[aprssig] Mobile Off-Air Display

[Steve Dimse]

Another option is to use a web page. For example I do a custom page for the Baker to Vegas run each year. It not only shows positions but figures out the leg on which each team is, and the position in that leg, and sorts the list. At one point this was the largest APRS even, though the use of trackers has fallen off in the last few years, presumably do to use of smart phone trackers which are easier for non-technical teams to implement.

http://b2v.findu.com

Boring without someone on the course! The maps are deliberately simple, in this case an APRSdos map, so as to make the positions stand out. 

I'm not anxious to put this kind of effort into a new event, but findU has features that let you put up a map to suit your needs and create your own pages. With geo files you can create any sort of map you would like to put under the tracked position, list multiple callsigns to put on the map (or if you on't care about non-event station showing up use 'call=*' to see everything.

The advantage of this approach is you can email a URL and everyone with a smartphone can see it, no need to install and configure an app. I'm sure aprs.fi has similar features.

Steve K4HG


On Aug 10, 2015, at 12:40 PM, Charles Bland via aprssig <aprssig at tapr.org> wrote:

> We do have Apple users in our ranks. I'll keep an eye on this.
> 
> Chuck
> 
> On Mon, Aug 10, 2015 at 11:40 AM, Stephen H. Smith via aprssig <aprssig at tapr.org> wrote:
> On 8/10/2015 1:11 PM, Dallas Clements via aprssig 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.
> 
> There is a similar app for Apple i-Gadgets.  Despite it's name "Pocket Packet", it's a full-blown APRS app with a mic/speaker soft TNC, messaging and TCP/IP igating. capabilities. It's main deficiency is that it depends on Google Maps online for the mapping display.  there is (at least for now) no provision for off-line maps cached locally.
> 
> I am hoping that ultimately the author may integrate support for "Pocket Earth", another app which uses Open Street Maps in VECTOR form (i.e. fully zoomable and scalable).  You can download and store locally any part of the world.  The download dialog looks like a directory tree where you drill down by continent, then country, then state/province, major metro area etc.  I have ALL of the US and Canada at street level parked in about 1.7GB on my iPad and iPod Touch.
> 
> i-Gadgets with cellular data have an actual built-in full hardware GPS (i.e. not dependent on cellular assisted GPS) that both Pocket Packet and Pocket Earth can use.   iPads and iPod touch devices WITHOUT cellular do NOT have a built-in GPS.  For these, I use the Dual GPS150 external Bluetooth GPS.   This GPS is a very versatile device that can be switched between Apple's proprietary GPS format for i-Gadgets, and standard NMEA for Windows devices.
> 
> _____________________________________________________________
> 
> 
> --
> 
> Stephen H. Smith    wa8lmf (at) aol.com
> Skype:        WA8LMF
> EchoLink:  Node #  14400  [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
> Home Page:          http://wa8lmf.net
> 
> Live Off-The-Air APRS Activity Maps
>   <http://wa8lmf.net/map>
> 
> Long-Range APRS on 30 Meters HF
>   <http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/HF_APRS_Notes.htm>
> 
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