Ham/APRS Demo at Surf and Turf'08

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mrlocksmith

mrlocksmith

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Vegas Baby !
Hi Folks, Is there anyone on the forum that has an APRS tracker station and is planning to goto Surf and Turf in Pismo Beach. I'd like to set up a demo for folks to see. I have APRS running on my Mac, I just need somone to be a n Aprs tracker station for it to work.

73's & :beer:

Mark K7VQU
 
I'm interested in seeing people's radio setups as well. I don't have any particular one in mind. still debating the UHF versus CB or both...
 
Randy88FJ62 said:
I'm interested in seeing people's radio setups as well. I don't have any particular one in mind. still debating the UHF versus CB or both...
Click to expand...

For range and clarity, you just can't beat "ham radio" and the most common it seems is 2m (144-148mhz = VHF) and 70cm (420-450mhz = UHF).

However, 11m CB (26.965-27.405 = HF) is super cheap, has range and clarity that is good enough for close trail communications, and requires no license (so no studying and no test). And, it is still the most common for trail use.

I have both set up in my 80. I never turn on the CB though unless I'm on the trail or on a long highway trip (which usually only happens in the 80 when I'm on the way to the trail).

I have to say though that the best part about getting my license and getting more "into" ham radio is that I'm a bit of a tech geek and I've really enjoyed the tons of tech stuff that is both on the test and that comes up in regular use.

Either way, enjoy!
 
Miescha said:
....
However, 11m CB (26.965-27.405 = HF) is super cheap, has range and clarity that is good enough for close trail communications, and requires no license (so no studying and no test). And, it is still the most common for trail use.
......

Either way, enjoy!
Click to expand...

You can get a low end 2M radio for about the same price as a mid range CB. A decent antenna for either will cost about the same. Even the cheapest Radio Shack CB is only about $70 bucks less than the FT2800 2M.
As far as testing goes, IMHO the tech test is pretty easy to pass. Probably easier than the written drivers test in most states.

I still have a CB in my FJ40 from the old, pre-ham, days but I only turn it on when one of the Dino's in the club (CB only) is along on a trail run.
 
mrlocksmith said:
Hi Folks, Is there anyone on the forum that has an APRS tracker station and is planning to goto Surf and Turf in Pismo Beach. I'd like to set up a demo for folks to see. I have APRS running on my Mac, I just need somone to be a n Aprs tracker station for it to work.

73's & :beer:

Mark K7VQU
Click to expand...

Wish I was in the US, I'd come and have a look. I'm looking into APRS and setting up a mobile station on my Toughbook in my LC. I am part of a 4x4 response group and looking at tracking for vehicles when they are out on a job. I don't have a 2M rig at the moment and was also interested in the now semi-defunct use of APRS on CB as we all have CBs in the vehicles. However as we are now looking at going for 2M amateur rigs anyway might not be an issue.

What software are you using on the Mac for mapping and what type of TNC are you using or have you got a rig with a built in TNC - was looking at some of the funky Kenwood rigs with built in TNC but they are a bit pricy.
 
I can turn my beacon on if I make it to SnT this year.

APRS is super cool. Used it a month ago. I had APRS set up and hooked up to my GPS, the other guy had a similar setup. Set it to 3 hops and he was able to see me once I hit the 580 out of the Bay Area. He was on the 395 just south of Tahoe. This way we could track each other progress to the trail. Lost comms with each other through the Sierras for a bit.

Another guy was in Vegas and could follow our tracks as we hit the trail through the internet.

What is cool about APRS is that the other stations show up on your GPS as waypoints. Then updates as you get new packets. This makes it very easy to find the other truck, one you are out on the trail.

I'm currently tracking some guys doing the Mojave road. Nice to see there location on my PC. The best part is that he can send messages, which I can look up on the internet, or even a short email.

I highly recommend folks look into APRS for their GPS and ham setup. You need a GPS that can take NMEA input/outputs to directly connect. Or you can do it through a laptop with a zillion wires.

I use a Garmin 276c and Kenwood D710A. Used the supplied cable by both and made build a speaker setup. Plug and and go. Just had to update the firmware on the GPS. Alternatively you can buy a TNC like Tinytrack to hookup your GPS, if the radio doesn't have a build in TNC.

Sorry blabbered too much.

BTW my call sign is K9BDG (vanity my old one was KI6SSO)
 
Nice Vanity Call Sign !!!! Mine is K7VQU which is my late grandpa's call sign. That would be cool if you could be a becon at SNT. I also hope to get the nw Yaesu VX8R HT with a built in TNC if it is out by then. I will be running MACAPRS on my laptop for the demo with a Kantronics KPC-3

Mark
 
I'd also like to see the Yaesu vx-8 finally get FCC approval and hit the streets. I've been looking at HTs since I got my license and I've been fortunate to have several club members who let me borrow their gear for extended periods (> 1 month at times) to try it out. Of all the stuff I've borrowed, I really love the little Yaesu radios (I've now used the vx-7 and vx-6 and they are nearly identical in size and features - the other Yaesu vx radios I think are also pretty similiar in size, but I'm not sure on that).

I also tried out a Kenwood Th-78 (I think). It is much larger than the Yaesu radios, but one heck of a radio still. I never considered any of the current Kenwood HTs until borrowing this unit. Most notably, Kenwood has the TH-D7A which (back on topic finally) has a built-in TNC for APRS use (one less cable connectionis always a good thing).

I also like the current Kenwood TH-F6A but I'm not sure if it has the built-in TNC (however it DOES have the ability to wirelessly control the Kenwood TS-2000 series of base/mobile radios which is an awesome system).

I can't tell from the Yaesu information available, but when released the vx-8 is also supposed to have bluetooth functionality. I believe this is aimed mostly at wireless headphone and mic accessories, but there is no reason it couldn't support a bluetooth GPS connection also. That would allow a truely wireless APRS setup with the built-in TNC and a wireless connection to any of the currently available GPS units with bluetooth.

Cheers.
 
mrlocksmith said:
Nice Vanity Call Sign !!!! Mine is K7VQU which is my late grandpa's call sign. That would be cool if you could be a becon at SNT. I also hope to get the nw Yaesu VX8R HT with a built in TNC if it is out by then. I will be running MACAPRS on my laptop for the demo with a Kantronics KPC-3

Mark
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Will let you know if I can swing it to SnT this year.

What freq are you going to be on at SnT, besides APRS? Going to use any of the repeaters?

I programmed a couple of repeaters in the area already, but simplex will probably be easier.

This looks like a pretty good 2m plan to use for 4wd trips, thus keeping 146.52 open for emergency use, etc. Don't think Pismo is a real outlier though.
Default 2m Frequencies for 4WDTrips - 4WDTrips.net Forums

I programmed the channels in my radio already, but pretty much stay on 146.52 on the B band, and keep A band fro APRS. Only change to repeater or agreed upon simplex freqs when needs be.
 
we've used 146.460 in the past...

Would be good to have an official SnT freq for late night recovery calls in the dunes... :)

Jim should probably decide what to use.
 
Jim has pretty much said/suggested the semi-official landcruiser frequency of 146.460, first adopted for cruiser use by the Norcal gang from what I know. Seems like a lot of us have just adopted that as our landcruiser frequency.

I'd love an APRS demo - wonder if I can hook it in with my Garmin Streetpilot 2730??
 
My Kantronics KPC-3 took a nose dive so I do not think I will be able to do a demo until I get things worked out.

Mark
 
e9999 said:
we've used 146.460 in the past...

Would be good to have an official SnT freq for late night recovery calls in the dunes... :)

Jim should probably decide what to use.
Click to expand...

Brentbba said:
Jim has pretty much said/suggested the semi-official landcruiser frequency of 146.460, first adopted for cruiser use by the Norcal gang from what I know. Seems like a lot of us have just adopted that as our landcruiser frequency.

I'd love an APRS demo - wonder if I can hook it in with my Garmin Streetpilot 2730??
Click to expand...

mrlocksmith said:
My Kantronics KPC-3 took a nose dive so I do not think I will be able to do a demo until I get things worked out.

Mark
Click to expand...

OK 146.460 it is then. Seems like a very common wheeling frequency. I think it cam from the Expedition Portal site. It actually has a list of 4x4 freq suggestions for simplex.

Anyone with a laptop and access to the internet can do the APRS tracking. Just go to the aprs.fi site.

To send out beacons you will need a GPS with NMEA capability (1893), the garmin gps276c has it and a num,ber of others. Most marine GPS will have it. Then you will need a TNC (like tinytrack) to connect the GPS to the radio. Not sure on the laptop options to connect to GPS and radio.

With the Kenwood D710 you simply use the supplied cable from the GPS and radio to make a connection cable. Then plug the GPS into the radio and you can send and receive APRS data/beacons and see them as waypoints on the GPS. I can show you guys on my small GPS screen at SnT. However it is more interesting if there are more folks with the same capability out there.
 
Awesome, I need a good long distance radio for the racecar. seeing a demonstration of the available options would be very cool..
 
I've got a Kenwood TM-D710 installed, planning to have a GPS attached to it by then. Should be driving down on Thursday. It'll beacon as: KI6CDH-9

Dan.
 
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