[Today’s run: Watson road 3.5 miles]
If you recall, I had been using an old laptop as my ham-radio computer. I have a version of Linux running on it. It works ok.
I started to get back into APRS with it. At one time I ran an IGate and Digipeater, while we lived in Estes Park. But not so much interest in that around here so I had not been into it.
But I was getting into 2 meter CW/SSB. And I thought that maybe I could use APRS to alert me when there are band openings. I hooked up a 2 meter radio to the laptop using the internal soundcard and got a bit of that running. But it didn’t work very well. One problem was the soundcard. Another problem was a lack of APRS traffic with which to test the thing.
Two (actually three) interesting developments:
1 – I bought an external USB soundcard thingy. It seems to work ok. I’m not completely 100% sure it is better than the internal soundcard, but I think it almost has to be.
2 – A guy moved into the area from up north somewhere and he is into APRS. He set up a digipeater that is within range of my place. So I now have regular signals coming in
3 – The software TNC I was using (soundmodem) is so-so. A guy did a better implementation in Java and there was a write-up about it in the QEX magazine. I got the software and now have it running. It appears to be working ok.
I still have a bit of an interference problem between the APRS receiver and my internet system. If I unplug the wifi router the APRS system gets better. I’m not sure what I want to do about that, if anything.
But I feel more excited about the project. Maybe I can work some more on my script to get the email notification stuff going.
Here’s a picture for today, another one from the Iowa State Fair. One of the days we were there they had restored tractors lined up on the grand concourse.
