A Poor Man’s APRS SetupA Poor Man’s APRS Setup

How to message, report position, How to message, report position, and see other stations without and see other stations without

spending $1500!spending $1500!

APRS in generalAPRS in general

Invented by Bob BruningaInvented by Bob BruningaAllows position reporting and...Allows position reporting and... ...more importantly, 2-way text messaging...more importantly, 2-way text messagingDoes not need to be expensiveDoes not need to be expensiveCan use older radios that may have out-Can use older radios that may have out-

lived their usefulness in other modeslived their usefulness in other modes

In a Perfect WorldIn a Perfect World

We’d all make enough for an “ultimate” set We’d all make enough for an “ultimate” set up:up:Kenwood D-710 (Kenwood D-710 ($539.95)$539.95)

In a Perfect World, pt. 2In a Perfect World, pt. 2

AVMap G5 Aviation certified GPS AVMap G5 Aviation certified GPS Receiver ($599.95)Receiver ($599.95)

AdvantagesAdvantages

Designed to work togetherDesigned to work togetherFewer hook-ups, easy to set up and get Fewer hook-ups, easy to set up and get

workingworking

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

D-710 TNC does not offer full TNC D-710 TNC does not offer full TNC functionalityfunctionality

Messaging is thru rotating a knob to Messaging is thru rotating a knob to choose letters, no keyboardchoose letters, no keyboard

Control is via radio, not touchscreenControl is via radio, not touchscreenCost (at least $950)Cost (at least $950)

The Poor Man’s MethodThe Poor Man’s Method

Any 2M FM transceiver that you can get Any 2M FM transceiver that you can get audio out of, audio into, and PTTaudio out of, audio into, and PTT

Inexpensive TNC that offers full KISS Inexpensive TNC that offers full KISS functionality so nothing is sacrificedfunctionality so nothing is sacrificed

Inexpensive GPS with keyboardInexpensive GPS with keyboardReadily available cables that you can build Readily available cables that you can build

yourself to save moneyyourself to save money

AdvantagesAdvantages

Much lower costs (mine is under $400 Much lower costs (mine is under $400 including a new radio)including a new radio)

GPS allows control of TNC via its GPS allows control of TNC via its keyboard (full command set)keyboard (full command set)

Touchscreen control of messagingTouchscreen control of messagingYOUYOU have the satisfaction of making it have the satisfaction of making it

work!work!Full TNC capability allows flexibility in useFull TNC capability allows flexibility in use

Hook it to a computer with UI-View, etc.Hook it to a computer with UI-View, etc.

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

The “best” GPS is discontinued, but The “best” GPS is discontinued, but available and supportedavailable and supported

YouYou have to hook it all up and make it talk have to hook it all up and make it talk togethertogether

Not as “elegant” as a ready-made systemNot as “elegant” as a ready-made systemYou might have to read a forum or two to You might have to read a forum or two to

figure it all outfigure it all out

Parts ListParts List Yaesu FT-2800M 2M Mobile Transceiver ($140 Yaesu FT-2800M 2M Mobile Transceiver ($140

including shipping)including shipping) Garmin nuvi 350 GPS Receiver ($104 including Garmin nuvi 350 GPS Receiver ($104 including

shipping, from eBay, included all factory cables shipping, from eBay, included all factory cables and windshield mount, also available from Radio and windshield mount, also available from Radio Shack for $109, factory refurbed)Shack for $109, factory refurbed)

Argent Data OpenTracker2 TNC ($101 from Argent Data OpenTracker2 TNC ($101 from Argent)Argent)

Garmin Fleet Management Interface Cable ($28 Garmin Fleet Management Interface Cable ($28 from Argent)from Argent)

Various cables and connectorsVarious cables and connectors

Block DiagramBlock Diagram

12V to rearConnector (requiredBy FMI)

Garmin FleetManagementInterface cable toOT2 Data port

OT2 Radio Port

12V in

Mic w/PTT

Speaker

12V in

Hints, 1Hints, 1

Other Garmins will work, see the online Other Garmins will work, see the online resources for help, BUT...resources for help, BUT...The nuvi 350 has a firmware “bug” that makes The nuvi 350 has a firmware “bug” that makes

it the only model that properly handles moving it the only model that properly handles moving waypoints, deleting the old one when it is waypoints, deleting the old one when it is detected as having moved to a new position. detected as having moved to a new position. Others only leave breadcrumbs.Others only leave breadcrumbs.

Hints, 2Hints, 2

A radio with a fixed-level audio output (as in a A radio with a fixed-level audio output (as in a data jack) is nice so the volume control getting data jack) is nice so the volume control getting changed is not an issue with reception of changed is not an issue with reception of incoming data.incoming data.

A radio with a rear-panel data jack will also likely A radio with a rear-panel data jack will also likely have PTT and Audio In so wiring is simpler.have PTT and Audio In so wiring is simpler.

Read the forums and wikis on a regular basis; a Read the forums and wikis on a regular basis; a newbie comes along every day and asks the newbie comes along every day and asks the question you are afraid to ask!question you are afraid to ask!

Resources, 1Resources, 1

OpenTracker2 Product page and support:OpenTracker2 Product page and support:https://www.argentdata.com/products/

tracker2.htmlhttps://www.argentdata.com/support/

tracker2.htmlhttp://wiki.argentdata.com/index.php?

title=Tracker2

Resources, 2Resources, 2

Garmin nuvi 350:Garmin nuvi 350:http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?

productId=3480192&cid=Garmin_nuvi_Exchange@yahoogroups.com