[InHam] APRS in southern Indiana?

[Bob Burns W9RXR]

At 09:42 PM 12/24/2007, you wrote:

>The ARRL contest branch has approved the use of APRS for VHF contest 
>Rovers.  So I believe it may be time for me to pick up another TNC 
>and learn a little about APRS.

Dan, are you interested in using APRS to tell others where you are or 
to determine where other users are? The answer to the question can 
make a big difference in the equipment that you will need.

I'm not saying that what I'm about to describe is the only solution, 
but it is the solution I am using and it works pretty well.

I currently run an Open Tracker T2-135 from Scott Miller N1VG in my 
mobile. It is a very small board that mounts inside an Alinco 
DR-135T. Yes, Alinco makes a TNC board for this radio, but the T2-135 
is much better at APRS functions than the Alinco board. The only 
additional piece of hardware is a GPS receiver. Scott sells a small 
GPS receiver that gets its power from the T2-135 board. This is a 
very clean and simple installation that will put you on the APRS map 
so other users can see your location.

Should you want to see other stations' locations, the T2-135 still 
does the job. The primary serial port (the GPS receiver plugs into 
the secondary serial port which is the "Data" jack on the front of 
the radio) can be configured for KISS mode. That allows you to 
connect a device like the HamHUD II (www.hamhud.net) or connect a PC 
running an APRS client, such as UI-View, to the T2-135 in order to 
see position reports coming from other stations.

Here is a link for the T2-135:
https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=55

>What power level are mobile users in this area typically using?

I typically run 10-20 watts. That's good enough to reliably get into 
the digipeaters around Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, or Bloomington when 
I'm in those areas. How much power you need to run depends on how far 
away you are from the nearest digipeater or user station.

Bob...