APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Copyright © 2003 – Anthony Campbell W5ADC All...

1APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR

Copyright © 2003 – Anthony Campbell W5ADCAll Rights Reserved

APRS Tracking Examples

Tony Campbell

W5ADC



Just a Little About Me• Been licensed since 1978.

• Have been active in satellite communications.

• Became active with APRS over 2 years.

• Active SSID

– W5ADC-10 Home Weather Station

– W5ADC-14 Mobile

• You may also see

– W5ADC-15 Portable TM-D700A

– W5ADC-7 TH-D7A

– W5ADC-8 TinyTrak 3



Stations• W5ADC-10

– UI-View32, Virtual Weather Station

– Oregon Scientific WM-918

– Alinco DR-1200 Radio, MFJ-1278

• W5ADC-14

– Kenwood TM-D700A

– Garmin GPS V



Types of Hardware

• Purpose Built Radios

• TNC Based Systems

• Sound Card Based Systems



Purpose Built Radios

• Purpose built radios are designed specifically to support ARPS functions in a single package. Just add a GPS receiver and go.

– Kenwood TM-D700A

– Kenwood TH-D7A

– Alinco DR-135T MKII with EJ-41U TNC



Kenwood TM-D700A

• Coolest APRS radio on the market

• Dual band 114/440 MHz 50/35 Watts

• Decent 1200/9600 bps TNC

• Built-in Digipeater

• One screen text monitoring

• PC programmable

• Just add a GPS and go



Kenwood TH-D7A(G)

• Nice HT with APRS features

• Dual band 114/440 MHz 5 Watts

• Basic TNC

• One screen text monitoring

• PC programmable

• Just add a GPS and go



Alinco DR-135T/EJ-41U

• Basic 2 M Radio with optional TNC

• Allows direct input from GPS

• Requires PC to setup

• No APRS display on radio

• Basic 1200/9600 bps TNC



Basic Interconnection DiagramPurpose Built Radios

GPS Radio

NEMA Data In/Out



TNC Based Systems

• Roughly divided into two categories – Beaconing Only and Transmit/Receive

• The major elements include:

– 2 M Radio (Just about anything will work)

– Terminal Node Controller (TNC) (Again just about anyone will work)

– Computer to set up system and possibly run APRS application.

– GPS Receiver if mobile



Beaconing Only Systems

• This is one of the lowest cost and easiest ways to begin to experiment with APRS. This configuration provides you with a system that periodically transmits your position from a GPS receiver. It does not provide you with the ability to receive and decode packets.

– Byonics TinyTrak3

– Tigertronics TigerTrak TM-1

– TAPR PIC-Encoder



Typical Characteristics of Beaconing Only Systems

• Low Cost

• Transmits only position information

• Some systems are available as kits

• Easy to setup, once you figure out how

• Simple hardware configuration

• Normally allows for stand alone operation



Basic Interconnection DiagramBeaconing Systems

GPS Radio

NEMA Data

TNC

PTT

XMT

RCV



Transmit/Receive Systems

• These are a step up from the basic Beaconing system.

• Setup is very dependent on the actual TNC used.

• A computer and application software may be required, depending on the software version in the TNC.

• Digipeating is possible with most TNC’s.



Typical Characteristics of Transmit/Receive Systems

• A generic 2 M radio is required.

• TNC may support GPS receiver directly

– Kantronics KAM, KAM+ v8.2 -- KPC-3, KPC-3+, KPC-9612, KPC-9612+,v6.0 or higher

– Timewave AEA PK-96

– There may be others



Basic Interconnection DiagramTransmit/Receive Systems

GPS Radio

NEMA Data In/Out

TNC

PTT

XMT

RCV

GPS

NEMA Data In/Out

Computer TNC

RS-232OR

A Weather Station could be used in

place of the GPS with most applications



Sound Card Based Systems

• No TNC is required

• Uses PC sound card to transmit and receive signals from radio

• Simple interface circuitry (The same as PSK31)

• Requires a modest computer to operate

• Probably the hardest to get running and keep running



Basic Interconnection DiagramSound Card Based Systems

GPS Radio

NEMA Data In/Out

Computer

PTT

XMT

RCV

A Weather Station could be used in

place of the GPS with most applications



Reference Links

• http://www.alinco.com

• http://www.kenwood.net

• http://www.byonics.com

• http://www.tapr.org

• http://www.tigertronics.com

• http://www.kantronics.com

• http://www.timewave.com

APRS is a registered trademark Bob Bruninga, WB4APR Copyright © 2003 – Anthony Campbell W5ADC All...

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