Overview of tracks and digital APRS relayers as of 2021.

APRS is the only open (Open Source) Rii -amateur technology for transmitting short messages and GPS coordinates. A single standard, which is several decades, independence from passing on VHF. APRS uses relay stations - digital relayers (Digi). The ability to work both in the presence of and in the absence of the Internet increases the reliability of the APRS network.

Only radio stations or radio frequency devices that are registered on the call signal of the identification signal can use APRS. In addition to the call sign, an additional suffix is used inside the network. SSID, since several radio stations or APRS intercurators (house, machine, smartphone, yacht, etc.) can correspond to one call signal signal.

Why do I need APRS tracker?

APRS trackers are designed for outdoor outdoor activities, in which radio amateurs using the "beacons" report their location.

APRS supports three main modes -

1. Lighthouse (or Beacon) - transfers coordinates with a certain frequency
2. Retranslator (or Digipeater, abbreviated Digi) to increase the radius of the action of other APRS stations. Sometimes a retranspace performs the function of a double -sided gateway (RX + TX).
3. gateway (Gateway, I-Gate) for transmitting information from APRS to the Internet.
4. APRS-Susel which can combine paragraphs 1-3.

Judging by the name, the lighthouse serves to transmit its geographical coordinates (if the object is in the same place - for example, a radio amateur club, a house or a relay) or dynamic GPS coordinates - numerous variants of APRS tracks with built -in GPS.

APRS beacons

The most common mode of the mobile GPS beacon or “tracker”: messages are radiated by the tracker on air, then from the air pass through the gateways (RX-toy Gates) to the Internet, and passing through the APRS -is network are eventually published on maps- find.com and APRS.Fi . Also, within a radius of 8-10 km from the transmitter, it is possible to receive a mobile radio station on the air (in the XASTIR program - "View" - "All States") without the use of Internet gateways. The program modulation is made in AFSK1200, the messages are transmitted in Packet mode, but the registration of messages complies with the APRS standard. These messages can be accepted by other broadcasts on the air. Analog radio stations with APRS, for example Kenwood Th-D72, Th-D710E (have been discontinued) have such a function. D-Star and Yaesu System Fusion (YSF) digital radio stations can also accept these packages and display the azimuth and the distance to the lighthouse on the screen.

APRS beacons are low -power devices with a capacity of 1 to 5 watts. The implementation of the APRS beacons can be both a single device and a modular design. Options:

1. The beacon consisting of two or more modules, using external radio station:
   1.1. APANA AFSK1200 modem and TNC in Kiss mode
   1.1.1. with a built -in GPS receiver
   1.1.2. with an external GPS receiver
   1.1.3. With external temperature sensors, humidity, wind speed (weather station)
   1.2. Program AFSK1200 modem and TNC (SoundModem, DireWolf)
   1.2.1. On a PC, a laptop or a netbook that is connected to the radio station using audio cables.
   • with an external GPS receiver
   • Without GPS support.

1.2.2. Program lighthouse using the program on smartphone (APRSDROD).

2. Autonomous APRS Tracker (a device that combines a receiver in one case and GPS, TNC modem and a radio station at a frequency of 144.800 MHz and a power battery).
3. APRS radio station - has an autonomous APRS tracker as one of the functions.
4. APRS trackers using TCP-IP (GPRS/Edge/UMTS/LTE networks).

1) APRS device "Track X1c 2" and "Track X1c 3" (APRS 51 Track)

Author: BH4TDV (China)
Price: 4600-5500 rub.

Figures 2 and 3 - the second and third generation of the product.

Features of the device: entrances for connecting the radio station on the front panel,
built -in battery. There is no Internet connection. USB for charging the battery.

Opportunities for APRS:

1. Connection Kenwood-compatible microphone of the radio station via the nest on the front panel
2. Tracker (lighthouse)
3. Digipeater
4. Built -in GPS
5. Built -in battery
6. Bluetooth - option (versions without Bluetooth are cheaper)

Additional opportunities using software:

• Intellectual intervals between packages (Smart Timing)
• Digi - setting wide route
• Support for various icons
• Support for the name of the node and the name Digi
• Support for GPS energy conservation mode
• Bluetooth output KISS DATA is double -controlled,
• Conclusion via Bluetooth GPS (GPRMC \ GPGGA)
• charging a built -in battery via USB
• Attaneuator-adjustment of the gear level TX LEVEL (-10.5 dB-0 dB)
• RX LEVEL reception regulator (-10.5 dB-0 dB)
• Built-in high-performance GPS module, Switzerland, 56-channel UBLOX GPS (UBX-G7020-KT)
• built -in lithium battery 2000MA, built -in charging, power management scheme,
• Corps made of solid aluminum alloy
• software for configuration (Chinese and English languages) (required .NET 4.0)
  Software
  User manual

On the Internet there are videos on setting up the device through the software.

_Heepers are removed at the request of Federal Law No. 274 dated 06.24.2023 "On Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses", clause 16 of the Law (administrative responsibility: for failure to provide information on Internet advertising in Roskomnadzor). The law enters into force on September 1, 2023

2) APRS X1C5 Plus - Autonomous Igate Digipeater Tracker + Wi -Fi

Device price - 11203-1330 rubles
Author: BH4TDV
Released in two variants of ranges:
V 136-174MHz
U 400-480MHz
Power: 1W
Dimensions are less than that of a smartphone (pocket option).
The price of an additional Wi -Fi module is 2065 rubles.

A feature is a built -in color LCD screen indicating a direction to the station accepted along the air and the distance to it.

_Heepers are removed at the request of Federal Law No. 274 dated 06.24.2023 "On Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses", clause 16 of the Law (administrative responsibility: for failure to provide information on Internet advertising in Roskomnadzor). The law enters into force on September 1, 2023

3) APRS X1C5 Pro - Autonomous Igate Digipeater Tracker + Wi -Fi

The price of the device is 9864 rub.
Author: BH4TDV
Released in two variants of ranges:
V 136-174MHz
U 400-480MHz
Power: 1W
Dimensions are less than that of a smartphone (pocket option).
Size: 80 50 20 mm
Weight: 100 g

A feature is without a screen.

_Heepers are removed at the request of Federal Law No. 274 dated 06.24.2023 "On Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses", clause 16 of the Law (administrative responsibility: for failure to provide information on Internet advertising in Roskomnadzor). The law enters into force on September 1, 2023

4) Ant 51 - APRS device "5 in 1" for Yaesu, icom

(APRS Controller for FT-7800, FT-1907, IC-2X20)

Price: 6250 rub.
Features - the output of the COM port for the PC PC/2 standard ("DATA") on the rear panel.
The price with delivery can reach 7200 rubles.

Opportunities for APRS:

1. Connection to the radio station DATA (PS/2 6-Pin)- yaesu ft-7800 \ 7900 \ 8800 \ 8900 , ICOM IC-2720 \ 2820 , etc. Through the PS/2 - PS/2 cable to perform sound modulation to transmit and receive APRS packages from the air
2. Connection to the Internet through the RJ-45 nest on the front panel-> Patch cord to the router. IP address by default: 192.168.1.120.
3. Tracker (lighthouse)
4. Digipeater
5. I-Gate (APRS Internet Shlose)
6. weather station (the ability to connect an atmospheric pressure sensor)
7. Built -in GPS receiver
8. Built -in recharge battery
9. It can work as an external TNC controller through a computer network (Ethernet TNC) regardless of the main function.
10. присутствует встроенный модуль Bluetooth

External power supply with a voltage of 8-15 volts is required.

_Heepers are removed at the request of Federal Law No. 274 dated 06.24.2023 "On Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses", clause 16 of the Law (administrative responsibility: for failure to provide information on Internet advertising in Roskomnadzor). The law enters into force on September 1, 2023

6) Mobilinkd Bluetooth TNC3

Compact controller for any radio station (control from a smartphone or PC).
The review was published in " qst " magazine Arrl May 2021 .

There are control cables for various radio stations (type Kenwood (Baofeng), Yaesu, ICOM).
Example of work:Page

YouTube has many short videos with a demonstration of work by Mobilinkd Bluetooth TNC3 (in English).

Review of Mobilinked TNC3 - APRS for any radio
Mobilinked TNC3 and Yaesu VX-6R
Mobilinked TNC3 + Xastir = Digi
Mobilinked TNC3 with iPhone
Mobilinked TNC2 + Baofeng + Xastir = Digi
Mobilinked TNC3 + Anytone AT-D868

7) homemade APRS interface for Baofeng UV-5R, Kenwood Th-F6 and computer

From the scheme, you can draw the control and interchange of the permanent component for acceptors, and adapt the scheme for almost any radio station.PY4ZBZ page

8) Ready-made cable for Baofeng UV-5R for APRS from a smartphone (APRSDDORID)

*Article "APRS Cables for Baofeng UV-5R: Two options"

Related publications

Управление передачей радиостанции по COM-порту сигналами RTS или DTR

Experience in using APRSDroid с радиостанцией BaOFENG

APRS Cables for Baofeng UV-5R: Two options

APRS over TCP-IP

`Using Direwolf with Xastir instead of SoundModem'