[aprssig] time for APRS second generation network?

[Scott Miller]

> And that's the show-stopper for digi- ned.  We need something cheap,
> simple, low-powered (roughly same power requirements as a TNC), and can
> drop in to augment or replace existing digis.  Adding a full PC pretty
> much fails all those requirements.

Hey, I'm working on it.  Actually the uTNC sounds like it's a good step in
that direction, but I ordered mine over a month ago and haven't got anything
yet.  Besides, it's not open source and is based on the MX614 (no 300 baud,
9600 baud, or DTMF capability.)

I'm making progress on my ARM7-based unit, but again, I could really use
help with the DSP code for the demodulator.  Or at least a pointer to a good
reference implementation using integer math.  I know some HamHUD folks have
been talking about the same thing - if you're good at DSP, here's your
chance to write some code (GPL or BSD license preferred) and help out the
community.

A quick update on my project - FreeRTOS has been ported to the AT91SAM7S64
chip and I've got it working on my demo board.  I'll probably use it in the
TNC, so it'll have some decent preemptive multitasking capabilities.  Should
make software design easier.  Also, pricing info is coming out for the
chips, and it looks like the 'S64 will be around $6 in reasonable
quantities, and the 'S256 about twice that.  Not bad, since in a design like
the uTNC or TNC-X you can eliminate both the RS-232/USB converter and the
MX614 and its crystal.  Power consumption is higher on the ARM7 devices than
some micros, but still better than a typical single board computer you might
run digi_ned on.

Scott
N1VG