[aprssig] VARAtrack Updates Posted to My Web Site

[Stephen H Smith]

I have just posted an updated version of the install image for the VARAtrack 
stick PC setup to my web site.  Details of the VARAtrack  APRS-over-VARA  setup 
on the inexpensive "stick" PC is here on my website:

<http://WA8LMF.net/VARA>

Look for the VARAtrack link on this page.

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I have incorporated several updates and fixes to the VARAtrack installation:

 1. I have discovered that the stick PCs do not have a battery-backed 
    real-time clock that maintains timekeeping when the device is not powered.
    They are dependent on "phoning home" to a time server on the Internet on
    each boot, to set the current time.   If you don't have an Internet
    connection, such as in mobile tracker operation, you have to set the time
    manually.

    I have added a useful tool, *BktTimeSync* by IZ2BKT to the VARAtrack
    setup.  This utility attempts to set the time from an Internet time source.
    If it is unable to do so, it automatically tries to set the clock from GPS
    instead.  (In mobile tracker service, one would have a GPS receiver
    connected.)  I have integrated BktTimeSync to use the same serial port data
    splitter that is already providing GPS data to both the APRS client program
    (UIview) and to a GPS status monitor app (Visual GPS).


 2. Among one of many useful features of UIview is the ability to overlay US
    National Weather Service warning zones on APRS maps in real time.  These
    are transparent polygons that are triggered by messages sent over the APRS
    Internet Server system (a.k.a. the "APRS-IS").  The files containing these
    overlays are stored locally on your computer.  The outlines, stored in .ZIP
    files, are updated by the NWS twice a year in March and October.  Details
    on how these work is here on my website:

    <http://WA8LMF.net/aprs/get_nws_shapefiles.htm>

    For the last two months, I have been trying to figure out why the warnings
    stopped working after the March 2026 updates of the NWS "shape files". It
    now turns out the NWS posted a corrupted version of the county outlines
    shape files to their web site. A revised version of the county-outline
    shape files was posted a month later in April. I have now placed the
    revised NWS shape files in the new VARAtrack image.


 3. Several minor utilities I provide in the VARAtrack setup have been updated.
    Some obsolete "junk" settings in the UIview folder of the VARAtrack image
    have been removed. A useful UIview "plug-in", *UI-HeightTrack*, has been
    added. This add-on draws track lines for specified mobiles as they move.
    Additionally, it can color-code the track line based on altitude if the
    mobile is transmitting this information in APRS beacons.   This looks very
    impressive for tracking balloon launches, or on road trips across the
    western mountains. (As I do a couple of times each summer.) UI-HeightTrack
    is accessed from the pull-down "File" menu inside UIview.


 4. The version of "WindowsPE" (Windows Preboot Environment) used to make the
    flash drive bootable has been updated to reflect some security certificate
    changes issued by Microsoft in April.

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Go to:

     <*http://WA8LMF.net/VARA/VARAtrack/index2.htm*>

to download the updated image.


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Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com

EchoLink:  Node #  14400  [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Home Page: http://wa8lmf.net

Live APRS Mapping on HF & VHF
<http://WA8LMF.net/map>

"Studio B" Ham Shack on Wheels
<http://WA8LMF.net/Aliner>

-- APRS over VARA  --
<http://wa8lmf.net/VARA/APRSoverVARA>

*HF    APRS-over-VARA   Frequencies
   40M   7.083.5  USB       30M   10.148.2  USB *


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