[aprssig] Hardware for new APRS Digi?

[Herb Gerhardt]

I run Alinco 130 and Alinco 140 radios.  Seem to work pretty good until your
antenna gets hit by lightening.  Then the radio will be toast despite all
the grounding and lightning protection.  Yes the site owner will usually
insist on at least notch filters and commercial antenna.  We did try a ham
antenna the first year we put the SOMTN digi up, it not only did not survive
the winter but the radio transmitting into no antenna caused the radio to
blow too.....  So if you are on a mountain top, do it right.  I would not
recommend any set up that needs a computer since most mountain top sites, at
least around here, do not have access for a good six months in the
winter.....  Computers are prone to crash, power is prone to fail and you
don't want to go back up there to get it all going again.

The KPC3+ has proved to be just about bullet proof and generally will run
for several years without needing any attention.  Be sure to set it up for
remote access so you can do some reprogramming should it be required.  You
can find the KPC3+ settings on our web site below.

Herb, KB7UVC
NW APRS Group, West Sound Coordinator
Our WEB Site:  http://www.nwaprs.info


> -----Original Message-----
> From: aprssig-bounces at tapr.org [mailto:aprssig-bounces at tapr.org]On
> Behalf Of Kent Hufford
> Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 12:43 PM
> To: 'TAPR APRS Mailing List'
> Subject: [aprssig] Hardware for new APRS Digi?
>
>
> I've setup a Digi/IGATE using a KPC-3+, a FT-1500 and a dedicated laptop.
> They seem to work great together.
>
> In the county we need to setup two more standalone Digi's. My initial idea
> is KPC-3+ and FT-1802, since they don't make the FT-1500 anymore.
>
> What seems to be the standard digi setup right now? I don't want to add a
> PC/laptop to the mix, and I don't need them to IGATE. Using D700s or D710s
> would be a waste at the locations we are planning on.
>
> thanks in advance
> Kent
> KQ4KK