APRS for Beginners (was Yaesu FT-1XDR)

[PabloCruise]

I am getting close to pulling the trigger on this set-up, but also need a good vehicle antenna for 2m (144.390), plus some 70cm use.

Any recommendations?

 

[gahi]

Those are good, but the deal killer for me is the lack of two way messaging. You can make a similar setup with the TT4 but it will be around $380.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Those tnc's both look like good options Dave, and possibly far cheaper then the tinytracks setup. Do you have any experience with either of them?

Actually yes, I have a Argent T3-301, which is a Tracker3 built into a little 5 watt data radio and a TNC-X. I also have a Tinytrak 4 and a Mobilinkd TNC3. If you find yourself over in Grand Junction let me know and I can be an APRS Vanna White.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Those are good, but the deal killer for me is the lack of two way messaging. You can make a similar setup with the TT4 but it will be around $380.

Lack of true 2-way is real issue. Honestly the Mobilinkd + whatever handheld or mobile you might have is the easiest option if you have a device already. I'm not the biggest fan of Mobilinkd TNCs for a few reasons and prefer the Byonics or Argent Data TNCs a bit more but the size and integrated Bluetooth of the Mobilinkd is hard to improve upon.

You can get a Bluetooth dongle from Byonics and it works great (I'm actually using one with my T3-301) but isn't enclosed AFAIK (mine is wrapped in a static bag and electrical tape, very ugly).

TNC-X has an add-on board for Bluetooth but the device itself is more suited for a home station rather than mobile. It could be used mobile but the box, cables, finding power are not ideal.

Ultimately running a USB power cable to a Mobilinkd is necessary but the built-in battery lasts a while and it does the job, so hard to beat all things considered.

 

[PabloCruise]

Best Buy has the 32Gb version of this tablet marked down to $129.00 - 1 step closer!

https://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/t...8-0-16gb-wi-fi-smoky-titanium-sm-t350nzaaxar/

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsun...VIRh9Ch1duAj-EAQYAiABEgKrEfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[PabloCruise]

It looks like Mobilinkd is out of the TNC2.2 until May :-(

https://store.mobilinkd.com/products/mobilinkd-tnc2-2

 

[DaveInDenver]

Since you are starting to think about it @rover67, this is the RF (Maxon/Midland SD125V2) and modem (Tinytrak4) end of my current mobile APRS station. The 'Y' cable on the TT4 splits serial ports A (to the GPS, currently a Garmin 18x) and B (an RS232-Bluetooth adapter).

In this configuration the station (shows up as -7 SSID) just beacons positions automatically. I have a phone and APRSdroid that I can pair to be a full capability station (then it becomes -9 SSID).