Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

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I have one on a hood mount and the other on a tailgate mount. Zero interference that I have noticed.

 

Is this a non-issue when using a single antenna/radio setup (eg. TM-D710G)? I've experienced no problems.

 

Does that radio let you TX on another 2 meter freq and simultaneously TX on APRS frequency?

 

I'm a little out of practice, but as far as I know, no dual radio can do that. When one side is TX'ing the other side is suspended, until TX'ing is done. But for packet based stuff, it shouldn't matter that much.

 

Yeeaah... my fingers may have jumped the gun on question asking w/o engaging brain. (clutch failure?)

The TM710 will only voice TX on the designated "control" band. But packet traffic isn't limited to that, in fact I rarely switch control. So, the unit likely suppresses any outgoing TNC traffic during opposite band TX, or delays it.

Either way, the low frequency of packet TX for APRS anyway... a drop here or there shouldn't matter.

(thank for showing up this time brain)

 

I had no idea there was a ham radio BS thread....Sweet!

 

I got my mobilinkd APRS tnc today configured acorrding to the instructions. Plugged into my Baofeng.
I sem to be receiving data, because its showing me some other stations. I know im transmitting because i can hear the data packet when I listen with another HT without the antenna. The problem is, im not showing up on the APRS.fi website. Whats the problem here?

 

Have you checked APRS.fi for the nearest igate/digipeater near you? Are you using high power?

 

Using aprsdroid?

 

Yes using APRSdroid
Here is a screenshot of the log. It looks as if Im in range of a digipeater

 

Go to settings and screens hot the settings. Have you set u p the tnc through the Mobil link app?

 

Talking to the guy who programs the radios for our county last night and he says that when I have time and he's not busy he'll program my radio for me, apparently he can get me on some channels that aren't publicly listed but aren't used locally, he said those channels we won't need a license to operate on them.

 

I recently did a presentation on Mobile Radio Communications to a group of Overlanders.
Some of the guys were very interested in APRS, while others wondered why we wouldn't just use a SPOT.
I just said they're for slightly different things, with a lot of overlap in functionality.

Anyway, I just stumbled on this video that shows how to blend the two services together, which is VERY slick.

 

Neat. So that application, for the iphone scrapes data from the SPOT sharing website and redistributes it to the APRS-IS network.

 

That's what it looks like to me.
I still think there's a place for APRS while overland, however I can see the appeal of Spot as well.

I might end up doing both in my truck at some point.

 

I currently use SPOT Trace as an asset tracking system. I've fed it constant +5v and it's run for 1.5 years continuously in my truck with no issues whatsoever. I'm quite pleased with it. Immediately family can and do track my whereabouts when traveling alone in remote locations.

I've used APRS with APRSDroid software and I think it's just great. It works very well.

However, one thing I just can't get passed is the notion that all APRS data is in the public domain and there is no expiration date. For that reason I haven't used it for a few years.

 

I also forgot to mention, these guys: ---> www.oausa.net They're a great bunch of overlanders and make use of APRS on their longer range trips. I've wheeled with them once and it was really fun!

 

@Crom, so for overlanding, an option with APRS is to transmit on a non-standard frequency. For instance in the US 144.390 is the standard APRS calling frequency. In Europe they use 144.800. A group using APRS trackers in each vehicle, and a local receiver could choose to use the European frequency in the United States. This would avoid your telemetry data from being uploaded to the APRS-IS.

You can also, change the SSID to read... Crom, Lars, Joe, Jason. and then add the callsign as part of the standard message. As long as a callsign is sent it does NOT need to be the SSID.

 

That's an excellent suggestion. Thank you. I'll tuck that away for future reference.

 

I agree, I don't need everyone/anyone knowing what I am doing at any given time. So I only turn on APRS when I want to be tracked. I used to shut it down a mile or so before my house, didn't want anyone to see exactly where I lived. Then I realized my address was public info with my license, they just need my call, and they know where I live.

According to APRS.fi 's FAQ data will be deleted automatically after 2 years. Some data will be deleted earlier.

I like the Spot integration with APRS, but I don't go far enough away from civilization, yet, to pay for it.