The mission of the Tier 2 Network is to provide reliable access to the APRS Internet Service for users around the world. With more than 80 servers worldwide, collecting and redistributing APRS traffic over the Internet, Tier 2 is the optimum choice for all APRS-IS users.

The Tier 2 Network utilizes regional rotate addresses to better serve our users. Based on the model of packet radio regions, we have selected five addresses to reflect servers within the major regions of the world. When using your favorite APRS client software, please select the appropriate address for your region.

To view real-time position information, weather data, telemetry and messages on the web, visit aprs.fi.

Brief History

In the summer of 2000, when the APRS Internet Service was still in its infancy, it became apparent that there would need to be a different approach to how data was delivered. During the next couple of years, a few server sysops got together and figured out how to apply a tiered approach to the server configuration. Different software packages were tried, and finally javAPRSSrvr (by Pete Loveall, AE5PL) appeared as the most viable piece of APRS server software.

In addition to a tiered setup in which "core" Tier 1 servers would serve "secondary" Tier 2 servers which in turn would serve end-users, the filtered-feed port 14580 was created with the help of javAPRSFilter written by Roger Bille, SM5NRK. In July 2003, the aprs2.net domain was registered, and the APRS Tier2 Network was born with five servers in the second tier. The service quickly grew in demand, and more servers were added as needed. Most servers now have migrated to aprsc (by Matti Aarnio, OH2MQK, and Heikki Hannikainen, OH7LZB).

The T2 network now offers a user/load balancing system to ensure the most efficient use of the T2 servers. This in turn means that in the case of any server outages users are redistributed amongst the other T2 servers. The network has its own cross-connected backbone between the T2 hubs. The majority of our servers are based in Data Centers with redundant power and feeds. There are strict guidlines for becoming a T2 Server Sysop ensuring the best quality of servers and bandwidth.

Though our approach has changed and adapted through the years, the Tier2 service remains committed to providing top-quality internet service to all APRS clients worldwide.