[aprssig] Alinco DR-135TP

[scott at opentrac.org]

> For transmit-only tracker operation, you are FAR better off with a 
> TinyTrack or OpenTrack connected to any old two-meter rig.  These 
> devices not only transmit compressed formats, they also incorporate 
> smart beaconing that varies the beacon rate based on how rapidly your 
> position changes.

The DR-135T (the version without the TNC board) is still a good option for
use with an external tracker.  $169, nice big display, 50 watt output.  I
like my TM-271A also, but it's harder to wire up for APRS.  The 135 has all
of the required signals on the DB9 connector.

As soon as the connector vendor comes through with some cable assembly
samples, I'm going to test out a Tracker2 board in an internal
configuration, in place of the DR-135TP's TNC board.  The board will
probably be a little bigger than the prototype shown here:

http://n1vg.net/opentracker/images/ot2-c6.jpg

This'll give the 135 more advanced 2-way tracking capability than the D700,
plus WIDEn-n digipeating and KISS.  It won't do 9600 baud, and the buffer is
too small to be much good for TCP/IP, but for half the price of a D700 it
should be pretty useful.  I'm really looking forward to being able to offer
a solution that doesn't require the user to come up with the radio cabling.

Scott
N1VG