Is APRS Thursday free to take part in?

Yes. Checking in is free — you just need an amateur radio licence and any APRS-capable radio or app. Watching the live map and stats at aprsthursday.net is free and needs no account.

To transmit on APRS you need an amateur (ham) radio licence, because APRS runs on amateur radio frequencies. Anyone can watch the net without one.

What does “CQ HOTG” mean?

“CQ” is the traditional call for “anyone listening,” and HOTG is the APRS Thursday group on the ANSRVR message server. Sending CQ HOTG both subscribes you to the group and announces your check-in to everyone in it.

What is Worked All States?

A fun award for exchanging APRS messages with operators in all 50 US states. The live board at /net shows which states have checked in this week.

Can I check in from my phone?

Yes — an app like APRS Mobile can send the CQ HOTG message over the internet (APRS-IS), so you can take part even without a radio in reach.

GUIDE

How APRS Thursday works

#APRSThursday is a weekly, worldwide APRS text net — every Thursday, 00:00–23:59 UTC. Hundreds of operators across dozens of countries check in by sending a single APRS message. Here’s how to join, and how your packet actually travels the network.

Checking in

Send an APRS message to the group server ANSRVR with the text:

CQ HOTG Greetings from EM79 — 73!

That’s it. ANSRVR fans your message out to everyone in the HOTG group, and you’re checked in for the week. (You can also message APRSPH with HOTG <text>.)

How your check-in travels

Your radio doesn’t talk to the net directly. The packet hops across the amateur radio network — and replies come back the same way:

your check-in leaving the radio messages routing back to you

Your radio transmits over RF to a digipeater (which re-broadcasts it) and an iGate (which forwards it to the internet). From there it rides APRS-IS — the global APRS backbone — out to everyone watching, including this site. Messages addressed back to you retrace the path down to your radio.

New to APRS? Find a repeater or iGate near you with Kerchunk.

Worked All States

Many operators chase the Worked-All-States award — exchanging APRS messages with hams in all 50 US states. Watch the states light up live on the net stats board.

Questions

Is APRS Thursday free to take part in?: Yes. Checking in is free — you just need an amateur radio licence and any APRS-capable radio or app. Watching the live map and stats at aprsthursday.net is free and needs no account.
Do I need a licence?: To transmit on APRS you need an amateur (ham) radio licence, because APRS runs on amateur radio frequencies. Anyone can watch the net without one.
What does “CQ HOTG” mean?: “CQ” is the traditional call for “anyone listening,” and HOTG is the APRS Thursday group on the ANSRVR message server. Sending CQ HOTG both subscribes you to the group and announces your check-in to everyone in it.
What is Worked All States?: A fun award for exchanging APRS messages with operators in all 50 US states. The live board at /net shows which states have checked in this week.
Can I check in from my phone?: Yes — an app like APRS Mobile can send the CQ HOTG message over the internet (APRS-IS), so you can take part even without a radio in reach.

Check in from your phone with APRS Mobile →Watch the live globe