Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

That's rough!

 

How did I miss this thread? VA3JME here.... 73's!

 

The volume will only affect packets received by your TNC.

I still think the packets leaving your radio aren't making it to the iGate whole. With packets they go from A to Z (metaphor) and if any letters in between are missing the whole packet fails.

Wish I could help more but I've never had one of those moblinkd setups in my hands. I use a one way tracker paired with a HT and amplifier for APRS in my last truck and I'll be installing it in the taco soon.

This is what I use, not as slick as mobilinkd but a lot simpler.

https://www.argentdata.com/products/otusb.html

 

So how do you know if you are reaching a repeater? I have one typed in and the radio isn't going into RX. But when I transmit for a second, right after the radio is RXing for just a split second. So am I getting to the repeater? Is it getting to me?

And when I'm looking up a repeater and it has a PL tone or a CTCS, do I put that frequency in both my transmission CTCS and my receiving CTCS.

 

Repeaters will give you a squelch back or if they haven't been keyed up for a few minutes they will respond with a per-programed message. Usually the call sign of the repeater or it's owner.

If you try to key up a repeater and after you release your mics button you hear nothing but silence you aren't reaching it or do not have the right tone to activate it.

 

Sweet! Thanks! So I guess I am reaching it. Didn't think this little baofeng would go that far from in the house.

Our and I see you can program the radio? What does that do exactly? Like could I name my frequency's in my memory channel and stuff?

 

Say that again I don't understand

 

No problem man, I'm a IT in the Coast Guard but have worked with and done a lot of cross training with the radio techs and working with them got me started in the world of radio and the reason I understand as much as I do.

 

Sorry lol not sure what happened. I was asking what exactly is programming the radio?

 

That generally means to store pre-set frequencies in the radio so you don't have to manually have to input them all the time.

Most HAMS will program their local repeaters as well as the national calling frequencies for 2m and 70cm.

 

Ok thanks. That what I was hoping. Cause manually doing all that would really suck lol

 

Very possible, find another igate... road trip!

 

Are you doing this

I may be wrong but I don't think you will show up on the APRS.fi website if your APRS password is wrong.
I'm using mobilinked on a baofeng, I struggled and finally got it to work when I stopped using that stock antenna and switched to the mobile antenna on my truck.
After you get a different antenna set it up exactly like the instruction manual says to do it.
There's quite a few on here that have a mobile radio dedicated to APRS. the other option is your baofeng drive a a 30 of 50 watt amplifier to get the signal out.

 

I'm curious how are you interfacing the TNC with the kenwood in the truck?

 

Well not sure if this is obvious, but you have two radios, right? you should check to see if you're over or under modulating. Run your TNC + radio and monitor on the unused radio. If you're not hearing a clear signal that's distinguishable from the other radio, you've got a problem.

1) verify you're transmitting
2) verify you're audible
3) verify frequencies
4) verify your igate
5) change your settings
6) delete the app and reset to default settings by reinstalling
7) reset your phone

I'm almost 100% sure it's a configuration issue, and there is a finite combination of settings on your phone. So map all the configurations and settings, then try them one by one.

 

I'm sure it'd be easy to find the email of the owner of the iGate and shoot them an email.

 

You said that is worked with the normal version of APRSdroid but not the OSM version. Have you tried reverting back to that and tested?

 

Alright so we can rule out APRSdroid as the problem. That leaves really just a few things.

TNC settings
TNC interfacing with the radio
Radio's ability to reach iGate.

Have you listened to the packets being transmitted on your second radio? You should be able to audibly tell if the packets are complete and sound undistorted.

 

when you look at aprs.fi are there other stations nearby? If so, drive to those locations and transmit to see if you are reaching an igate.
Are you by any chance transmitting a PL?

 

https://youtu.be/DRH7r_XFlM0