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msausen
Joined: 25 Oct 2007
Posts: 559
Location: Appleton, WI USA
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 Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:02 am Post subject: APRS |
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Lots of info on aviation use here:
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/forumdisplay.php?f=104
Michael
From: owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Albert Gardner
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 12:28 AM
To: rv10-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: RE: First long cross country
[quote]For those newly flying, don’t ignore the Amateur Radio tracking system or Amateur Position Reporting System (APRS). It uses a small, inexpensive 2 meter burst transmitter, a web site http://aprs.fi and has no fees for usage. You are required to have a Ham License but they are not difficult to study for and obtain. My transmitter is one of the early one costing about $300 but later ones are less than $200 and there are portable models. After the transmitter is programmed with your call sign and optionally, your tail number, it will automatically transmit at pre-selected intervals on the 2 meter amateur band. Other ham operators will pick it up and—in most areas of the US—put it on the internet where it can be viewed in real time at aprs.fi superimposed on a map. Each dot that makes up the track shows altitude, heading, speed, lat/long. Benefits are no cost and anyone with your call sign can follow your track. Drawbacks are spotty coverage in some areas and anyone with your call sign can follow your track. My transmitter is controlled by a panel switch so it only works when I want it to. Check out http://www.byonics.com/microtrak/ for equipment and prices. He will also pre-program your transmitter for you if desired. I have used it flying in all of the lower 48 and found very few holes in coverage. Albert GardnerN991RVYuma, AZ [b]
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Tim Olson
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2878
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| Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:53 pm Post subject: APRS |
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I'd have to agree with Albert. Don't pass up checking out
APRS. There's not a lot of work to go into it to get it
working on your plane, and in the long run it is the
cheapest AND the best resolution method to go with
for most people, if your friends and family want to track
you.
I actually own all 3 methods of tracking or position finding:
(4 if you count ELT)
1) 406Mhz GPS integrated PLB
2) APRS GPS Tracker
3) SPOT Connect messenger
4) 406 Mhz GPS integrated ELT
Of these, nothing compares to the track you'll get with APRS.
You can set the interval down to 1-2 minutes and get a nice
smooth track, or, in the config options, it will automatically
send your position info if you vary in heading by X degrees,
and repeat at a faster interval. This gives a really good
smooth track on many turns. You can see altitude and speed
and all that good stuff too. Makes it fun to have people watch
and see when you're doing 250kts in a tailwind. Also, because
it's a free, no-subscription, no-batteries service, you
can get one and have years and years of tracking and not
be forking over money all the time.
The SPOT Connect does work, just like any SPOT does, and I
do have the tracking option. It gives a pretty crude track
because it only updates every 10 minutes. Even if you
force an update, it won't update at fast intervals. That
is an annoying feature but they do it to save satellite
bandwidth. With the SPOT connect, you can at least send
text email messages (very small ones), which is kind of
nice. But, I find that it's not a service I'd use much.
It has it's place though. The message packs aren't dirt
cheap for custom messages, so rather than keep paying
fees (I think I pay $150/yr?), I just don't use it for
messaging much. Where it *is* nice, is that it gives you
a tracker to use while off the 48 continental states.
You can get a ways off the coast with APRS, but only
about TO the islands of the Bahamas. Once further, you
can't be tracked on APRS. I bought one just for the
Bahamas trip and a planned Alaska trip. Other than that,
I really could do without it. I've been bouncing around
the idea of renting it out for a nominal fee, just to
cut the wasted cost...since I only need it maybe 1-2 weeks
in a year. It would be the first item I'd skip, if push
comes to shove. APRS would be hard to give up. I am NOT
a fan of subscription fees...we pay far too much for
navdata and cellphones, and internet, and TV and all the
other things to have one more thing to pay for. The SPOT
can make a good search/recovery tool, but I'd argue that
while it is good, if you're just looking to be rescued
you'd probably do better with a PLB. Even the Lithium
battery costs will add up over time.
The 406Mhz PLB is the actual NOAA registered location
device that I think would be my last to give up.
It's the one thing that you know will be searched for
if you're alive and on foot after a crash. They're great
for boats, for planes, and other travels too. A SPOT
could be useful as well, but at least with a PLB you
don't pay annual fees. You only have to worry about the
5 year battery replacement. You know though, that if
you push the button, they'll come looking.
The 406Mhz ELT really just adds the benefit of something
that will automatically work if you crash. I think it's
a good idea to have one, but throw in a handheld PLB
and you're really in good shape to get found if you're
lost. No sense not putting in a 406 anymore, if you plan
on traveling outside the 48.
If it sounds like I'm anti-SPOT, I'm not. I really think
it's a nice thing. If I could hardwire the power,
and it had a remote antenna, I'd even be happier. I just
dislike subscription fees, and I think the quality of
your track is so much nicer with APRS that you should
really look at your goal. If you want to be tracked,
APRS is fantastic. If you want to be found, the 406
Mhz products are great. The SPOT is just a compromise
between both of them....not perfect for either but
does both fairly well....at a price.
Tim
On 3/21/2012 12:44 PM, RV Builder (Michael Sausen) wrote:
| Quote: | Lots of info on aviation use here:
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/forumdisplay.php?f=104
Michael
*From:*owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com
[mailto:owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com] *On Behalf Of *Albert
Gardner *Sent:* Wednesday, March 21, 2012 12:28 AM *To:*
rv10-list(at)matronics.com *Subject:* RE: First long cross
country
For those newly flying, don’t ignore the Amateur Radio tracking
system or Amateur Position Reporting System (APRS). It uses a small,
inexpensive 2 meter burst transmitter, a web sitehttp://aprs.fi and
has no fees for usage. You are required to have a Ham License but
they are not difficult to study for and obtain. My transmitter is one
of the early one costing about $300 but later ones are less than $200
and there are portable models. After the transmitter is programmed
with your call sign and optionally, your tail number, it will
automatically transmit at pre-selected intervals on the 2 meter
amateur band. Other ham operators will pick it up and—in most areas
of the US—put it on the internet where it can be viewed in real time
at aprs.fi superimposed on a map. Each dot that makes up the track
shows altitude, heading, speed, lat/long. Benefits are no cost and
anyone with your call sign can follow your track. Drawbacks are
spotty coverage in some areas and anyone with your call sign can
follow your track. My transmitter is controlled by a panel switch so
it only works when I want it to. Check
outhttp://www.byonics.com/microtrak/ for equipment and prices. He
will also pre-program your transmitter for you if desired. I have
used it flying in all of the lower 48 and found very few holes in
coverage.
Albert Gardner
N991RV
Yuma, AZ
* *
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dlm34077(at)q.com
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 3:05 pm Post subject: APRS |
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The only advantage I see to SPOT is that you can pay extra per year if you travel in countries that do not have organized SAR. If you go missing they will pay for a private SAR. I use APRS, Flight Aware, PLBs and 121.5 ELT. I think that SPOT would work even for international airline travel. Imagine a SAR effort in central Africa? Or Egypt? Or current Libya?
BTW, there are areas of the US where APRS coverage is non existent at low altitudes. For example, my last APRS hit was 5690 MSL about five miles SE of L06 (elevation -210) on the flight into L06.
--
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johngoodman
Joined: 18 Sep 2006
Posts: 530
Location: GA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:09 am Post subject: Re: APRS |
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| Quote: | | Imagine a SAR effort in central Africa? Or Egypt? Or current Libya? |
Since 70.8% of the earth is covered by water (leaving only 29.2% for land), I would suggest something more practical....
John[/quote]
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#40572 Phase One complete in 2011 |
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jkreidler
Joined: 13 Feb 2008
Posts: 151
Location: Sheboygan Falls WI
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| Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 4:54 am Post subject: Re: APRS |
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I am not a user of APRS, a HAM license has been on my to do list for a while. After reading Tim’s post I started thinking about sending a text message via the armature radio bands while in flight. Essentially that is all they are doing with APRS, right?
So a quick search revealed this link: http://www.winlink.org/
Are text messages to the iPad the limit, how about a ping to a service to return a METAR… Might be a day late and dollar short in these days of XM and ADSB, but food for thought. - Jason
| | - The Matronics RV10-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
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_________________
Jason Kreidler
4 Partner Build - Sheboygan Falls, WI
Tony Kolar, Kyle Hokel, Wayne Elser, Jason Kreidler
N44YH - Flying - #40617 |
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Tim Olson
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2878
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| Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 5:33 am Post subject: APRS |
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Some of that stuff could be done, I'm sure, but it would
take a person actually wanting to spend time on the
programming end to run the service. Given that these
days you can get that METAR data via Satellite with WSI/XM,
and plenty of Wx with ADS-B for no cost, I don't know that
there would be enough practical interest in it. But short
emails would definitely be useful. I know many people who
would like that. You'd likely end up with a 1 way
capability, just like on a SPOT though....but it's
better than nothing. I know there are people out there doing
it today, if you read the APRS forum on VAF, but I think
it's a bit clumsy in that you have to put a control head
on the APRS to do it. If it were a slick iphone interface,
then I bet there would be tons of people doing it.
In time, I'm sure you'll see more. You won't want to use it
for sending emails as long as this one though. 
Besides that, it isn't private, so anyone could read them.
Tim
On 3/23/2012 7:54 AM, jkreidler wrote:
| Quote: |
I am not a user of APRS, a HAM license has been on my to do list for a while. After reading Tim’s post I started thinking about sending a text message via the armature radio bands while in flight. Essentially that is all they are doing with APRS, right?
So a quick search revealed this link: http://www.winlink.org/
Are text messages to the iPad the limit, how about a ping to a service to return a METAR… Might be a day late and dollar short in these days of XM and ADSB, but food for thought. - Jason
--------
Jason Kreidler
4 Partner Build - Sheboygan Falls, WI
Tony Kolar, Kyle Hokel, Wayne Elser, Jason Kreidler
N44YH - Flying - #40617
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=369210#369210
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dlm34077(at)q.com
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:22 am Post subject: APRS |
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The suggestion to get METAR and METAF in flight is also being done by WingX on the IPAD with the cellular ON. I have been riding to OSH in a warbird and with a cellular active IPAD have been sending and receiving emails as I pass cell towers along the way.
--
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