petehowell
Well Known Member
I have always wanted a gizmo that would allow people to track me realtime while flying. The Spot gizmo that dr has is really cool, but those of you who know me, know that I am homebrew kinda guy. That, and I hate subscription fees. (I am a wee bit on the frugal side - Thanks Mom!)
So I looked into something called APRS Automatic Position(or Packet) Reporting System. In its basic form, it uses a small transmitter to send your location (from GPS) to the internet using radio repeaters and eventually an internet connection. The information shows up on a Google maps interface on the web in near real time. And the best part - it is free! Using this system requires a Ham radio license, but I found that easy to obtain by passing a 35 question multiple guess test and paying $14.
Here is how I equipped N789PH for APRS.
1) I ordered an APRS Gizmo as a kit and built it. You can buy them assembled as well. It was fun and easy to build. I added a puck GPS and antenna. Total cost. ~$185 delivered
Here is the gizmo - it is a tiny transmitter and the device that encodes the GPS info into packets.
Here it is after I packaged it:
One more as I was programming it:
Here is my install. The thing weighs about 6 oz and is darn close to the CG. All it needs it a few milliamps of 14V when transmitting. I pirated power from the LED Nav lights.
The antenna is a homebrew design I found on the web made out of old twinlead 300ohm TV antenna wire.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/267393/An-Easy-DualBand-VHFUHF-Antenna
If you don't want to build an antenna - help a kid get to Alaska http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?p=199582#post199582
The install with Gorilla tape is temporary. I will glass it in now that I know it works. I was able to send signal to stations over 100 miles away with the tiny transmitter!!
Here is what shows up in realtime on the web:
http://aprs.fi/?call=kd0cvn&mt=m&z=11&timerange=3600
here it is in a pic:
So there it is. If you like to tinker and want to save few bucks, give this a try. If you just want tracking for safety and want a turnkey and more robust solution - buy the Spot. It is good to have people know where you are.
I had fun making and tweaking this thing. I also learned about Ham radio and met some guys in the local amateur radio club. They are a lot like exp airplane guys, friendly, and looking for a better, cheaper way to do things.
So I looked into something called APRS Automatic Position(or Packet) Reporting System. In its basic form, it uses a small transmitter to send your location (from GPS) to the internet using radio repeaters and eventually an internet connection. The information shows up on a Google maps interface on the web in near real time. And the best part - it is free! Using this system requires a Ham radio license, but I found that easy to obtain by passing a 35 question multiple guess test and paying $14.
Here is how I equipped N789PH for APRS.
1) I ordered an APRS Gizmo as a kit and built it. You can buy them assembled as well. It was fun and easy to build. I added a puck GPS and antenna. Total cost. ~$185 delivered
Here is the gizmo - it is a tiny transmitter and the device that encodes the GPS info into packets.
![2003338780126364737_rs.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Faycu08.webshots.com%2Fimage%2F43247%2F2003338780126364737_rs.jpg&hash=cf987522b752f1f1019c1576dbe4ee25)
Here it is after I packaged it:
![2003325422402343563_rs.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Faycu31.webshots.com%2Fimage%2F45430%2F2003325422402343563_rs.jpg&hash=108027a01df7d1aaab3d04a070021077)
One more as I was programming it:
![2003394530496790147_rs.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Faycu07.webshots.com%2Fimage%2F43846%2F2003394530496790147_rs.jpg&hash=273bafab20c11f51b39dd5171ddb0a01)
Here is my install. The thing weighs about 6 oz and is darn close to the CG. All it needs it a few milliamps of 14V when transmitting. I pirated power from the LED Nav lights.
![2003343198288029526_rs.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Faycu09.webshots.com%2Fimage%2F45288%2F2003343198288029526_rs.jpg&hash=f5ff57eaeab8a0fc69bb083f01ebb5f2)
![2003312768918054734_rs.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Faycu25.webshots.com%2Fimage%2F43304%2F2003312768918054734_rs.jpg&hash=52276435da8dfaeb366343bf4718a7de)
![2003347471714018365_rs.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Faycu29.webshots.com%2Fimage%2F41108%2F2003347471714018365_rs.jpg&hash=d3580caa6f29886402f7150cc69c853f)
The antenna is a homebrew design I found on the web made out of old twinlead 300ohm TV antenna wire.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/267393/An-Easy-DualBand-VHFUHF-Antenna
If you don't want to build an antenna - help a kid get to Alaska http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?p=199582#post199582
The install with Gorilla tape is temporary. I will glass it in now that I know it works. I was able to send signal to stations over 100 miles away with the tiny transmitter!!
Here is what shows up in realtime on the web:
http://aprs.fi/?call=kd0cvn&mt=m&z=11&timerange=3600
here it is in a pic:
![2005444355428275454_rs.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Faycu21.webshots.com%2Fimage%2F44540%2F2005444355428275454_rs.jpg&hash=488c9a8da6a309798f11996e1609c707)
So there it is. If you like to tinker and want to save few bucks, give this a try. If you just want tracking for safety and want a turnkey and more robust solution - buy the Spot. It is good to have people know where you are.
I had fun making and tweaking this thing. I also learned about Ham radio and met some guys in the local amateur radio club. They are a lot like exp airplane guys, friendly, and looking for a better, cheaper way to do things.
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