[OZAPRS] APRS newbie, equipment recommendations

[WILSON Jim]

Thanks Bob,
Sounds good. I'll have to look into APRStt more. Should be good for some
other projects as-well.
Does anyone have schematics for a dtmf encoder? If I use this setup, I'd
like to interface with a picaxe so they can hit a button and the picaxe
will trigger a dtmf sequence. I'd like to be able to plug a dtmf encoder
directly into the mic input on the cheap uniden cb radios.
I'm still interested in getting some aprs running. So anyone's thoughts
or comments on their own set-up would be appreciated.
-----Original Message-----
From: ozaprs-bounces at aprs.net.au [mailto:ozaprs-bounces at aprs.net.au] On
Behalf Of Robert Bruninga
Sent: Saturday, 1 July 2006 12:34 AM
To: ozaprs at aprs.net.au; WILSON Jim
Cc: Robert Bruninga
Subject: Re: [OZAPRS] APRS newbie, equipment recommendations

> I run scout camp where we break the camp up into four groups and they 
> walk from base to base throughout the weekend. I'd like a setup to 
> monitor their progress.
> What are my options regarding trackers...?

If this requires only 4 trackers, then this could work well as a high
tech solution.  But once you have APRS, there are usually far more
things you want to track and display....

SO, do not overlook the low-tech solution as well which is simply making
a map of the camp and "numbering" every interesting location.  THen just
the simple report of a "number" will update all APRS maps and displays
throughout camp with the current location of all participants.  This can
be done with voice, DTMF or a D7 HT. 

This track-by-points has been in APRSdos since 2002:

http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/D7points.html

Using number-points reporting without GPS avoids these problems:
1) Keeping GPS units up and operating with all groups
2) GPS tracking problems in heavy foliage
3) Having to keep the GPS's running all the time and
    having to supply batteries for all that stuff
4) Erroneous positions due to erroneous GPS data
5) It works indoors and just about anywhere

This alternative is Someone with a radio in each group simply reports by
voice (or DTMF) "we are entering base #13", and the APRS  sysop simply
moves that group's object to location 13. 
This automatically then transmits that object to ALL APRS displays in
the camp so that everyone sees the movement.

This can be done automatically with APRStt.  The Touch-Tone version of
APRS that *any* HT can enter data with.  Just press something like XX*YY
on the DTMF key pad and the central APRStt will convert that to APRS
packet and update all APRS displays throughout the camp....

See http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/aprstt.html

APRStt then also speaks voice information back to the DTMF-only users so
they also are informed on new reports such as "Team XX arrived at YY"...

And If you are running good APRS software that dead reckons, then it can
even show moving groups as they walk from base to base.  And the radio
consumes far less power than a GPS and radio together.  Plus ANY HT that
the scouts already have, including cheap FRS can be used.

Without APRStt, you can use the Kenwood D7 HT's either with GPS as
plug-and-play, OR they can be used without the bother of GPS as above,
by KEYING in the 2 digit number themselves and the internal TNC can
transmit it to all APRS monitors throughout camp without any human
intervention.

So many options... without the encumberance of GPS...

de WB4APR, Bob

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