[OZAPRS] APRS gateway & digi MISSION BEACH - FNQ

[Andrew Gillespie]

Hi all,

Just advising a new iGate/Digi is online covering Mission Beach, Far North Queensland.  NOTE: The RF performance is poor, I will replace the transceiver next trip.

There are terrain constraints - good RF path Easterly aspect from North through South, there's no path to the West - it's on the side of a big hill!!

Some key facts

SSID: VK4VAG-10 (while testing)
Site: 95m ASL
Mast: 5m timber
Antenna: Mobile One COL146 4.2 dBi
Coax: 6m RG58 C/U
Radio: ICOM F-1010 (crap RF)
TNC: ANT51 (by BH4TDV)
server filter: r400
Internet - Industrial 3G modem
Power: 24V/250W array + MPPT controller + 12V 60Ah AGM battery
Average site load 700mA @ 14.4V
Solar array: 60* tilt azmith 20* East of North (terrain optimised)

An AIS receiver (Digital Yacht AISNet) and automatic weather station also installed at site.  APRS weather feed & solar/power telemetry coming soon.

There's SNMP monitoring and relay control for all devices via VPN including the solar controller, AIS receiver, weather station and enslosure door & mast tilt switch.  Power can be cycled via SMS.  All router comms have been optimised for low bandwidth (& sort of APRS).

I had great fun constructing the station, bit by bit over two years.  The site deployment took 6 days - 2 days for the mast & footings and 4 days for the power supply & station.  As the site is elevated and only 1km from the ocean, the equipment is housed in an IP rated stainless steel enclosure.  Antenna's are protected by boundary arrestors, all four DC lines are also protected with 400V clamps (battery and solar array).

If you're up this way, give it a work out.

Regards

Andrew
VK4VAG