NARA Live Bathtub Tracking System
Welcome to the Nanaimo Amateur Radio Association live bathtub tracking system. This page contains the most up to date information about tracking the bathtubs.
Use the links below to view the live tracking maps
(defaults to zoom level 13 and 3 hour history)
How do we do this?
The positions of the bathtubs in transit are relayed through the APRS system. APRS, which stands for Automatic Packet Reporting System is a technology developed and supported by amateur radio operators. A small device located on each bath tub contains a GPS receiver, APRS board, and VHF (Radio) transmitter. The GPS determines the position of the boat and feeds it to the APRS board which decodes it and decides when to relay the information at which time it creates a burst of audio containing the position and sends it out through the VHF radio. VHF receivers positioned throughout the area (and the world) "hear" these reports and relay them across the internet to us. This is one of countless "experimental" activities Amateur Radio operators engage in.
Last updated: 25-Jul-2009 10:00 PST