SMS text message to a phone number

[Thomas Dukes]

Hello

Is there some instruction on this? I'm assuming you put the number in like, @1235551212 but I run out of space to enter the phone number and area code.

Also, how do you setup up an alias for your phone number?

TIA

[Randall Luebke]

APRS allows 67 characters in a message, which is more than enough for your exercise. Here is the format I use to send a text message to my cellphone:  

To Callsign:

SMS

Message:

@1233457890 From YAAC SMS-Pls Reply Date@Time

When I receive the text, I can reply from my phone and the message goes back to my radio.  Keep in mind, however, that to prevent spamming you can only use this service when the cellphone number you are messaging has opted in to the service.  Instructions for Opting in are located here:  APRS – NA7Q

[Craig]

Michael Phelps (NA7Q) runs the SMS aprs service and posted a great wiki on
the subject here:

https://aprs.wiki/
https://aprs.wiki/howto/

Creating an alias is the best way to save space.

cool,
-craig
KM6LYW

[Thomas Dukes]

Maybe I'm using the wrong app. Is the  DigiPi APRS WebChat the right app?

Thanks again!!

[Craig]

Yes, that's right. in APRS WebChat, send an aprs message to callsign "SMS"
contents of the message should/could be "@##########  your message here"

or, if you create a phone number alias in the links below, the message
would look like "@cl your message here" where "cl" is the alias you created.

-craig
KM6LYW

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "DigiPi" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to digipi+un...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/digipi/ab9f7778-a061-42d7-b923-146671c0c3e9n%40googlegroups.com.

[Thomas Dukes]

Ahhhhhhh, now I see! Thanks!!!

I also had to "Opt In" to receive messages so I did that. I also found I needed to turn on VOX on the radio. I was watching Temporarily Offline's videos but I don't think he mentioned that. I just watched how to solder it together. Found out about VOX on Dude tested channel. I should have known this but didn't do it because I didn't see it mentioned.

Also, if I switch on Pat Email, I get connection refused.

2026/04/24 22:52:35 Unable to get frequency from rig RigCtl Radio: dial tcp [::1]:4532: connect: connection refused.

2026/04/24 22:52:35 Starting HTTP service (http://0.0.0.0:8080)...

I thought it might be a firewall issue. I have things tightened down pretty good. I run an OPNsense transparent filter bridge behind my ISP router. I opened all the ports that I saw being used. I could have missed some.

Thanks

[Craig]

Sweet!  You're in business!  At some point you'll want a real radio/ptt
interface,
but vox will work in a pinch.

Ignore the RigCtl error - pat is trying to get info about your radio which
isn't possible in your configuration.

cool,
-craig
KM6LYW

[Thomas Dukes]

Thanks!

I started to get the the Digirig but chickened out at the last moment and went with the AIOC. I definitely need a better radio. I hate to put that much in a HT.  My "plans" if I get this working is maybe invest in a mobile unit that has a data interface and get one of those Comet antennas. We'll see. Hopefully I can find a good used one for sale from a trusted source.

Thanks again, Craig!!