Ailunce HA2 Bluetooth KISS TNC and IOS Aprs.fi APP Compatibility Setup Guide

This guide explains how to use BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) KISS TNC in conjunction with the mobile app Aprs.fi to achieve APRS map positioning and digital message interoperability. Applicable scenarios: outdoor amateur radio monitoring, hiking/vehicle-mounted mobile APRS positioning, local radio frequency APRS networking (can be used even without a network).

Ailunce HA2 device setup 

• Frequency and Basic Parameter Settings：

1.  Adjust the Band A/B VFO or channel frequency to the local standard APRS frequency.
2. Disable the CTCSS sub-tone and DCS digital mute on the current channel (the sub-tone will intercept APRS digital data packets, resulting in the inability to receive and decode);
3.  Appropriately lower the squelch threshold to ensure that weak APRS signals can be demodulated and received normally.

Enable Bluetooth KISS TNC Mode：

1. Enable Bluetooth on the device. Menu path: BT Power > On.
2. Select TNC working mode settings; Menu path: BT Mode > KISS TNC BLE;
3. The Ailunce HA2 enters Bluetooth pairing mode. 

Phone Bluetooth Pairing Instructions：

1. 1. Turn on Bluetooth on your Android phone and enable discoverable mode;
2. 2. Search for and select the Ailunce HA2 (BT) device name to pair;
3. 3. No further action is required after successful pairing; keep the Bluetooth connection active. 

aprs.fi Software Settings

Menu Path: Beacon setting

1. Station: Set Callsign: Enter your legal amateur radio callsign
2. SSID: Recommended for handheld radios -7;
3. Station symbol: Select hiking/vehicle/fixed station as needed
4. Packet path: Default wide1-1, wide1-2; can be selected as needed;

TNC Connection Mode Switching
Menu Path: More → TNC & DSP mode
Select a TNC: BLE TNCs discovered: Select the successfully paired model Ailunce HA2

Connection and Functionality Tests

The TNC connection status displays "Connected". 

Downlink reception test (RF → Device → APP): Surrounding stations send APRS messages, location beacons, and response packets, which the APP can decode normally: the map refreshes the station locations, and the message list normally records remote messages, achieving complete two-way communication. 

Steps to Send an APRS Message:

1. On the aprs.fi main interface, click the bottom/side menu to find the Messages entry and enter the message page;
2. Click "Create Message," and in the Destination Callsign field, enter the recipient's complete amateur radio callsign (SSID can be included, such as XXXX-7);
3. Edit the message content in the input box. APRS message standard limits: single message content ≤ 67 characters, supports Chinese and English, numbers, and symbols;
4. Select TNC as the sending channel;
5. Click "Send." After the recipient receives the message, the status under the message content will change to "delivered."
6. Upon receiving a valid message, the TNC will automatically send an APRS ACK response packet to inform the recipient that the message was successfully received, completing the communication loop.

It is also can send message to your phone or email from aprs.fi without Internet.