[OZAPRS] Was Byonics, Australian requirements

[Ray Wells]

Andrew Rich wrote:

>Have you seen what HF aprs can do ?
>
>http://vk4tec.no-ip.org/data/vk4vp-15.PNG
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ozaprs-bounces at aprs.net.au [mailto:ozaprs-bounces at aprs.net.au]On
>Behalf Of Ray Wells
>Sent: Tuesday, 7 August 2007 9:30 AM
>To: VK / ZL APRS Users
>Subject: Re: [OZAPRS] Was Byonics, Australian requirements
>
>
>David Hopkins wrote:
>
>  
>
>>One of the greatest deficiencies as I see it is coverage of the
>>network. As an example take a trip from Brisbane to Sydney via the
>>New England Highway. There is excellent coverage from Brisbane to
>>Cunningham's Gap a distance of about 80Km. There the coverage
>>promptly cuts out and does not reappear until north of Maitland just
>>north of Newcastle. While the space station was in operation one
>>could get a couple of position reports out but this was next to
>>useless. There are quite a number of large towns along the highway.
>>Imagine if these towns had a receive only station feeding the data
>>into the Internet, coverage would be greatly increased at minimal cost.
>>
>>
>>
>>David G. Hopkins (Vk4ZF)
>>CAPALABA QLD.
>>AUSTRALIA
>>S27 32.191 E153 11.867
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>David's comments about the New England Highway are equally applicable to
>the Pacific Highway, our Highway #1.
>
>I believe that the activity of VK2CVR and VK2TV in Kempsey is the only
>regular APRS activity between, probably, the VK2/VK4 border, and
>somewhere just north of Newcastle. I base my reckoning on stations
>logged here via the igate. I hope someone can say I'm wrong!
>
>VK2TV in Kempsey runs an igate 24/7 but the local frequency at the
>moment is 144.900. This was done as a convenience for the two local
>packet users on 2m. However, a 145.175MHz UIDigi system is being
>prepared (the FM828 is crystalled and ready, and the EPROM has been
>programmed) and will be completed and installed "somewhere" when time
>permits. It will probably cover around 60/70km of the Pacific Highway in
>the Kempsey area.
>
>Brett in Port Macquarie (callsign escapes me for the moment) has been
>playing with a system on 145.175 that is also an igate. I don't know the
>current status of that system. In discussions with Brett a while back it
>was thought that the local (Port Macquarie) club might be interested in
>installing an APRS digi at Telegraph Point. If that system and the
>Kempsey system were installed (and they will be able to hear each
>other), over 100km of the Pacific Highway would be covered.
> Not perfect but better than zilch.
>
>Ray vk2tv
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>  
>
HF APRS really fills a need, and with the scattering of HFgates around 
the nation one is rarely out of range of someone.

Probably the biggest disincentives for some potential users is the need 
to tie up an expensive HF rig, and the large antenna required, compared 
with VHF.

A small, 25W 30m rig just for APRS would be a real boost. Any takers?

Ray vk2tv
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