APRS Tracking Transmitter

[Medve]

Not sure if anyone has posted this, but
check this out. Way too cool! Essentially a 2meter transmitter and automatic packet reporting system that you connect to any cheap GPS, and it puts out the coordinates to a bunch of HAM APRS sights, and the location can be viewed real time on a moving map display, on the web.

http://www.byonics.com/microtrak300/

Medve

[dalbert02]

Excellent! I use the Tiny Trak III of theirs and it is wonderful. I was wondering when they would have a replacement for the PocketTrak! :)
-dave

[dalbert02]

oops!
Why oh why can you not delete a post?

[danstrider]

Medve, I like the site! Thanks for sharing ... a follow-on question: how does this APRS get put on the web? I'd love to track my vehicle in flight, especially on a long cross-country flight for example. ... answered my own question with this link: http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/index.htm

Maybe you know a site where you can plug in your own system's name? You peaked my interest :-)

Dan

[Medve]

Hey Dan,
yeah, it's pretty cool. One of my friends has it in his car to, and I can tell if he is near by to meet for lunch. I transmits your call sign so others can find you.
Would also be fun on a helium balloon and track it on line. Then go find it after it lands.
Or stick one on a cats collar as it wanders the neighborhood. All kinds of fun to have.

[danstrider]

Awesome idea for the lunch thing! You have to carry a GPS too though, right? So it might be a bit heavy for a cat ... how about a Great Dane? I always wondered where they went when they were bored!

So I would have to get a HAM callsign to use it or is this wattage low enough that I would be okay? You sound like a HAM guy, so I imagine you'd know :-)

Thanks by the way
Dan

[kd7ost]

Medve, I like the site! Thanks for sharing ... a follow-on question: how does this APRS get put on the web? I'd love to track my vehicle in flight, especially on a long cross-country flight for example. ... answered my own question with this link: http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/index.htm

Maybe you know a site where you can plug in your own system's name? You peaked my interest :-)

Dan

Here's a means to track a specifically transmit call sign.
http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/find.cgi?call=KD7OST-11

Where I have KD7OST-11 in after the = sign, just erase that and type in your own call sign. You must be in an area where there is an I-gate. These are pretty common though. Some HAM guy's have a radio on line at all times and have this with software interfaced to a computer that is also on line at all times. Sometimes it's easier to hit a local repeater and that will get to the I-Gate. You get better coverage.

You do have to have a HAM Radio license to do this.

Dan

[phubner]

A friend of mine built his own APRS tracker to provide realtime telemetry on a home built high altitude balloon project. He posted his complete design on his website.

We're considering adding Return-to-Home-autopilot capabilities to a glider, with APRS and video transmit, hoisting it by balloon and watching her drop from 100,000 feet! But that will probably be in 2008 by the time I get the payload together.

Here's his website:
http://www.photoesque.com/HAPB/HAPB1.htm

Paul