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re: setting up a new aprs base station

 
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kc7byp  



Joined: 13 Oct 2009
Posts: 1

PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:55 pm    Post subject: re: setting up a new aprs base station Reply with quote

I have an old Kenwood TM-221 two meter mobile rig, a pk232mbx and a weather station. Do I need to keep the laptop connected to the tnc 24/7 to keep the aprs station going 24/7?. I know how to setup a basic station to receive and transmit aprs. But I never done a perm base station that is on 24/7 with the weather info, gps receiver and internet link tied in. I could use any info avable.


Steve
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n9mxq  



Joined: 25 Oct 2004
Posts: 160
Location: Belvidere IL

PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would think that yes, you'd need the computer up 24/7 to keep the weather info flowing to the APRS network.

But not knowing the PK232MBX...I could be wrong...

Signed
Gene Young N9MXQ
"If you can't say something nice, don't say nuttin at all." -Thumper
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ka9vnv  
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Joined: 08 Jun 2004
Posts: 152
Location: Woodstock, IL

PostPosted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 3:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Couple of considerations:

The choice of weather station can mandate that a computer be involved. Davis equipment, for example, doesn't "spit out" data, you have to request it, then convert it to a format that is APRS-compatible. Others, such as Peet, have APRS-compatible "streaming" reports that can be fed directly to a TNC.

The choice of TNC is also a factor. Some have "tracker" modes that will broadcast a stream periodically, while others do not. I don't think the PK232MBX ever had this, because it was primarily a base station TNC.

There are options for doing a "stand-alone" weather station. You might check out the Byonics Weather Trak:

Quote:
WXTrak is a weather information encoder which, when connected to a compatible weather staion and a radio, will transmit the weather data at an adjustable rate. It is a construction project based on the TinyTrak3, and provides an inexpensive way to transmit weather information without the need for a full TNC.

...

Currently supported weather stations include the Radio Shack WX200, the Oregon Scientific WM-918, and the Peet Brothers Ultimeter 100, Ultimeter 800, Ultimeter 2000, and Ultimeter 2100.

Davis weather stations with the WeatherLink APRS adapter can use TinyPack to transmit weather data for APRS


Technically, this IS using a computer to set things up, but it is a dedicated one, and not that expensive. It also leaves your fancier TNC free to be used in setting up a regular station to monitor and communicate on APRS. Wink

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Jeff Brenton KA9VNV

---
"It is not at all simple to understand the simple." - Eric Hoffer
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