[aprssig] Announcing the VARAtrack APRS-over-VARA APRS Tracker

[KF4LVZ]

Given the increasingly hostile behavior of Microsoft against users of 
Windows, why is this still a Windows-only capability?

What is special about the VARA protocol that is preventing its 
conversion to something that could be run using Linux or other hardware 
solution like an FPGA?

On 2026-04-18 12:54, Stephen H Smith via aprssig wrote:
> Several years and 15,000 miles of  road-trip drive-testing,  using the 
> VARA high-performance HF modem alongside traditional AX.25 HF packet,  
> has shown VARA to be orders of magnitude superior for reliably 
> transmitting APRS position reports on HF.
> 
> VARA exists exclusively as a Windows-based sound-card  "soft modem" - 
> the only way to do APRS-over-VARA has been to use a mobile laptop or 
> Windows tablet in the vehicle. No simple hardware-only solution 
> analogous to the Byonics TinyTrack for classic packet exists.
> 
> Recently, very inexpensive (starting at USD $139) tiny Windows-based 
> ultra-compact computers known as "stick PCs" have become available. 
> These devices are very small fully-functional 64-bit Intel-based quad- 
> core PCs. They include 4 USB-C ports, 1GB Ethernet port, WiFi 5, 
> Bluetooth 5, a Realtek HD sound system, and 4K-capable HDMI video. 
> Further, these devices run directly from 12 VDC, making them ideal for 
> mobile applications!
> 
> These devices are widely used to drive the 42" monitors displaying menus 
> over the counter at fast-food places, and in airports for displaying 
> incoming and outgoing flights.  I have now one setup one to operate as a 
> stand-alone APRS-over-VARA tracker.
> 
> Full details on the VARAtrack setup are on  my website at:
> 
> <http://WA8LMF.net/VARA>
> 
> Scroll down the page and follow the link on that page for "The 
> VARAtrack".   Near the bottom of the VARAtrack page is a link to 
> download a backup image file of my entire setup that can be used to 
> restore the entire setup to another similar stick PC.
> 
> I will demonstrating the VARAtrack at the Dayton Hamvention at my radio 
> trailer aka "Studio B" in the Emergency Comms Vehicles Expo.\
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 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
>    40M   7.083.5  USB       30M   10.148.2  USB
> 
> 
> -
> 
> 
> 
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