[aprssig] Economical APRS

[Scott Miller]

Yes, if you load up the KISS firmware.  There are some out there being 
used as IGates.  I wouldn't put it head to head with a KPC-3+ (the 
demodulator is in software on an 8-bit MCU at 7.3 MHz!) but if you've 
got a good signal from the local digipeater it works quite well.

You can remove all of the init/exit TNC commands from your application. 
  Once the KISS firmware is loaded, it's purely a KISS TNC, no need to 
configure anything.  Switching back to the tracker (or weather) firmware 
takes under 30 seconds with the config program.  All of the firmware 
versions are freely available, of  course.

Scott
N1VG

Joseph M. Durnal wrote:
> can the OpenTracker+ kits be used at a home station with a PC with
> software like UIVIEW & XASTIR?  If so, that would be ideal!
> 
> On Mon, Jul 28, 2008 at 1:24 PM, Scott Miller <scott at opentrac.org> wrote:
>> Most of the traditional TNCs aren't that great as APRS trackers anyway.
>>  You're still better off with a dedicated tracker.  I sell the
>> OpenTracker+ assembled for $46 or as a kit for $32.  Byonics sells the
>> TinyTrak3+ for $47 assembled and $38 as a kit.  The OpenTracker+ is
>> closer in functionality to the TinyTrak4, which is $65 as a kit.  My
>> Tracker2 does considerably more than that for $95 assembled, but the
>> enclosure manufacturer screwed up on one of the metal pieces and I'm out
>> of stock for at least a few more days.
>>
>> Kits are still the cheapest way to get into it if they can tolerate some
>> soldering.  For 10 units, the price of the OT1+ kit drops to $25, so
>> it's a good deal for club buys.
>>
>> https://www.argentdata.com/products/otplus.html
>>
>> Scott
>> N1VG
>>
>> Joseph M. Durnal wrote:
>>> I built my first APRS station for less than $100.  But it seems with
>>> the popularity of APRS & Winlink that used TNCs are priced much higher
>>> than they were 3 years ago.  Any suggestions from the group on ways to
>>> get new hams on APRS without spending a lot of money?  Most of the
>>> interested parties I've talked to won't be comfortable building
>>> interfaces, maybe not even cables, we'll see.  I had a couple of local
>>> hams tune into http://aprs.fi this weekend while we were using APRS to
>>> manage the SAG vehicles for the cycle across Maryland event, now they
>>> want to do more!  I hope to get them participating in the network
>>> sooner than later.  I never new that the web site would be a good tool
>>> to get folks interested!
>>>
>>> Thanks & 73 de Joseph Durnal NE3R
>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
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