Posted: 3/14/2012 8:46:13 PM EDT
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Doing a little prep work for a public service event I will be working next month, and just getting frustrated.
For this event I'll be mobile and covering a large area along with several other mobile "roving' units. Last year we started using APRS for all the mobile units and it made a substantial difference in the workload for some of the mobile units as well as some of the fixed stations. I along with most of the mobiles was just running an APRS beacon. So this year I'd really like to have APRS reception and plotting on a map display to help me with situational awareness as the event proceeds. So I've been examining the various options. Garmin says they have no interest in supporting amateur radio with an auto navigation GPS. Gee thanks, they're in Kansas, you'd think they would have a little appreciation for skywarn (another big user of APRS). The only auto navigation GPS unit that has APRS capability is the AVmap units from europe, which run something like $500. No thanks, I can buy a netbook for a lot less than that and all the stuff to do what I need, plus have a netbook... but with more gear in the vehicle as well as the hassle of figuring out how to mount a netbook on the dash/windshield. Then I notice an ad, for a nice 7" touch screen Android tablet computer... for $129! Great hardware for the solution, problem is, there's no software. (Yes I know there is an app to "fake" APRS by using cell/WiFi data connection to the internet, I need actual radio signal APRS) A nice "killer app" for Android would be to function as an APRS interface, moving map display along with plotting positions of received APRS stations etc. Preferably do the APRS messaging as well but not sure how that would all have to work between the TNC and the tablet, or if the tablet could even be programmed to just replace the TNC. APRS is very handy, just not handy in a mobile environment  Unless there's some economical & convenient solution I have overlooked.
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If I were to try and program such a thing, I would probably consider interfacing a packet modem to the android tablet via bluetooth.
Maybe use an arduino (or maybe an even less expensive microcontroller board) with a bluesmirf bluetooth modem, connected to the packet modem via RS-232 cable. (Only just getting started with android programming, though - but I do have an arduino with a bluetooth modem) |
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Can't help you with Android APRS aps, but the Garmin Nuvi 350 works well with the Argent Data OT3m. Those two items, plus the Fleet Management Interface cable, and you're only looking at about $250 tops.
This would plot local stations, allow two way messaging, and all the other stuff you expect. It wouldn't however plot anything more than the last reported location of each station. Any other Garmin, beside the Nuvi 350, would plot and leave plotted all reported locations of stations in the area. |
no help but, sounds like another job for RaspberryPi  they're not exactly what you're looking for but: and will both display APRS stations on a map.... of course, you'd have to still work on a TX - and a station to upload to the 'net if there isn't one nearby.....
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Most android (well, most USB devices) don't support host mode USB, required to drive peripherals. this is why you don't see more things to plug in to tablets/phones. Have I got the thing for you! 
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Personally I'd say you're probably better off running something like a netbook with UI-view. We've used that in the field to track SAG vehicles during rural bike races. Depiction also has an APRS plug-in and I'm pretty sure it's RF-capable.
ETA: Thought I'd clarify on UI-View. There are a couple of routes for the main bike event and they span either 60 or 100 miles. Due to the nature of having our operators spread over such a large distance some of them were within receiving distance of the iGate. The UI-View station was fairly centrally located within the "dead zone" to pick up the stations that couldn't make the iGate. That operator worked with our net control station to keep tabs on everyone. Is there a need for messaging? Unless you'll have at least two people in the vehicle I'd probably avoid it. If you're working with non-licensed (radio) drivers it's nice to have a setup you can just throw in the vehicle, attach some antennas, and be done. We use APRS for most every special event involving the roads. We track lead (sometimes) and tail (always) vehicles for running and biking events. It really is a huge help for those that have to make key decisions to know where their assets are. I'm toying with picking up a number of Byonics RTG units to make it even easier than our current setups. It would also eliminate the need to tie up a radio that could be a voice station. The only drawback is the 10W limitation which might not work out so well in the rural events. However, the in-town events should be fine. |
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We have two wide area digipeaters well situated to cover almost the entire ~80 mile route. I only ran 5 watts last year and did fine on coverage when I checked the internet sites after the event.
We track lead (sometimes) and tail (always) vehicles for running and biking events. It really is a huge help for those that have to make key decisions to know where their assets are.
That's exactly why we started running it at the events last year and it was a tremendous help to those folks. If I had the $ I'd think about a netbook setup, just can't justify dropping that kind of money into it. Plus the hassles of trying to mount it in the vehicle (along with the temporary emergency lighting, 3 voice radios, cell phone with external antenna, safety gear, food and water, navigation GPS, and the rest of the apparatus. What seems like the most obvious application for APRS and it's very frustrating that there isn't some straightforward way to accomplish it. |
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Ok, if I understand correctly your main goal is to have situational awareness of the other mobile units in the event. Correct?
Why does it necessarily have to be via RF? We've used people sitting at their QTH stations as our APRS monitors. If not them then the people at the comm center. Either way seems better than having you worry about it. It sounds like you already have a lot going on in your vehicle and I don't know that adding one more thing much less one that distracts you like watching the map and/or messaging is really such a great idea. I can understand wanting to know where everyone is but it seems having people back at the comm center would need to know more. They'd (hopefully) be less distracted and more able to make the best decisions based on the information they have. In this case you could have a RF station feeding UI-View at the comm center and use the cheap tablet with APRSDroid in your vehicle. Typically we don't even bother with RF at the net control station and simply rely on aprs.fi. I may be the person in charge of the event from a comms perspective but if I'm in the field then I become just another asset. I let my people back at the comm center worry about it. If they need me to make a decision they call me on the radio. I can't afford to be distracted watching the road, the map, and runners/bikers. |
| There's no internet available. The reason for having it is simply to keep track of the locations of the other mobile units so that we don't get clustered up. It's usually possible to stop almost any time, and there are frequent stops in any event so it would be no problem to glance at the map from time to time. I currently use my garmin nuvi which has all the important landmarks saved as waypoints so it's easy to see where I am in relation to everything else... all I really want, is to add the current location of other mobile units to that display, or else a similar device on the windshield/dashboard that can show me those things. |
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Gotcha. Your best option is probably the Nuvi 350 off eBay and the OpenTracker 2. Agreed. The nuvi 350, gtrans cable and OT2 will do this nicely. I use a 350, but with my Kenwood D710. If what you are really looking for is position plots, this woudl do it. I have not yet figured out the messaging that I have heard is possible with the nuvi. |
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There's no internet available. The reason for having it is simply to keep track of the locations of the other mobile units so that we don't get clustered up. It's usually possible to stop almost any time, and there are frequent stops in any event so it would be no problem to glance at the map from time to time. I currently use my garmin nuvi which has all the important landmarks saved as waypoints so it's easy to see where I am in relation to everything else... all I really want, is to add the current location of other mobile units to that display, or else a similar device on the windshield/dashboard that can show me those things. Total APRS newbie here . . sorry it these are repetitive questions . . No internet by phone? Can't tether to a tablet and use map via website? On the phone itself, APRSDroid shows a map of radio-based APRS units in the area . . data can be limited to very local area, but not sure how fast it updates since we seldom have moving units in our rural area. |
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On the phone itself, APRSDroid shows a map of radio-based APRS units in the area . . data can be limited to very local area, but not sure how fast it updates since we seldom have moving units in our rural area. This mostly what I'm planning for our next event. I just picked up an Android tablet that I'll use with my phone as a hotspot for APRSDroid. |
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On the phone itself, APRSDroid shows a map of radio-based APRS units in the area . . data can be limited to very local area, but not sure how fast it updates since we seldom have moving units in our rural area. This mostly what I'm planning for our next event. I just picked up an Android tablet that I'll use with my phone as a hotspot for APRSDroid. If you don't already have an APRSDroid passcode, submit a request at http://aprsdroid.org/passcode/ since it took a couple tries and a little while for it to get back to me. Would like to get feedback on how APRSDroid works on the tablet after you give it a try . . trying to get my son up with his phone, but he might like it on his tablet (he has ICS, so it might be different), too. |
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I didn't have any problems getting the code. It took a couple of times for it to take on the tablet, though. I used the one from my phone and it didn't appear to work but I must've been entering it wrong.
I'm about to drive around a little today so I'll try to report back. |
