[aprssig] Quick APRS hardware survey (APRS Hotspot)

[Scott Miller]

I was thinking about later on writing at least a basic APRS mapping 
client that would be served entirely off of the device.  The device 
would be mostly limited to handing data to the browser-based client in 
JSON form, though - it doesn't have a lot of server-side resources.  
There are Javascript-based OpenStreetMaps renderers out there so 
conceivably all of the heavy lifting could be done by the client, but I 
just don't have the time to devote to writing a new client.

Scott
N1VG

On 6/22/2017 12:12 PM, Greg Trasuk wrote:
> Working on it…
>
> https://github.com/trasukg/local-aprs
>
> As it stands now, I’m running a Pi in my house that has a connection to a TNC and 2M radio.  The tnc is shared out using my share-tnc utility (https://github.com/trasukg/share-tnc) and can actually be used as a full , shared TNC by APRSIS32 or YAAC (yes, multiple clients on the shared TNC works just fine, so long as they have different call signs/SSIDs).  You could also run APRX as a digipeater if you wanted, I suppose.  I’m working on a portable setup with the Pi, a sound-card interface, and a Motorola GM300 in one box.
>
> In addition, any plain old web browser can access a web page that has a running log of packets (updated continuously over a web-socket connection).  I’m in the process of writing a web-based APRS client that could be used by everyone in LAN range.  The goal is to let anyone use a read-only version, and then let authorized users (who have a call-sign and SSID) use it in two-way mode to exchange messages and status.
>
> If anybody wants to help out, give me a shout.  It’s all in JavaScript using Node.js, which is reasonably accessible to today’s developers.  The web client side is AngularJS, again in JavaScript.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Greg Trasuk, VA3TSK
>
>> On Jun 22, 2017, at 1:41 PM, Robert Bruninga <bruninga at usna.edu> wrote:
>>
>> Does this already exist?
>>
>> A Raspberry Pi WiFi hotspot connected to a local APRS radio.  The Pi is a
>> server delivering WEB pages to everyone in 1000 feet showing the APRS
>> tactical situation that the radio is monitoring.
>>
>> This is for ALL people in the field with hand held devices to be able to see
>> the tactical situation on their handheld device.  No internet anywhere is
>> needed.
>>
>> I am really impressed with what the OUTERNET people did.  The difference is
>> that their "radio" montors the INMARSAT downlinks (anywhere on earth) and
>> serve up the content (which includes an APRS channel).
>> See http://aprs.org/outnet.html
>>
>> The stock WiFi antenna is only good for a few hundred feet range, but
>> soldering on a 1.5" piece of wire as the WiFi antenna high and in the clear
>> easily  got to 1000' radius.  Enough to cover things like Dayton Hamvention
>> for example.
>>
>> Bob, WB4APR
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: aprssig [mailto:aprssig-bounces at tapr.org] On Behalf Of Scott Miller
>> Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2017 1:30 AM
>> To: aprssig at tapr.org
>> Subject: [aprssig] Quick APRS hardware survey
>>
>> As some of you know, I haven't been very active in the ham world for the
>> last three years or so.  That's mostly because a sideline project building
>> LED hula hoops (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn-AP8DP254)
>> really took off. We've moved to a larger shop, hired more people, and
>> acquired some cool new production equipment, but the
>> OpenTracker/Tracker3 line has been basically in maintenance mode.
>>
>> The ADS-SR2 project, that started out as a dual-port successor to the
>> ADS-SR1 simplex repeater, is my main development focus now. It's snowballed
>> into a multi-function thing with simplex, cross-band, and duplex voice
>> repeater support, and I'm merging all of the major functions of the Tracker3
>> into it.  It has a full-fledged BASIC interpreter with a high-level command
>> for manipulating voice traffic and APRS packet and support for Modbus RTU
>> (and yes, I'll probably add
>> 1-wire) for sensors and relays. I've got a partially-working Echolink client
>> running on it.  It has Wi-Fi support and is web configurable, does IGating,
>> has a telnet server and client, and can work in access point mode so you
>> could use your mobile phone to access your VHF-connected mobile hotspot and
>> do APRS text messaging, and maybe even gate mail from a standard mobile
>> email client through Winlink eventually.
>>
>> I keep growing in different directions with it, but I really need to nail
>> down specs for a hardware version or two and the initial software release.
>> I'm curious what everyone's most interested in. The full-size Tracker3, the
>> OT3m, has really slacked off in sales. The embeddable T3-Mini sells
>> considerably more.  I think the market for a device like the T3 without
>> network connectivity is pretty well saturated already.
>> There's a lot to be done in the network-connected device arena, and there
>> could be a much smaller version, potentially with a built-in 1-watt
>> transceiver.
>>
>> What would *you* be most interested in, in terms of new embedded APRS
>> hardware?  What do you want to accomplish that's too much hassle or expense
>> with the existing options?
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Scott
>> N1VG
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