[GCARC] APRS Update

[John Zaruba Jr]

Hi Mark,

1. The "downlink site" you refer to is called an iGate.

2. Check the GPS status screen to make sure you're getting a good lock. The VX-8 has an older generation GPS engine (the same as the original silver FT1DR that I have) and can take a long time to get a lock. From a cold start out of the box (from storage) the satellite ephemeris can take 45 minutes to an hour to update. Ephemera are the data that the GPS receiver uses to calculate the positions of all the satellites in the GPS constellation. Once the orbital elements are updated receiver lock occurs in 1-5 minutes depending on how many spacecraft are in view.

3. Check your APRS digipeater path, for a hand held should be WIDE1-1,WIDE2-1

3a. APRS beacon TX set to MANUAL, AUTO or SMART?

3b. If manually triggering a beacon transmission, do you see a notification that your packet was heard?

4. Due to the congested nature of 144.39, HTs are at a significant disadvantage. Connecting to the best available antenna will improve your chances of getting digipeated. Google "packet radio hidden transmitter syndrome" for a good explanation of what you're seeing.

5. According to 

http://aprs.fi/#!mt=roadmap&z=11&call=a%2FWA2DIY-7&timerange=3600&tail=3600

You were last seen 2 hours and 15 minutes ago on the campus of Temple University ;-)

73 and Welcome to APRS,

John K2ZA

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jan 13, 2017, at 07:41, MARK <wa2diy at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Good Morning All, 
> 
> Day 2 of my APRS experience seems to indicate that the VX-8dr has to be close to a downlink site for me to be "spotted" on the website. Temple University is a downlink site with our amateur radio station. I was picked up coming off the BF Bridge coming to work. However, I had the radio set to the highway speeds I do on Route 42 but I do not see myself traveling on that highway? Any APRS experts out there? Is it a radio or regional downlink issue in our neighborhood? The GPS antenna on this radio is small and in the cab of the truck which might explain it. 
> 
> Mark 
> 
> 
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