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Terms of Service

Last updated: September 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using APRS Chat (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, do not use the Service.

2. Amateur Radio License Requirement

The Service is designed for use by licensed amateur radio operators. By using the Service to transmit APRS messages or position beacons, you represent and warrant that:

  • You hold a valid amateur radio license
  • The callsign you use is properly assigned to you
  • You will comply with all applicable regulations governing amateur radio

3. Acceptable Use

You agree to use the Service only for lawful purposes and in accordance with amateur radio regulations. You agree not to:

  • Transmit using a callsign not assigned to you
  • Use the Service for any commercial communications
  • Transmit obscene, profane, or objectionable content
  • Interfere with other users' use of the Service
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Service or its systems
  • Use the Service to transmit malicious content or spam

4. User Reports and Abusive Conduct

The Service lets you report abusive messages or stations from within the app. When you submit a report:

  • We review it as soon as practicable, and typically within 24 hours
  • Stations found to be in violation of these Terms or applicable regulations may be blocked from the Service
  • Serious or repeated violations may be referred to the licensing authority responsible for the station's callsign (for example, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States)

5. APRS Network Use

You acknowledge that:

  • APRS is a shared resource used by the amateur radio community
  • All APRS transmissions are public and may be logged
  • You should use APRS responsibly and not overload the network
  • We do not control the APRS-IS network or RF infrastructure

6. Account Responsibilities

If you create an account on our website:

  • You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account
  • You must provide accurate information, including a valid callsign
  • You are responsible for all activity under your account
  • You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use

7. Service Availability

We strive to maintain Service availability but cannot guarantee uninterrupted access. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue the Service at any time without notice. We are not liable for any interruption or unavailability of the Service.

8. Intellectual Property

The Service and its original content, features, and functionality are owned by Hemna LLC and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE.

10. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF DATA, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, OR OTHER LOSSES ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Hemna LLC and its operators from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your use of the Service or violation of these Terms.

12. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to the Service immediately, without prior notice, for conduct that we believe violates these Terms or is harmful to other users or the Service.

13. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of significant changes. Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

14. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable laws, without regard to conflict of law principles.

15. APRS Chat Services Directory

The services directory shown in APRS Chat (the list of APRS message services, their descriptions, and their command documentation) is provided by the APRS Service Registry operated by WB4BOR. Your use of that directory is also governed by the APRS Service Registry Terms of Use. In particular:

  • You may browse and use the directory within APRS Chat for personal, educational, and non-commercial amateur radio purposes.
  • You may not extract, copy, cache, mirror, scrape, or redistribute the directory or its service descriptions from APRS Chat, or use them for any commercial purpose, without prior written approval from WB4BOR (WB4BOR@hemna.com).
  • The directory data and service descriptions are licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Service directory and services provided by WB4BOR / APRS Service Registry.
  • Services in the directory not operated by WB4BOR belong to, and are the responsibility of, their respective operators. Listing a service is not an endorsement, and we do not guarantee that any listed service is available or accurate.

16. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us.