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Voice Alert – Proximity Monitoring on 144.390 MHz

What is Voice Alert?​

Voice Alert is a feature (found on almost every modern mobile like the FTM-300, FTM-400, FTM-500, FT-3D, etc.) that turns the national APRS frequency 144.390 MHz (North America) into a proximity-aware calling channel.

How it works in simple terms​

  • Your radio is constantly receiving APRS packets on 144.390 MHz (normal for APRS anyway).
  • If an incoming APRS packet has your callsign in the path (usually as a direct, not via digipeaters), the radio plays a short courtesy tone (100 Hz, 500 Hz, or 1750 Hz – you choose) in the speaker just like a PL tone alert on a voice repeater.
  • Your volume can stay at normal driving level — you’ll hear a soft “beep-beep” when another Voice-Alert-equipped station is close enough to be heard direct (typically 5–30 miles mobile-to-mobile).

Result: You now 144.390 MHz is doing double duty — it’s still your normal APRS data channel, and a hailing/proximity voice channel.

The “extra radio” effect​

Most of us only have dual-band radios. With Voice Alert running you effectively get:

Band ABand B“Band C” (virtual)
Local repeater or simplex voiceWhatever you want144.390 MHz constantly listening for nearby hams

You don’t have to babysit a third frequency — the radio does it automatically.

Real-world benefits​

  1. Instant proximity QSOs
    Driving through a new town and hear the tone? Just key up and say “W5AWW monitoring Voice Alert” — the other station already knows you’re close because they heard your tone too.

  2. Traveling & rallies
    At Hamfest, Field Day, SOTA activations, or convoy travel — everyone on the same “party line” without picking a simplex frequency in advance.

  3. Emergency & public-service events
    EmComm teams can instantly know when another team member with Voice Alert is nearby, even if they’re on different voice repeaters.

  4. No extra hardware
    Works with the radio you already own. No second radio, no extra TNC, no Bluetooth gadgets.

Quick setup on most Yaesu radios (FTM-300/400/500, FT-3D, etc.)​

Menu → APRS → 33 VOICE ALERT → RX ONLY or TX+RX
Menu → APRS → 34 VA TONE     → 100 Hz (most common) or 1750 Hz
Menu → APRS → 35 VA RANGE    → 100–500 m (optional ring delay)

Voice Alert works a little differently on every brand and model.

Some Kenwoods (TM-D710G, TM-V71A, TH-D74, TH-D75) have “Tone Alert” or “Packet Monitor with audio alert.

Some Chinese radios (AnyTone, Radioddity, etc.) have started adding it too.

We want YOUR setup!

If you run Voice Alert (or the equivalent) on any radio, please help the entire community by contributing a short “how-to” blurb.

Example format (copy & paste this template):

### Your Radio Model Here (e.g., Kenwood TM-D710G)

1. Menu → APRS → APRS12 → Packet Monitor → ON
2. Menu → AUX → Tone Alert → ON
3. Menu → AUX → Tone Frequency → 100 Hz
4. (Optional) Set squelch to “Packet” mode so normal voice on 144.390 doesn’t break squelch

Result: You’ll hear a courtesy beep whenever a direct APRS packet contains your callsign.

Send a Winlink to w5aww or Email to brady@ik.me

The more radios we cover, the easier it is for everyone to turn 144.390 MHz into the best proximity calling channel in ham radio. 73 and keep the tones ringing!

– W5AWW

Config Helpers WIP​

Yaesu​

FTM 300 APRS Manual​

To use the APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) function on the Yaesu FTM-300DR:

  1. Begin by setting your station callsign, which must include a callsign and an SSID (Secondary Station Identifier), such as "JA1ZRL-9".
  2. Ensure the APRS modem is turned on by pressing and holding the [F(SETUP)] key, selecting [APRS], then [4 APRS MODEM], and setting it to [ON].

The display will show "A12" for 1200 bps or "A96" for 9600 bps.

  1. Set the APRS baud rate by pressing and holding the [F(SETUP)] key, selecting [DATA], then [3 DATA SPEED], choosing "APRS," and selecting either 1200 bps (AFSK) or 9600 bps (GMSK).

The operating frequency for APRS is typically 144.39 MHz in the USA

  • Set the B band to this frequency and confirm that "A12" or "A96" is displayed.

You can also set the band for APRS operation to MAIN BAND, SUB BAND, A-BAND FIX, or B-BAND FIX.

  1. To transmit an APRS beacon manually, press the [F(SETUP)] key, select [APRS FUNCTION], then [BCN-TX].

The beacon will transmit each time the DIAL knob is pressed. For SmartBeaconing™, which automatically transmits position, speed, and direction based on GPS data, ensure the MY POSITION SET is configured to "GPS".

  1. To send an APRS message, press the [F(SETUP)] key, select [APRS FUNCTION], then [MSG LIST].
  • Select [MSG EDIT] and input the destination callsign, which can be up to 6 digits and an SSID.
  • Then select [EDIT TEXT] to enter a message of up to 67 characters.
  • After entering the text, select [M-TX] to send the message.
  • The data transmission delay can be adjusted via the [APRS] → [9 APRS TX DELAY] setting in the setup menu.

Kenwood​

TM-D700​

Combining the recommendations from:

Grabbing CuteCom

Bots​

https://aprs.wiki/