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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671031821-24062013><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>I posted a message about 6 months ago about experiments with
the RFM22B (100 mW) and RFM23BP (1 Watt modules). I also obtained a couple of
the RFM12B (500 mw) units, but I found the interface much more difficult, and
would recommend the 22/23 modules. I made a board for the Raspberry PI, and it
seemed to work pretty well. and at $25 seems reasonable, but for a simple dig
function the code could probalby run on the PIC.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671031821-24062013><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671031821-24062013></SPAN><SPAN
class=671031821-24062013><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>As I do a lot of
sailing in the summer, the project has been put on hold till the Autumn, but if
anyone is interested in preogressing the ideas, I can publish the board
design and code.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671031821-24062013><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671031821-24062013><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>To save you trawling throught the archive, I'vr repeated the
message below.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671031821-24062013><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671031821-24062013><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>73, John G8BPQ</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671031821-24062013><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=671031821-24062013><SPAN lang=EN-GB>
<P>A while ago (22 September) Bob posted a message about the RFM22 modules. I
was working on a TNC for the Raspberry PI at the time, so decided to try
building a TNC round these modules. There is a photo of the result here</P>
<P></SPAN><A href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/31910649/RMF22BTNC.png"><U><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
lang=EN-GB>https://dl.dropbox.com/u/31910649/RMF22BTNC.png</U></FONT></FONT></SPAN></A></P><SPAN
lang=EN-GB>
<P><FONT size=2>The board is the same size as the PI (about the same as a credit
card). This one is fitted with the RFM22B module, with 100 mW output, but the
board will also take the 1 Watt RFM23BP. Although desi<SPAN
class=671031821-24062013>g</SPAN>ned to work with the PI, it al<SPAN
class=671031821-24062013>s</SPAN>o has a header for a serial to US<SPAN
class=671031821-24062013>B</SPAN> converter, so it can be used as a standalone
KISS TNC.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2>To test as a tracker I lashed up a board to connect the Adafruit
Ultimate GPS Breakout board. Photo here:</FONT></P>
<P></SPAN><A href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/31910649/S1360001.jpg"><U><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
lang=EN-GB>https://dl.dropbox.com/u/31910649/S1360001.jpg</U></FONT></FONT></SPAN></A></P><FONT
size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB>
<P>I've now got them running, and just completed my first tests. On the first
trial with the 100mW version I achieved a range of just under a mile, with a</P>
<P>5/8 over 5/8 70cms whip on the car, and a far from ideal Marine Band whip at
base (The 70 cms colinear I bought for the test turned out to have an infinite
SWR!).</P>
<P>Although very much a work in progress, I thought I'd share results so far -
if anyone else is working with these modules I'd be interested to hear from
them.</P>
<P>BTW, the GPS module is pretty neat as well - it is about an inch square, and
includes a data logger - </FONT></SPAN><A
href="https://www.adafruit.com/products/746"><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
lang=EN-GB>https://www.adafruit.com/products/746</U></FONT></FONT></SPAN></A></P><FONT
size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB>
<P>73, John G8BPQ</P>
<P> </P></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> aprssig-bounces@tapr.org
[mailto:aprssig-bounces@tapr.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Robert
Bruninga<BR><B>Sent:</B> 24 June 2013 13:55<BR><B>To:</B>
aprssig@tapr.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [aprssig] APRS-B?<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal>I’m impressed with the 500 mw transceivers on 433 MHz costing
$20 or so and operating at 9600 baud.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Why don’t we call this APRS-B (plan B). And start
paralleling our network with these devices.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Then instead of only 5% of hams having APRS capability, we
could get more people in the clubs to own a device and also to put one up at
home so we have a backup data channel as well?</P>
<P class=MsoNormal> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Maybe lots of you are doing this alrady and I am the last one
to the party. But whatever we do, lets standardize on something so we are
all headed in the same direction.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>These are wideband devices, so they are not compatible with
any existing APRS or other ham FM radios. That is why it is a fresh
start. What is the sync and key up time?</P>
<P class=MsoNormal> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Sure the range of 500mw is small, but at only 10% of the cost
of a digi we can put them at more and closer places and even solar power
them.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Bob, WB4APR</P>
<P class=MsoNormal> </P></DIV></BODY></HTML>