9M2PJU Web APRS Messenger — Free APRS Chat & Winlink Email Client
9M2PJU Web APRS Messenger is a free, browser-based
APRS
(Automatic Packet Reporting System) messaging application and
Winlink email client for amateur radio
operators. It connects to the APRS-IS (APRS Internet Service)
network over WebSocket, letting licensed hams send and receive real-time
APRS text messages, Winlink emails via APRSLink, bulletins,
and GPS position beacons directly from a web browser — with no software
installation required. Messages, bulletins, and settings sync across
all your devices via secure cloud accounts.
Send Winlink Email Without a Radio
One of the standout features of 9M2PJU Web APRS Messenger is the ability to
send and receive Winlink emails without any radio hardware.
Using the Winlink APRSLink gateway
(WLNK-1), you can log in to your Winlink account, check your inbox, read
emails, compose new messages, reply, and delete emails — all from your
browser. No TNC, no transceiver, no cables. Just your callsign, a Winlink
account, and an internet connection.
Cloud Sync Across All Devices
Create a free account and your APRS messages, bulletins, and settings
sync automatically across all your devices. Sign in on your phone,
tablet, or desktop — your chats are always up to date. Accounts are
secured with email verification and Firebase Authentication.
Features
- APRS-IS messaging — send and receive text messages with automatic ACK tracking and retry
- Winlink email — full inbox management via APRSLink (WLNK-1): list, read, reply, delete
- Winlink without radio — no TNC or transceiver needed, just a browser
- Cloud sync — messages, bulletins, and settings sync across all devices
- Free user accounts — secure email/password registration with email verification
- Secure password handling — Winlink password stored in session memory only, never on disk
- APRS bulletins — send and receive BLN, BLN0–BLN9 bulletins with unread badge
- GPS beacons — send position beacons with 70+ APRS symbols
- Interactive map — Leaflet map for manual beacon location selection
- Packet terminal — raw APRS traffic monitor for debugging
- Packet statistics — real-time TX/RX counters, ACKs, beacons, uptime
- Contact list — callsign search and message history
- Notifications — sound and browser notifications for incoming messages
- PWA installable — install on phone or desktop, works offline
- Mobile-friendly — responsive design for iPhone, Android, and tablets
Who is this for?
9M2PJU Web APRS Messenger is designed for licensed amateur radio
operators who want to:
- Chat with other hams over APRS-IS without installing software
- Access Winlink email from a computer or phone without radio hardware
- Send GPS beacons and track their position on the APRS network
- Monitor APRS packet traffic in real-time
- Receive APRS bulletins and broadcasts
- Sync messages and settings across multiple devices
- Use APRS on mobile devices with a clean, modern interface
How to use 9M2PJU Web APRS Messenger
Getting started
Create a free account with your email and password. After verifying your
email address, sign in and open Settings to configure your
amateur radio callsign and APRS-IS passcode.
You can generate a free passcode at
pass.hamradio.my. Click
Connect to APRS-IS and start chatting, beaconing, and
sending Winlink emails.
Sending Winlink email
To use Winlink email, click the email icon in the header
(green when logged in). Enter your Winlink account password and log in to
WLNK-1. You can then compose emails, check your inbox, read and reply to
messages — all from your browser. A Winlink account (register free at
winlink.org) and at least one GPS
beacon are required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send Winlink email without a radio?
Yes. 9M2PJU Web APRS Messenger uses the APRSLink gateway (WLNK-1) over the
APRS-IS network, so you only need a browser and internet connection.
No radio hardware or TNC is required.
Do I need an amateur radio license?
Yes. You need a valid amateur radio callsign and an APRS-IS passcode.
The passcode is verified against your callsign by the APRS-IS server.
Does it sync across devices?
Yes. Create a free account and your messages, bulletins, and settings
sync automatically across all your devices via secure cloud sync.
Is my Winlink password secure?
Your Winlink password is stored only in the browser's sessionStorage
(temporary per-tab memory). It is never saved to disk, localStorage,
or transmitted to any server other than WLNK-1 via the APRS protocol.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. 9M2PJU Web APRS Messenger is fully mobile-responsive and can be
installed as a PWA (Progressive Web App) on iPhone, Android, and desktop
browsers.
What is APRS-IS?
APRS-IS (APRS Internet Service) is the internet backbone of the APRS
network. It connects APRS gateways worldwide, allowing APRS traffic to
flow over the internet. 9M2PJU Web APRS Messenger connects directly to
APRS-IS via WebSocket.
Technical details
9M2PJU Web APRS Messenger is built as a Progressive Web App (PWA)
using vanilla JavaScript, HTML, and CSS with ES modules. It connects to
APRS-IS via WebSocket, implements the full APRS message protocol including
ACK tracking and retransmission, and supports the APRSLink challenge-response
authentication for Winlink access. Cloud sync is powered by Firebase
Authentication and Firestore. The app works offline once installed and
requires no backend server — everything runs in the browser.
This application requires JavaScript and WebSocket support to function.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to use 9M2PJU Web APRS Messenger.
About the creator
9M2PJU is a Malaysian amateur radio operator.
9M2PJU Web APRS Messenger is built and maintained by 9M2PJU as a free tool
for the global amateur radio community. Visit
hamradio.my for more ham radio projects
and tools, including a free
APRS-IS passcode generator.
© 2024–2025 9M2PJU. Free for all licensed amateur radio
operators worldwide.
