Southern California Club Xterra
Southern California Club Xterra => SCCX General Discussion => Topic started by: LupinOne on March 30, 2015, 11:50:55 AM
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For those who don't know what APRS is or want to know more, here's a wiki on it LINK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System)
One of my recent additions to my rig is a Byonics MicroTrak RTG package.
From the Byonics site-
The Micro-Trak RTG (Ready To Go) FA is a complete 10-watt APRS tracker, including a frequency agile 2-meter transmitter, a TinyTrak3 controller chip, a Byonics GPS2 receiver, and a magnet mount SMA antenna. The MT-RTG FA was designed for easy vehicle installation. Since it comes pre-configured with your callsign, it is literally "Ready To Go". Simply connect the included antenna and GPS receiver to the top of your car, plug into the cigarette lighter jack, and you are on the air!
For $220 it's not a bad system at all.
The other system I was considering was from Argent Data Systems T3-301. LINK (https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=164) Our fire department comm group likes to use these but they've had some problems the last 6 months with suppliers and fulfilling orders. They are just now shipping some new units so once I see some stability, I may consider one of theirs, but they are only 5 watts. One nice thing about the argent system is it is a transceiver so conceivably you could also plot out other people on your computer if needed. It runs $229.
Since I'm also installing a Lowrance HDS-7M and Point-1 sensor system, I'll drive the APRS unit from the NMEA-0183 output from the HDS-7M.
Since these systems are designed to be always on, I'll of course be putting a switch inline somewhere so I can turn things off when I don't want to be tracked. :P
There's a pretty good website that is google maps driven called aprs.fi (http://aprs.fi). You can see activity and filter for certain stations. Looks like there are a number of Digipeaters and Igates that cover areas we normally run in.
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My Yaesu FTM-400dr has it, but I have no idea how to use it.
I have been meaning to read the manuals for well, since I got it. Still have not done that.
Jordan knows how it works.
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Yep, I use my FTM-350AR to send love letters to Steve :)
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Yep, I use my FTM-350AR to send love letters to Steve :)
Truth.
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Yup, I've got aprs in the pathy with a tinytrak, yaesu 8100 and lowrance gps. It transmits and receives points
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Yup, I've got aprs in the pathy with a tinytrak, yaesu 8100 and lowrance gps. It transmits and receives points
Steve regularly puts on a tinfoil hat and communicates with the inhabitants of Mars on simplex. If he wants to talk to folks on Pluto he uses a repeater I've seen it, that guy has supernatural powers.
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Christiaan's been to Uranus and I have the pics to prove it.
With sausage.
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Christiaan's been to Uranus and I have the pics to prove it.
With sausage.
And with that I think I shall go into radio silence...........
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Christiaan's been to Uranus and I have the pics to prove it.
With sausage.
https://youtu.be/8ZYrutVyZ-A?t=1m23s
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Lol... I enjoy playing with radio.
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https://youtu.be/8ZYrutVyZ-A?t=1m23s
Tom Green has got to be the weirdest guy on the planet. I'm glad he kind of disappeared.
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Tom Green has got to be the weirdest guy on the planet. I'm glad he kind of disappeared.
Wow, it took me a while to remember that name: I don't remember anything particularly bad about the guy, but he was hella weird, and not in any good ways.