Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

I obviously know almost nothing about the regs. I've just started to learn a little about drones and the legal issues.

 

Bond it to something. My shack is neat.

 

I have zero familiarity with that repeater. According to repeaterbook the uplink tone is 103.5. If you're not currently getting a repeater tail after transmitting, then try 103.5. I'd leave receive in carrier squelch until you figure it out. Once you know you're activating the repeater, put your receive guard on. Probably CTCSS 100.0, but who knows. It doesn't appear to use DCS at all... According to repeaterbook.

 

Thank you for your input! I tried every combination last night, and i'll just assume that it's down at this time. Repearterbook says one thing, another database says it's something else, and from their website says with DCS.

 

https://sti-co.com/covert/

Anyone have any experience with these?

 

No but it looks interesting

 

I'd be skeptical. Most covert C4ISR systems that would utilize an antenna like that is all short range stuff and very narrow banded. I think you would be much better suited with 1/4 wave at the minimum and would allow you to utilize the entire freq band effectively..

 

Some of those are a 1/4 wave long.

 

I've know lots of folks with Icoms that encountered lcd problems as the face was difficult to see after years or months in hot weather. I have the precursor to the Yaesu 8900, the 8800 and it still works and looks like a champ. The 8800 sits in our 2014 Taco and the Icom 706MKIIG sits in the 93 Yota.

 

I looked at using an antenna from them a while back because I didn’t want to draw much attention to my equipment. I ended up going a different route and used an antenna mount made specifically for tacos which ends up in a very discreet look. I posted my setup on this thread a while back. I am very happy with the way it turned out. You may want to take a look at it. See post #4697 and following ones in this thread.

 

I ran across Mobilinkd's hacking page where they explain how to build an Arduino TNC like their first generation TNC and then later they build a Nucleo powered TNC to mimic their TNC3. Unfortunately both projects omit the Bluetooth functionality. I didn't think it would be difficult to add a bluetooth serial adapter to the system to transmit and decode the data so I started searching. I found this guy: http://www.wt4y.com/aprs-tracker. He uses an Arduino Nano (which I have several of), some basic passive components, a transistor, and a bluetooth serial adapter. I purchased to bluetooth modules for $12. I am going to hardwire a 6-pin mini DIN cable to the breadboard so I don't need an audio jack, only the cable ($3). I'll also power it using the Nano's Mini-USB port. So... for only $15, I can build two of them!

I built a CNC mill that I use to mill my own PCBs so I won't have to order a PCB. I have a 3D printer to manufacture a case. This should be a fun project. I'll stash the TNC next to my radio when I decide where to mount it in the truck and I shouldn't have to touch it again. I can just pair my tablet or old dedicated smart phone and let APRS run.

 

As an fyi if you update to the latest Android system, the AndroidAPRS is no longer compatible.

Boo

 

Surely the APRSdroid developers are already working on that?
Edit: Looks like they discovered the issue in September and have developed a beta fix as of Jan 1. It's their OSM online+offline APK.

 

TNC production has begun...

 

Crazy question. I have a yaesu 7800. I can not get it to store the tone. I can set it but then it goes away. Do I have to delete the freq from memory and do it all at once?

 

Hope they provide an update soon. Would like to use the app again. For now I'll have to just keep the tablet in my passenger seat. A bit cumbersome to use without a co-pilot though.

 

Yes. You set up a combo exactly as you want it (freq, tone, etc) and it stores the combo. I think it even stores to power setting you have when you register the memory channel.

 

Alright, you TM-V71A owners... mini-DIN question. How am I supposed to wire this thing to my TNC?
Pin 1 would be TNC out/radio in.
Pin 2 is common ground.
Pin 5 is TNC in/radio out (1200 baud).
or
Pin4 is TNC in/radio out (9600 baud).
And... is Pin 3 PTT? Does this radio need a seperate PTT line from the TNC or does it use VOX?

I got my home brewed TNC1 built and I can pair it to my tablet. I am still waiting for my mini-DIN cable to arrive so I can hack it up. Also, test is January 18th. Radio is installed in the truck.

 

Dunno

Got a moblinkd device and said forget about it haha

 

@Boomer3731 yea I heard about the FRS technicality is that just because of the wattage?

The GMRS rule is news to me. I keep getting conflicting information.