APRS - Ham radio w/BS

SR-71A · Apr 18, 2019

m603holden[OP] said: ↑

Just keep cracking at the test at your own speed. It's not going anywhere. Once both you and Jason are on the Ham bands my life will get easier. Haha
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Is he studying for it too?

m603holden · Apr 18, 2019

SR-71A said: ↑

Is he studying for it too?
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I think he's super busy with work

ETsemaj · Apr 18, 2019

So something to look into. I noticed my posit wasnt updating but when i turned off all the locks (only have ptt and freq locked now) it updated. Interesting.

Spare Parts · Apr 18, 2019

SR-71A said: ↑

Ive been studying for my exam, but thats been taking a back seat the last few weeks while I look for a new apartment to rent. But I want to learn more about APRS so I can get a better idea of what radio I eventually want to buy

Firm believer in buy once cry once haha
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What every you had when we up north was pretty nice. Allowed us all to communicate with different setups.

SR-71A · Apr 18, 2019

Yeah those were awesome. GMRS/FRS which covers the hand helds you lent to people. Kinda like the poor mans HAM.

m603holden · Apr 18, 2019

@Bruce988jl for guilt trip haha

Bruce988jl · Apr 18, 2019

m603holden[OP] said: ↑

@Bruce988jl for guilt trip haha
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Not happening this year - I just have way too much on my plate right now to be concerned with a HAM cert test. Looks like my travel season will span through the summer anyways so I don't expect much time for trips.

OnHartung'sRoad · Aug 3, 2019

m603holden[OP] said: ↑

Foreward note, this is a learning journey for me. All expertise and helpful input is encouraged and appreciated.

Currently I'm using the APRSdroid app with great success. While on a group trip I was able to signal my location for all other users to see. Pinned to my real time icon was gps coordinates, the frequency that the group was utilizing, a comment box that we used to identify ourselves as the TW trip in case newly joining travelmates didn't know our call signs they could scroll through the comments field, and also can show a plotted course over time.

Two of the biggest benefits I saw while using this was the ability to keep track of the two groups we had convoying through our trip in Vermont and NH. With plenty of repeaters that support APRS the locations were updates at regular appropriate times (we can cover frequency of sending information while traveling later).

The next was that there was never any confusion on what frequency we were on for communication. A simple look into the directory would show the TW groups comment and the frequency listed right next to it. Anyone joining the trip or even a third party that wanted to contact us would now know who we are and how to reach us. Works great when you roll camp at 10:45pm which is a cell dead zone, but at least you can find them on the radio to let the group know you're almost in. Haha.

And now some more about the app. The first thing is to sign up if you're a ham and have a call sign. You can do it right in the app.

First go to preferences in the top right of the app. This will prompt this screen. Next search for the connection preferences.

The next screen is

From there you can request your passcode. This passcode pin they give you is APRS specific and works on other apps as well.

Once that comes in you'll be able to recieve and transmit information. Without this you will only be able to monitor the maps.

Everything you need
Now if you look closer you can see my information I input from the last trip on the first picture above. Both my frequency and a small note was listed. In the top left of the app is a button that will eventually bring you to this screen called the APRS hub. I bet you can spot the TW user and information on your own

If that call sign is selected you can bring it up on the map to locate them. (Btw Garmin and others support APRS as a guided destination. More later)

And that's it for now. Figured I'd get the ball rolling because it is summer and more group activities are taking place with people joining from all over. Comms are a great tool to keep things organized and safe.

My next topic will be a review on the Mobilelinkd tnc2.2 which allows you to do all of this with no internet needed. It works with amateur radio bands, a hand held radio, this Bluetooth device, and an APRS app. Great for remote locations.

https://store.mobilinkd.com/products/mobilinkd-tnc2-2

PS I'm permanently keeping TW in my comment box to identify TW user . Let make it a thing. Because who doesn't love ragchew about trucks.
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The TNC has been updated for IOS users too

https://store.mobilinkd.com/products/mobilinkd-tnc3

pop.tremuloides · Aug 5, 2019

OMG get on APRS ASAP!

So for us sending data to friends for a "spotty" campsite....they could see where were at.

Here is a trip we had.......

Turned OFF APRS once we got in touch....

HOWEVER, it was invaluable to get to the site we needed to get to...

We needed to get about an hour away from us doing some stuff but the ONLY way we could get/receive locations or where we camped was due to APRS as NO CELL happened once we went towards the area we had to get to.

Yes it works! Yes you should do it!

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