Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

It can be both. However the station has to have both separate parts a Igate and a digipeater.
Igates will only allow a packet to hop if the packet specifically calls for it to do so. Any packet that reaches an Igate otherwise will be terminated and sent to the APRS servers.

 

There's also the question regarding the amount of hops specified by the originating station. Digipeters, when they transmit, can have their aprs transmissions rebroadcast on other digipeaters too depending on how many hops are requested which is likewise interesting to note.

Some people request FM only rebroadcast vs having their data transmitted through APRS IS systems to keep their information private.

 

They usually are their own.

iGate is a receiver connected to the internet to forward messages to their source.

Digipeater is a receiver/transmitter with the sole task of rebroadcasting messages it can hear. Of course it looks at hops and such before deciding to forward it.


EDIT: I see I was slow to respond.

 

It's ok Chip.

 

Digi and iGate are two separate functions, but can be combined into the same device. Here is one example:

In my area many digipeaters on mountain tops, are stand alone digis. The iGates are usually located in areas where fixed line internet is readily available, like a school, somebody's house.

However, some radios like the Kenwood TM-D710GA can function as a stand alone digipeater. And It's also capable of iGate terminal operations if connected to a computer with internet.

 

What do you set the path to so that packets are not iGated? Also let's be more clear, sans encryption, nothing in amateur radio is private, and nobody using it should ever have any expectation of privacy. Would not want to mislead anyone.

 

The expectation of privacy with regard to APRS is identical to the expectation of privacy that comes with urinating on a bush.

 

Reported for politics

 

Do whatever you want. as long as it doesn't include coming around to look at my penis while I'm peeing.

 

There's an interesting Overland use case for APRS as well.

Let's say @teamhypoxia, @ebbs15, @chenbro and I are all going out to drive the Rimrocker Trail. I give each of them a dedicated APRS transmitter, with my callsign (even though technically all of the above have their own license.) and set them up to transmit on 432.400mhz with an SSID of "TeamHypoxia, EBBS15, or CHENBRO" and then in the comment section I put my call sign.

Now, I also put an APRS transceiver in my truck, with a display, and xastir, or another APRS mapping software. I've effectively created my own, contained "caravan tracking" system. Because APRS stations are technically under "Automatic Control" a license isn't needed to operate a vehicle with an APRS transmitter onboard. It's just a Licensee must be responsible for the setup and operation of the stations.

 

now could you do the same thing only have us use our own dedicated APRS transmitter? by that I mean, could each of us be able to pull up the "caravan" on our own APRS transceiver with display?

also, how hard is it to set that up... is it simple enough to program say while you're airing down for a trail, or would it need to be programmed from a computer the night before?

 

Least common denominator would be something like the Baofeng plugged into aprsdroid. At which point all you really need to do it tweak the frequency on the HT to $Anywhere but 144.390mhz.

I'd have a bit harder time since my Microtrak RTG requires a serial cable and laptop to program it's frequency, but I'll have all that crap in the truck with me anyway.

 

@Lars great timing... just got my Call Sign.
KE0JBH

 

Yes you could.

It's rather technical to setup, the software he mentioned Xastir I have used it quite a bit but most certainly not plug and play.

You could do this setup with APRSdroid running on an Android Tablet and the Moblinked TNC mentioned a few times before here also. Although this would be a much more basic setup than using Xastir and a laptop.

 

That's why I was using "me" as the example. I've been working on a Raspberry Pi based APRS iGate/Receiver using an RTL-SDR as the receiver. You're exactly right about APRSdroid doing all the work out of the box.

The Moblkind "box" isn't even really necessary, if you're willing to run a cable to the radio. APRSdroid functions as a software TNC, you just need to get audio to and from the radio into the 3.5mm jack on the phone. 90% of their device is effectively a bluetooth headset and battery, minus the speakers.

 

APRSdroid will not transmit and receive APRS data though, it will only put it on the APRS-IS servers correct?

 

I built my own cable once when APRSdroid came on the scene and tried to get it working as a software TNC but it was buggy. I think it was more to do with the phone vs the software though.

I might pickup the new version of the Moblinked TNC and setup APRS differently in this new Tacoma I just bought. My previous setup was a TX only using a hardware TNC from Argent data systems. I think I'd like to setup a 7" tablet riding in a RAM mount running APRSdroid.

 

Not true at all, in the Connection Protocol I'm pretty sure if you put it into AFSK via Speaker/Mic mode it does EXACTLY what it sounds like.
It also supports Bluetooth TNC, which is the mode used by the mobikind.

 

APRSdroid can be a complete software TNC. You can hook your smartphone directly to a radio with a VOX function and a special 3.5mm audio cable and it will send and receive APRS packets or just RX or just TX, or just act as an iGate. Whatever you want.

 

Oh cool. So really to use APRS you only need a radio plugged into my phone running APRSdroid?