Let’s Go Digital on the move

[M Rose]

I’m working on building a mobile radio just for Packet Radio. It will be located in my hamshack thread

My Ham Shack- Yaesu FT-2900- Icom IC-7100, and a leap into the digital world of radio

What digital modes are you running? Been thinking of jumping down that rabbit hole but trying to figure out where to start. Winlink, RTTY , FT8CALL and so on?

www.overlandbound.com

 

[M Rose]

The October issue of QST has all kinds of Antenna projects filling the voids between the covers. One antenna I found to be interesting is one I’m going to call the “Barber Dipole.

The Barber Dipole:

Pros-

• 20” tall 5/8 wave 2m
• Under $10 to construct
• Great SWR a crossed the 2m band
• Very little time invested to build
• Omni directional 1.64 dbi gain )very similar to the copper cactus J-Pole

Cons-

• Accuracy is a must
• No ability to tune the antenna after its final construction
• Needs a mast to deploy

https://w6nbc.com/articles/20xx-QSTcopperhelixantenna.pdf

 

[Sparksalot]

I just ordered a tnc3. Oh boy back into APRS.

 

[M Rose]

I just ordered a tnc3. Oh boy back into APRS.

You will really like this Device…. Just an FYI, even though it was designed for APRS, it does so much more.

 

[Sparksalot]

You will really like this Device…. Just an FYI, even though it was designed for APRS, it does so much more.

That’s why I chose it. I really like the ability to send messages to others through it. The digital version of 146.46.

 

[Sparksalot]

You will really like this Device…. Just an FYI, even though it was designed for APRS, it does so much more.

It arrived this afternoon. Setup was really easy.

 

[M Rose]

It arrived this afternoon. Setup was really easy.

Easiest amateur radio equipment setup I have ever done

 

[MojaveJT]

Is the frequency that you are setting up based on your location or is this a universal frequency for packet transmission? What is required on “the other end” to send the packets to the internet?

I understand the concept, just a little confused on the requirements

 

[Sparksalot]

Is the frequency that you are setting up based on your location or is this a universal frequency for packet transmission? What is required on “the other end” to send the packets to the internet?

I understand the concept, just a little confused on the requirements

144.39 is the US calling frequency for APRS. Might be packet in general, I don’t recall. The hardware itself will repeat any signal heard, and in the case of APRS specifically, put it onto APRS.FI, in other words the internet.

 

[Sparksalot]

Easiest amateur radio equipment setup I have ever done

I’m having trouble with my tnc3. It won’t beacon. I can sometimes force it to manually, but it won’t appear on APRS.FI. I can see the radio transmit visually, and hear it with another radio, but nothing is getting out.

 

[M Rose]

I’m having trouble with my tnc3. It won’t beacon. I can sometimes force it to manually, but it won’t appear on APRS.FI. I can see the radio transmit visually, and hear it with another radio, but nothing is getting out.

If you are transmitting off of the radio with the TNC3 and hearing it in another radio, but aren’t being spotted on APRS.FI, then you aren’t hitting an iGate. You either need a better antenna, more power, or a combination of the two. If you have a buddy with an APRS enabled radio, see if he hears you and your information is displayed on his radio.

As for it not beaconing, make sure you have the settings correct in APRS.FI. Position all three sliders to the far left and you should beAvon every 15-20 seconds while moving and up to 5 minutes setting still. To manually beacon you have to wait 15 seconds from the last beacon.

 

[Sparksalot]

If you are transmitting off of the radio with the TNC3 and hearing it in another radio, but aren’t being spotted on APRS.FI, then you aren’t hitting an iGate. You either need a better antenna, more power, or a combination of the two. If you have a buddy with an APRS enabled radio, see if he hears you and your information is displayed on his radio.

As for it not beaconing, make sure you have the settings correct in APRS.FI. Position all three sliders to the far left and you should beAvon every 15-20 seconds while moving and up to 5 minutes setting still. To manually beacon you have to wait 15 seconds from the last beacon.
View attachment 224856

I reset those slides. I drive through the heart of Austin twice yesterday. Dozens of stations are on the map, but nothing. I have used the same radio and antenna to kerchunk a repeater 40 miles out from me, so I don’t think that’s the issue.

 

[M Rose]

I reset those slides. I drive through the heart of Austin twice yesterday. Dozens of stations are on the map, but nothing. I have used the same radio and antenna to kerchunk a repeater 40 miles out from me, so I don’t think that’s the issue.

Did you install the Mobilinked TNC Config app?

 

[Sparksalot]

Did you install the Mobilinked TNC Config app?

I did. I also just had a SMH moment. I have APRS.FI on my iPhone and iPad. One had these three toggle ON, the other had them OFF. Poor TNCs couldn’t figure what was coming or going. So for now anyway, I’ve told my phone to forget the device.

 

[M Rose]

I did. I also just had a SMH moment. I have APRS.FI on my iPhone and iPad. One had these three toggle ON, the other had them OFF. Poor TNCs couldn’t figure what was coming or going. So for now anyway, I’ve told my phone to forget the device.

Yes you can only use one device at a time. Is it working now?

 

[M Rose]

You can also use your phone as a software modem and have it listen to your receiving radio to see if you show up on the map

 

[M Rose]

Rex,
I have attached the user guide for your convenience, it looks like Mobilinked took down the download site at the moment.

 

[Sparksalot]

I did. I also just had a SMH moment. I have APRS.FI on my iPhone and iPad. One had these three toggle ON, the other had them OFF. Poor TNCs couldn’t figure what was coming or going. So for now anyway, I’ve told my phone to forget the device.

Yes you can only use one device at a time. Is it working now?

It seems to be. I’ve been wanting to make sure it’s working. I had used the TNC with an HT for a bit. I manufactured a cable to interface it to an ICom 2200. That seems to be working too.

 

[M Rose]

It seems to be. I’ve been wanting to make sure it’s working. I had used the TNC with an HT for a bit. I manufactured a cable to interface it to an ICom 2200. That seems to be working too.

Make sure the 2200 has the squelch off and configure the TNC3 in the config app to adjust the audio levels for best performance of the 2200.

one last question
Have you tried using WinLink?

 

[Sparksalot]

It seems to be. I’ve been wanting to make sure it’s working. I had used the TNC with an HT for a bit. I manufactured a cable to interface it to an ICom 2200. That seems to be working too.

Make sure the 2200 has the squelch off and configure the TNC3 in the config app to adjust the audio levels for best performance of the 2200.

one last question
Have you tried using WinLink?

I have not tried Winlink yet. I wanted to make sure the basic configuration worked. I’ve also hoped to do messaging with aprs.fi.