[CRAPRS] My APRS adventure -another update-

[Jerry Pasker]

Well, I've got a digi running, (KB0QCL) with a Radio Shack HTX-242 
and a Kantronics KPC3, with an 8.2 version ROM supplied by Ron, 
K0QVF.  It can only reach in to K0HAM-10, and is only running on a 
5/8th wave stuck to some steel lawn furniture on my deck that puts it 
at about 5 feet off the ground.  I was having a problem with getting 
it to do WIDE1-1 and WIDE2-2 but I've now got that sorted out, and 
it's doing the N-n correctly now.

Getting the digi running was fun.  I think I enjoy things that 
require a command line to configure.

Just when I had it running and stable though, I had to take my shack 
off line for nearly a month as my batteries and power supplies moved 
in to a hunting cabin.  But now they're back.

This spring when things thaw, I'll definitely be moving the digi to a 
tower near Cascade.

I've got two OpenTrackers, and two Garmin 18LVC GPSes, and they are 
all excellent pieces of hardware from Argent Data Systems.   All the 
Tracker cabling and harnesses I'm using though came from Byonics. 
The trackers are set as KB0QCL-8 in my truck, and KD0EWX in my wife's 
suburban.  Both are using HTs at 5 watts, transmitting in to low end 
mobile antennas.  Only having one antenna on each vehicle rather 
limits their use though.

I've been using the AP03 Automatic Power Off boxes from 
aprsworld.net, and I can't recommend them enough. No more forgetting 
to turn stuff on or off.  Those things are way cool.  Eventually I'll 
have them on all my radios.

I've learned that using an HT in a vehicle as a tracker, with an 
internal whip antenna is pretty much useless beyond anything more 
than a few miles from a digi.  So an external antenna is definitely a 
requirement.  I've read that 40 watts is a requirement too, but so 
far, I'm fairly happy with 5.

I've got an HT that has bad finals (I think... without a power meter, 
I can't be certain) and that was the transmitter that was going to 
fly in the balloon project.  As long as it puts out a few dozen 
milliwatts it should still work out OK I think.  That project is 
nearly ready to go also.  I've got the battery box, tracker, radio, 
radar reflector, and the balloon itself all ready to go.  There will 
be no test flight as I don't think I will ever get it to land without 
getting ripped up, and even if I tether fly it, I don't think I can 
get it pulled down and "stripped"  in to a bag if I warm inflate it. 
So it's flight will be a one time gig.

My payload package was going to be test flown on a manned hot air 
balloon (TinkerToo or Puff Proud Papa) to test it out. I was never 
able to integrate the package and test fly it on a hot air balloon, 
as the hot air balloon pilot who's balloon crew I am on had her 
flying season cut short by the colder than normal fall.  I'm still 
open to suggestions on what to use as a lightweight antenna. 
Anything will be better than the scrap if wire I'm using now.

So that project is going to wait until spring when I can test fly the 
tracker payload on a manned balloon (guaranteed to get it back!)  to 
see how well or *IF* the radio will put out enough signal in to 
enough digis to make it work using.

I'm on my way to running an iGate, and I've started down the path of 
actually trying to use some local APRS software, but UIView, being a 
typical windows program, changed all the settings in my digi without 
asking.  Major turn off.  Xastir is unavailable, as are MacAPRS and 
WinAPRS.   Looking for APRS software is depressing, as it's mostly 
just a large collection of dead links to software and websites that 
don't exist anymore.

So what does anyone recommend for local APRS software?  Preferably 
something that I can put on a dedicated machine to run as an iGate. 
Any suggestions?

-Jerry