APRS Aliases & Call Sign Impersonation

[BMart]

Hello all,

I just started getting into APRS and had a security/legal topic that I couldn't find any extensive discussion on. I notice that when I am receiving APRS data, some radios are transmitting a callsign as an all text alias, such as "Watect" or "Salem." Granted, most of these packets are sending the official call sign within the comments, but it got me thinking.

• Since anyone can technically transmit whatever they want as a call sign in APRS, what is keeping people from omitting their FCC/official call sign altogether and just using a textual nickname without any official designators?
• Worse yet, it doesn't seem like there is anything in place to deter someone from just making up a call sign or impersonating someone else's. Does this happen? Is it easier for the FCC to detect and prosecute this since it is recorded data?

I couldn't find any information regarding this topic so I thought I would poke the forums for some input. As a disclaimer, I have no intention of misusing the system, I'm just curious about the security and reliability of APRS, if it is a problem, and the restrictions on using aliases legally.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I doubt anyone would want to use a fictitious callsign on APRS as most want people to track them. I suspect that there is a lot more using a fictitous callsign while bootlegging on HF phone than APRS. Anyone can pick up an HF radio and set it up on the air with or without a license.

 

[BMart]

I agree that people use it so that others can track them, but it doesn't seem too far fetched to think that some people would fabricate an APRS alias and give that out as a way of letting others 'privately' track them without disclosing their official call sign and GPS coordinates (including FCC listed name and address) to the general public. Although hypothetical, it seems logical to me.

 

[WA8ZYT]

Most hams including myself, when at home station, have QRZ.com webpage up. I always look up the other station I am in QSO with. Mostly to get a good beam heading on them.

 

[W5LZ]

Can you use a fictitious call? Sure, just like with any other mode. Would it be easier to catch than some one doing so on voice modes? The quick-n-dirty answer is yes, with a few qualification. Is that sort of thing done? I'm sure it is, but not as much as you might think. Just too easy to trace. Most APRS programs have an 'ignore' feature, you don't have to see everyone. That feature also usually has a 'flip-side' to it, you can track particular stations. See where that could influence things?
- 'Doc

 

[BMart]

I guess it's not as big of a problem as I imagined. I noticed the ability to abuse and assumed that people would take advantage of it, but it's nice to see that the greater majority respect and honor proper practices and procedures.

Just to clarify the legalities in my head, it is legal for APRS users to put anything they want in the APRS callsign field (within reason and respectability), without notifying anyone, so long as they include their official callsign in the comments area?

Thanks for the replies.

 

[hookedon6]

I guess it's not as big of a problem...Just to clarify the legalities in my head, it is legal for APRS users to put anything they want in the APRS callsign field (within reason and respectability), without notifying anyone, so long as they include their official callsign in the comments area?

Thanks for the replies.

there are certain frames that you may (or may not) see, depending on your RX settings.

an SSID (secondary supplemential I D) is perfectly legal, provided that the actual call is included somewhere in the "string" every 10 min