View source for DAPNET

[[File:DAPNET-logo.png|thumb|right|DAPNET logo]]
'''DAPNET''' (Decentralised Amateur Paging Network) is a free global paging network created and maintained by [[amateur radio]] enthusiasts. Messages can be received on commercially available [[pager]]s that support the [[POCSAG]] protocol and are tuned to the appropriate [[Radio frequency|frequency]].

[[File:Ham-pager.jpg|thumb|right|DAPNET as of July 2023]]
==History==
A similar ham radio project called FunkrufMaster was quite popular around 2000. It was based on [[AX.25]]-technology and the former Packet Radio Network. Because of the upcoming HAMNET- and [[Internet Protocol|IP-Protocol]] era, a successor was needed. Members of the ham radio activity group at [[RWTH Aachen University]] designed and developed '''DAPNET''' from scratch as a modern software approach. <ref>[https://www.ralfwilke.com/index.php/en/about-me Ralf Wilke - About]</ref> As of March 2018, over 90 transmitters were already in permanent operation, and the coverage area included parts of [[Germany]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], and [[Switzerland]],<ref>[https://hampager.de/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=dapnetoverview DAPNET Overview]</ref> with [[Raspberry Pi]]-based personal hotspots extending coverage around the world.<ref>[https://hampager.de/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=mmdvm]</ref>

==Technical specifications==
The recommended frequency for DAPNET is 439.9875&nbsp;MHz,<ref>[https://hampager.de/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=dapnetfrq Recommended frequencies]</ref> which is part of the [[70-centimeter band]] dedicated to amateur radio use. The transmitters are networked, some via HAMNET, some via the Internet. The standard paging protocol [[POCSAG]] is used for message transmission. For a low-power transmitter you can use [[Raspberry Pi]] with {{proper name|unipager}}<ref>[https://github.com/rwth-afu/UniPager GitHub: UniPager]</ref> and MMDVM-modem<ref>[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312934460_Development_of_a_Decentralized_Paging_Transmitter_Network Development of a Decentralized Paging Transmitter Network]</ref> installed, and to make the coverage area several miles, a radio amplifier needs to be added to its output.<ref>[https://hampager.de/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=raspager RasPager - Simple low-power Transmitter]</ref> The coverage area of the transmitter can be up to 20 km (12 miles), depending on the terrain and the height of the antenna.

==Receivers==
Skyper and AlphaPOC pagers are particularly popular for receiving messages. They can be easily tuned to the desired reception frequency and also offer many other possibilities, such as receiving bulletins - messages sent to all recipients. However, other brands of pagers can be customized accordingly or [[Flipper Zero]] can be used.

Messages can be sent via a multilingual website as well as [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[iOS]] apps.

==References==
<references />
==External links==
* [https://hampager.de/ hampager.de]
{{Amateur radio topics}}
{{Digital_modes}}
[[Category:Radio paging]]
[[Category:Digital amateur radio]]