OE8CKK APRS Service – Smart APRS Services Straight to Your Radio

23. February 2026

This page has been automatically translated. Errors may occur.

The OE8CKK APRS Service is an interactive APRS service for radio amateurs that delivers a wide range of information directly to your radio via APRS message – no smartphone app, registration, or internet required. Everything works directly over the air to your radio.

The service runs server-side and responds to APRS messages sent to the callsign OE8CKK. The service is still in BETA phase and has been online since spring 2025.

APRS message from the OE8CKK service on a radio

How Does the Service Work?

You send an APRS message with a command to OE8CKK.
The message is forwarded to APRS-IS via a bidirectional I-Gate (with TX capability).
The OE8CKK server processes your command and sends you an ACK back. If it doesn’t arrive, your radio will automatically retry the request.
The response is sent directly to your callsign including SSID (only once – if it doesn’t arrive, try again)

Important Requirement

For the service to work, there must be an I-Gate within range that can also transmit (not a receive-only I-Gate).

Only then can:

your request reach the internet
the response be sent back to you via radio

The service works entirely with the APRS message system including Message-ACK, ensuring reliable delivery to the server.

Command Overview

All commands are sent as APRS messages to OE8CKK.

1. INFO – List of All Commands

Nutzung: INFO

Response: List of all commands with short descriptions, multiple messages in sequence – please use sparingly to avoid overloading the frequency ;).

2. LOC – Maidenhead Locator

Nutzung: LOC

Response: Your current locator (e.g. JN76SO)

Ideal for a quick position check or sharing your location. The last position you sent via APRS is used.

3. ECHO – Test Function

Nutzung: ECHO Testnachricht

Antwort: Testnachricht

Perfect for testing message delivery or I-Gate coverage.

4. ISS – Next ISS Passes

Nutzung: ISS

Antwort:

Date & UTC time
Maximum elevation
Visibility data

5. PLANES – Nearby Aircraft

Nutzung: PLANES

Antwort:

Callsign
Origin / flight route

Interesting for ADS-B enthusiasts.

PLANES response on the radio

6. TIME – UTC Time

Nutzung: TIME

Response: UTC date and time

Handy for log entries or time synchronization, e.g. on a summit or when you’re not sure if UTC = CET -1 or -2 ;).

7. SOLAR – Space Weather Data

Nutzung: SOLAR

Antwort:

SFI (Solar Flux Index)
A-Index
K-Index
X-Ray-Fluss

Important parameters for HF propagation conditions.

8. MEMO – Messages for Others

Nutzung: MEMO OE8XYZ Servus, bitte melde dich!

Response: Confirmation of storage

As soon as the target callsign becomes active on APRS again, the message is delivered automatically.

9. ALERT – 24h SOTA Monitoring

Nutzung: ALERT

The service monitors your position for 24 hours and reports:

SOTA activations on 2 m FM
SOTA activations on 70 cm FM
within a 100 km radius

Ideal for mobile operators – never miss an activation again! Use case (example): you drive from Kötschach to Graz. Start the 24h alert and as soon as you get near an activation (2m or 70cm), you receive an APRS message on your radio with the frequency!

POTA support will be implemented in the future!