New version of APRS Messenger v2.99...

I've uploaded a beta version of APRS Messenger v2.99 to the website
and forum files section.

This version has some major changes so I've sent this out as a Special
Notice email.

It can now use comm ports up to 255 to connect to an external TNC or
GPS. Our new USB version of the APRS TNC Digi Tracker works well with
it.

It can also connect to the AX25-SCS DSP TNC program in receive only
mode. This allows it to be used for receiving 300 bd AX.25 APRS
signals while monitoring APRS over digimodes on 30m. It also works on
1200 bd too so it could be used for example ISS APRS monitoring on one
receiver while working on terrestrial APRS with another.

When the AX25-SCS program is opened, the "Activate APRS-SCS support"
button clicked and the 300 or 1200 bd data rate selected via the
"Mode" tab you can now click on the command bar in APRS Messenger
v2.99 just above the
"TNC traffic or GPS NMEA sentences" text box and the connection will
open and the AX25-SCS program will start decoding APRS data on
receiver audio fed into the default sound card of the PC.

If the TCP/IP connection is lost, close and re-start AX25-SCS again.
Clicking the command bar will not re-start
the connection to AX25-SCS as it is still thinks the connection is open.

This feature used software copied from the now unsupported APRS-SCS
program written by John Blowsky, KB2SCS that originally worked with
the AX25-SCS program.

The AX25-SCS can be downloaded here:

http://www.tapr.org/~kb2scs/scs01.html

At the request of Colin, GM0SUY I've also added a received message
output on TCP/IP local port 8064 so that APRS messages can be output
to other programs for analysis. This is to be used for 4x4 and car
rallying events in Scotland.

The only reason I'm calling it a beta version is that the program
doesn't completely close down when it's closed. It remains in RAM and
has to be closed down completely with the Windows Task manager.

Maybe the fix will be version 3.00!

73,

Chris, G4HYG

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/cross_country_wireless/

SmartBeaconing in Aircraft

Good path advice...

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <ve6srv@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [tracker2] Re: SmartBeaconing in Aircraft

Low data rates are a good thing, but a very important part of being a
courteous airborne user is the outgoing path.

WIDE1-1 should never be used as you have better HAAT than just about
every other station out there. You'll find through observation that
using no path at all will still get you heard over a very large area.
Since the OT2 has the ability to profile change based on altitude, I
would configure the unit to use no path at altitude, and WIDE2-1 down
near the ground.

Your decision altitude will need to be based on the terrain you fly
over, but with our balloon payloads flying over flat terrain can be
heard by stations hundreds of miles away by the time they are 500 ft
AGL. We have been flying balloons with no path on the last few flights
and having no problems hearing, tracking and recovering. The i-gates
pass the data with no problems, and we have little trouble finding the
landing location. There's usually no APRS infrastructure in the
recovery zone to light up with a path even if we did use one.

James
VE6SRV

Oba, JA7UDE, the author of U2APRS is OK

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Chris <chrism@crosscountrywireless.net>

I've just received the following email from Oba, JA7UDE, the author of
the U2APRS program for the Android phone.

----

Thanks for writing. My family and I have "by chance" survived and are
now safe at home. My QTH is only 7km to the area that Tsunami hit.
Considering the tremendous damages, I have lost my words.

73
Oba
JA7UDE

Oba's website is still working:

http://aobajoke.no-ip.org/~ja7ude/japanese/u2aprs10/indexe.html

IRLP SCRIPT TO SHOW NODE STATUS ON APRS

GM to the nwaprs group:

If you have an IRLP node, please consider running this script on the
node computer. This will add your node icon to the APRS-IS, and change
from an I (Idle) overlay to C (connected) overlay.

http://irlp.kc6hur.net/irlp_scripts.php

After you have done this, you can adjust your home station setting to
GATE this status to RF. If you're using UI-View, go to the FILE menu
and pull down EDIT IGATE.INI and add your node in this format
"IRLP-####" to the GATE TO RF. You will receive status changes over RF
when your IRLP node is active, and again idle.
To avoid duplicity, if you are transmitting your node info from a
WIDEn-N digi or as an object from within APRS, please remember to
remove that entry as it's no longer needed.

David K7GPS

Can we use satellite digipeater for power outage region?

One alternative for you may be to use HF APRS over digimodes.

I've written a program to do this and it can also be used by a mobile
station with a GPS receiver to send position beacons many miles away
using PSK and GMSK modes. The usual frequency used for this is 10.1497
MHz. There are igates in the US, Australia and Europe already using this
APRS mode.

It's written using MMVARI as the sound card engine and it should be able
to send Japanese characters entered as APRS messages.

The webpage is:

http://www.crosscountrywireless.net/aprs_messenger.htm

Set up details are available on:

http://wa8lmf.net/APRS_PSK63/index.htm

If you try it and you need any changes please let me know and I will
respond immediately.

73,

Chris, G4HYG

--
Cross Country Wireless Ltd
Website: http://www.crosscountrywireless.net

New USB version of the APRS TNC Digi Tracker now released

We have now built up enough stock to finally release the new USB
version of our APRS TNC Digi Tracker.

It now has a USB port so that it can work with modern laptops,
notebooks and PCs.

It can be powered by either the 12V input on the 9 way D type radio
port or by the 5V feed through the USB port. This makes it very easy
to use with a notebook and handheld. The Digi Tracker is powered
through the USB cable and the Tx, Rx audio and PTT lines are connected
to the handheld radio.

It comes with a built in Sirf III GPS receiver with a SMA connector
for an external GPS antenna.

I've been using the prototype in my car over the last six months as a
tracker. It's fun to have the option to plug a USB cable between the
Digi Tracker and notebook for lunchtime portable APRS operation.

I've updated the web page with more details and an Operating Manual of
the USB version:

http://www.crosscountrywireless.net/aprs_tnc.htm

I've also made a new web page for the APRS Messenger Lite freeware
program that can program the new version using any PC Comm port up to
Comm 255 and also run as a receive only igate as well. The new web
page is:

http://www.crosscountrywireless.net/aprs_messenger_lite.htm

73,

Chris, G4HYG