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ANSRVR Groups Guide

Learn about APRS group messaging and the most popular groups you can join

What are ANSRVR Groups?

ANSRVR (Answer Server) is a group messaging system on the APRS network. It works like a mailing list — when you subscribe to a group, you receive all messages sent to that group by other subscribers. Any licensed amateur radio operator can join existing groups or create new ones.

In APRS Chat, you can join groups from the Groups tab. Tap the + button to browse popular groups or enter any group name.

How Groups Work

  1. Subscribe: Send a join command to ANSRVR. You'll receive a confirmation message.
  2. Receive: Any message sent to the group by other members is relayed to you.
  3. Send: Your messages are relayed to all other group subscribers.
  4. Unsubscribe: Leave the group at any time to stop receiving messages.

Subscriptions are session-based — they last until you disconnect from the APRS-IS network or until the ANSRVR server resets (typically 12–24 hours). APRS Chat automatically shows your subscription status for each group.

Popular Groups

These are the most commonly used ANSRVR groups on the APRS network. You can join any of them directly from APRS Chat's Join Group dialog.

SOTA

Outdoor / Portable

Summits On The Air — A group for operators who activate mountain peaks and summits. SOTA activators announce their portable operations, spot other activators, and coordinate contacts. If you enjoy hiking with a radio, this is your group.

Typical messages: summit alerts, activation announcements, spot requests

POTA

Outdoor / Portable

Parks On The Air — Similar to SOTA but for parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and other natural areas. Operators set up portable stations at designated park entities and make contacts. Great for combining radio with nature.

Typical messages: park activation announcements, frequency spots, park-to-park contacts

WX

Weather

Weather Reports — Share and receive local weather observations, conditions, and forecasts. Operators report temperature, wind, precipitation, and notable weather events in their area. Useful during storm season or for general situational awareness.

Typical messages: current conditions, storm reports, temperature updates

EMCOM

Emergency

Emergency Communications — A coordination channel for emergency communication activities. Used during disasters, severe weather events, and emergency drills. Operators share situational updates, resource needs, and coordination information.

Typical messages: emergency activations, drill announcements, resource coordination

ARES

Emergency

Amateur Radio Emergency Service — The ARRL-sponsored emergency communication volunteer group. ARES members provide communication support during disasters when normal infrastructure fails. Join to stay connected with your local and regional ARES teams.

Typical messages: net activations, training announcements, check-ins

SAR

Emergency

Search and Rescue — Coordination channel for amateur radio operators involved in search and rescue operations. Used to share position reports, coordinate search patterns, and relay information between field teams and base.

Typical messages: operation coordination, position updates, resource requests

SKYWN

Weather

Skywarn — The National Weather Service's storm spotter network. Trained Skywarn volunteers report severe weather observations (tornadoes, hail, damaging winds, flooding) directly to their local NWS office. Join during severe weather season to contribute or receive real-time spotter reports.

Typical messages: severe weather reports, spotter activations, NWS alerts

QRP

Activity

Low-Power Operating — A community for operators who enjoy the challenge of making contacts with 5 watts or less. Share QRP tips, antenna experiments, portable setups, and celebrate successful low-power contacts. Great for experimenters and minimalist operators.

Typical messages: QRP contacts, portable setup reports, antenna experiments

Creating Your Own Group

You can create a new ANSRVR group simply by sending a message to a group name that doesn't exist yet. The ANSRVR server will automatically create it. Group names are limited to 5 characters maximum and are case-insensitive.

To create a group in APRS Chat, go to the Groups tab, tap +, type your desired group name, and tap Join. You'll be the first subscriber.

Tips for Using Groups

  • Keep messages short: APRS messages are limited to ~67 characters. Group messages have additional overhead for the "CQ GROUP" prefix, leaving you about 57 usable characters.
  • Be relevant: Stay on topic for the group you're in. Weather reports belong in WX, not SOTA.
  • Join with a message: When you join a group, you can include an optional message that's broadcast to all members — a great way to say hello.
  • Session-based subscriptions: Remember that group subscriptions reset when you disconnect. APRS Chat will show you which groups you're currently subscribed to.
  • Multiple groups: You can subscribe to as many groups as you want simultaneously.

About APRSThursday (HOTG)

APRSThursday is a weekly on-air net held every Thursday (UTC). The group name is HOTG (Hams On The Go). APRS Chat has dedicated support for APRSThursday with automatic net detection and a special interface. Look for the APRSThursday button in the app — it appears on Thursdays (UTC).