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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.

<blockquote data-quote="BMart" data-source="post: 389169" data-attributes="member: 26985">Hello all,I just started getting into APRS and had a security/legal topic that I couldn&#039;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 &quot;Watect&quot; or &quot;Salem.&quot; Granted, most of these packets are sending the official call sign within the comments, but it got me thinking.<ul>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">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?</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Worse yet, it doesn&#039;t seem like there is anything in place to deter someone from just making up a call sign or impersonating someone else&#039;s. Does this happen? Is it easier for the FCC to detect and prosecute this since it is recorded data?</li>
</ul>I couldn&#039;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&#039;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.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="BMart, post: 389169, member: 26985"] 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. [LIST] [*]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? [/LIST] 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. [/QUOTE]

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