompted for a password for the user 'anonymous', simply press the Enter key.
First, open a terminal window (shell), ensure you're in your home directory and then give the following commands:

#cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.xastir.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/xastir login
You'll then be asked for a password, leave it blank and just hit the enter key again.

#cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.xastir.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/xastir co xastir
(the -z3 option compresses the files for transfer - it is optional)

Don't logout of CVS! In the future, to update your local xastir source code, just cd ~/xastir and then run:

#cvs update
You'll find your current CVS information in ~/.cvspass
Read the readme.1st file for instructions on how to configure, compile and begin using xastir.

Curt (WE7U) has setup an excellent 'common point' web site with links to maps, optional libraries for xastir, feature lists and more at http://www.eskimo.com/~archer/xastir.html Well worth a visit!

For a dedicated APRS server/I-gate, look at WA4DSY's APRSD (origional site).

It's been Sourceforged as well! (Most recent and suggested version)

Very configurable dedicated I-gate and APRS server, runs as either a daemon or program. The SourceForge version is both LINUX kernel AX.25 and serial enabled. You can find other aprsd users on the aprsd email reflectors hosted by sourceforge.net

IMO, xaprs is still born. Compared to xastir, xaprs verges on being a waste of effort. To this date, other than the developers, I've yet to find *anyone* who's ever used xaprs. Kudos to the the Bros for giving it a shot, they've done wonders with WinAPRS, if you're using a GUI'd OS from "Billy's" outfit, then WinAPRS is one of the first you should be using. Leave xaprs alone - everyone. The energy will be much better spent elsewhere.

If you still want to play with xaprs (and why not? It's a hobby, right?), it can be found on the Rutgers Site

By far the most popular cllient: WinAPRS - find the latest version on the tapr FTP server. WinAPRS is 'shareware' and will not remember settings or allow message traffic unless registered. Good mapping, messaging,weather and I-gate functions.

APRS plus SA is another popular APRS client. It uses the "Street Atlas" CD's for maps. Also does messaging and I-gate duty when registered. Be sure to read the documentation before you buy Street Atlas! Some versions won't work with APRS+SA

UI-View is an APRS-type application for Windows. It differs from most Windows APRS software in that it isn't designed just to be used with TNCs in terminal mode. It also supports TNCs in KISS mode, AGWPE host mode and BPQ host mode.UI-View is written by the author of the popular packet software, WinPack - G4IDE