[aprssig] Mobile Off-Air Display

[Charles Bland]

Dallas,

You did nail it that this is a RX-only requirement. We already have
trackers on the cars.

I had forgot about APRSDroid. That may indeed be a viable solution.

Thanks, Dallas, and to everyone else that has chimed-in.

Chuck

On Mon, Aug 10, 2015 at 11:11 AM, Dallas Clements via aprssig <
aprssig at tapr.org> wrote:

> Chuck,
>
> Several options have been shared so far to help you with your bike race.
> I've used AvMap, WinBooks, Bluetooth TNCs, and soft TNCs. All have their
> merits, but if you're looking for something that will be less expensive to
> procure for multiple assistance vehicles and rest stops, I'd recommend
> simply hooking an Android tablet or phone via audio cable to a HT. The app
> APRSDroid has a connection protocol labeled "AFSK via Speaker/Mic" that
> will decode the received packets heard on the radio and overlay them on a
> map on the Android device's screen. The option to use an Offline Street Map
> is there and with the device's built in GPS, you know where you are in
> relation to the objects that you're receiving.
>
> Simple. Inexpensive.
>
> If you wanted to transmit, too, I'd recommend a more capable radio than a
> HT, but it sounds like you're just trying to bring situational awareness to
> more people. That being the case, the wattage of the device is irrelevant.
> Depending on your peer group, it's not hard to find people who have an
> older Android device gathering dust in their home from the last upgrade
> cycle or two. That leaves your cost at $4.99 for the app and whatever money
> you spend making cables. I'm assuming finding HTs and mag mount antennas to
> borrow will also not be a problem within your local club.
>
> This setup that I'm describing is the entry level APRS rig that we use to
> get new amateurs in our club exposed to APRS. After they use it for a few
> weeks, they tend to upgrade to something with more transmit power. However,
> for your purposes, it may be ideal.
>
> Here's the "how-to" we wrote for our club. It has a wiring diagram for
> Wouxun, Baofeng, and some Kenwood HTs.
>
> http://www.wcares.org/?page_id=2677
>
> Dallas Clements
> K7DCC
>
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: Charles Bland <root at blandranch.net>
>> To: aprssig at tapr.org
>> Cc:
>> Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2015 17:25:00 -0700
>> Subject: [aprssig] Mobile Off-Air Display
>> I'd like to get the latest opinion from this group about putting together
>> a simple mobile APRS display solution.
>>
>> Our local club does a couple of bike events each year. We have an ad-hoc
>> network to support our trackers over the course area. I have been turning
>> my attention toward broader use of the info. For example, our rest stops
>> now have displays, and we run a Public Info table so that we can make event
>> participants aware of what we do and how we do it.
>>
>> I am now turning my attention to our radio operators in the sag wagons.
>> For insurance purposes, the bike club provides the cars and drivers. The
>> radio op rides shotgun, using a Go-Box that has battery assist so that the
>> cigarette lighter adapter isn't doing the heavy TX lifting and can be
>> shared for other uses.
>>
>> I'd like to have simple, non-transmitting display setup so that the
>> operator can "look" around the course as he has need. I'm not sure where to
>> start looking for commercial solutions, if there are any at all. I also
>> have been wondering, given the abundance of R-PI hardware, if a R-PI and
>> display would be enough to run something like YACC. A simple RX and antenna
>> would be enough, and the package could be small enough to occupy little of
>> the precious space in the vehicle and not pose a safety issue. Even nicer
>> if it could be on the dash.
>>
>> So, what do you folks know? How would you approach such a requirement?
>>
>> Chuck
>> NA6BR
>>
>>
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