[OZAPRS] Ozaprs Digest, Vol 11, Issue 14

[Robert Bruninga]

>>> "Tony Hunt" <wavetel at bigpond.com> 07/12/06 8:21 PM >>>
> The more gateways there are on one frequency the greater the chance
>of getting a posit through.. At the present time its not exactly rush
hour
>on 30m with Trackers..

Up until 1997 when the APRSinternet came about, my hope was
that someone would simply create an HF tracker about half the
size of a brick.  It could run 150W, cost  under $50 to build and
replace the need for a $1500 HF rig for this simple task.

Being one freq only, and using current MOSFET designs, only
about 5 transistors were needed.  No heat sink was needed
either, since the duty cycle of an HF tracker (one pkt every
10 minutes) is less than 0.2%.  Just stick it under the seat
and go.  The only design challenge was freq stability.

But in the USA, once the APRS-IS came about, it really was not
needed.  But in the outback, it will be the only way.  But then
how many people are traveling out there...  Unfortunately, not
enough to justify a mass produced dedicated HF tracker, I fear.

ANd besides, they would want to have HF along anyway, so
they may as well use a regular HF rig.

Of course, a plug-n-play HF box would be great on boats too.

Anyway, just some history...
Bob

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