[aprssig] Drone aprs

[Lynn W. Deffenbaugh (Mr)]

If you can run your own local IGate on an alternate frequency, there's a 
new MT-400 from VHS Products. From the MicroTrak Yahoo group on 4/3/2013:

> I have just placed a photo in the photo section of the group of the new MT-400. This is the first completed prototype, and we expect to have them in stock about the end of May. This replaces the single channel MT-300.The MT-400 ( so named because of its 400 mW+ output) is frequency agile, and offers a connector to mate with the Byonics GPS-4, high altitude OEM GPS(PCB level product; no magnet or plastic case) which will switch the GPS on prior to a scheduled transmission, and  massively increase the run time on any given power supply. The board has mounting pads for a DB-9, which will be included, but not mounted, since many of you will not want the weight or bulk of the DB-9. It is set up to allow programming through the DB-9 connector ( or the through-holes mounted next to the pads) and like most TT3 style devices, the DB-9 is wired with the TR and RX pins swapped, and +5 power out of the DB-9, so its plug and play compatible with the GPS-2 and GPS-4 ( And most other serial GPS receivers for that matter) This meas you will still need a null modem/gender changer cable for programming. Power through the DB-9 connector is not switched. The board measures 3.910 long by 1 inch wide.Even with all the improvements over the old MT-300, we expect the price to be comparable. The MT-400 will be able to run any of the software Byon writes for the PIC 16F1827, so you will be able to downlaod a WxTrak, FOX, and TinyPack version when/if they are available and reload the software to different versions as often as you wish.
>
> 73,
>
> Allen AF6OF

And the photo:

IMG_1114


My first APRS device was an MT-300 which was a complete mistake for 
terrestrial use on the national frequency, but I could see such a 
tracker being very applicable on a dedicated frequency for quad copter 
tracking.  You could even have multiple trackers on different copters 
sharing a local frequency w/local IGate support, possibly even a 
cross-frequency digipeater?  The key to low power is local line-of-sight 
between transmitter and receiver and a non-busy channel to remove 
contention.

Lynn (D) - KJ4ERJ - Author of APRSISCE for Windows Mobile and Win32



On 4/13/2013 9:25 PM, Andrew Rich wrote:
> Hello
>
> Getting into quad copters
>
> What is small and suitable ?
>
> Maybe some HAB gear ?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> Andrew Rich
> _______________________________________________
> aprssig mailing list
> aprssig at tapr.org
> http://www.tapr.org/mailman/listinfo/aprssig
>



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.tapr.org/pipermail/aprssig_lists.tapr.org/attachments/20130415/e965307c/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: IMG_1114.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 28806 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.tapr.org/pipermail/aprssig_lists.tapr.org/attachments/20130415/e965307c/attachment.jpg>