Memories and the development of APRS technology at the TAMA 2024 meeting in Borne Sulinowo.
From May 30 to June 2, the remarkable TAMA 2024 amateur-radio meeting will take place in Borne Sulinowo. This is another edition of a gathering whose roots lie in spontaneous initiatives related to the development of APRS technology in Poland. The TAMA 2024 amateur-radio meeting in Borne Sulinowo is not only an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience, but also to bring the amateur-radio community together and build lasting relationships. We invite all radio-communications enthusiasts to take part in this exceptional event!
Let us recall how it all began
In 2002–2003, as more and more APRS stations began appearing in Poland, a group of enthusiasts, including Zbyszek SP3BTT, decided to organize a meeting to exchange experiences and discuss building a network on 144.800 for this specific form of amateur-radio operation. The meeting venue chosen was the dam in Borne Sulinowo—a picturesque location surrounded by forests, with a distinctive history and a unique atmosphere.
The first meeting was intended to be a small, informal event for 15–20 participants. Although the preparations called for simple catering—bread, lard spread, pickles, and a few other treats—attendance exceeded the organizers’ expectations. More than sixty participants came from all over Poland, including Lublin, Wrocław, Bydgoszcz, Poznań, Zgorzelec, and many other towns and cities.
The program was highly varied and included presentations, discussions, equipment demonstrations, and competitions with prizes. Robert SP6VWX prepared a presentation that became one of the highlights of the program, and the meeting was described as a workshop where everyone could share their knowledge and experience.
The discussions focused on a variety of issues related to APRS technology—from tracker settings and the speed of obtaining a GPS fix to APRS communication protocols. Participants also had the opportunity to inspect the equipment and observe what was happening on the map.
The evening brought the official part of the meeting to a close, but it surely left everyone longing for more of these exceptional gatherings.
