Many of you may be familiar with APRS especially since the
recent articles in QST and other publications. This software
is available for DOS, MAC, and Win 3.1/95.
Personally, I just started using it last week and it is fun!
First I tried VHF (2m, 145.79 1200 baud AFSK packet) and then
HF (30m, 10.151 lsb 300 baud packet). It is neat to see the
stations pop up on the map around the US and even DX (on HF)...
The way it works is that you mostly monitor for packets which
contain position (location) or WX information, but occasionally
you transmit packets of your own containing information about
your own station. When you do, the information pops up on the
screen/map of all the other monitoring stations. Some stations
connect GPS units to show position changes in motion...
What does this have to do with QRP? Well, first of all the power
and antenna gain are ALREADY a part of the beacon information...
Second, folks are interested in portable/mobile configurations that
can be devoted to APRS operation: palm-/lap-top computer, HF packet
TNC, radio (and possibly GPS). A recent post on the TAPR APRS mailing
list lamented the *possibility* of a $199 30m rig just for this one
application/frequency. I immediately thought of a "QRP" rig...
Given the $25 cost of the 38s, seems the QRP guys could easily come up
with a radio for this application that would be very battery friendly...
(I lack any/all design ability to pursue such a project, but not you!)
Having several QRP APRS stations on the air continuously would be a
great demonstation! The software already broadcasts station power
(and other information) and maintains a history of received activity.
Oh, and you can "digipeat" on HF and "gateway" through to VHF nets...
So far, I have used my FT-990DC/PK-232/half-sloper at 50w and have shown
up on maps around the US. My plan is to reduce power to 5w and test the
concept at QRP levels with existing equipment, but a dedicated "APRS QRP
Radio" and a less power hungry TNC would be the ultimate for portability...
Watch for my "QRP APRS" operation on 30m (10.151 lsb) starting tonite.
(If this works out AND interest warrants, test 2 will be IC-706, OutBacker,
PK-232, and laptop all powered by battery and at QRP power levels, but the
the battery won't last too long with that equipment!)
Maybe all of this has been done? Maybe I'm mixing apples and oranges?
(I am quite aware that *REAL* QRP guys use CW and this is not intended
as any sort of flame bait...)
What do you think?
Brian ke7gh@qsl.net QRP-L #1031 NC38s
[
QRP-L Archive |
]
[
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000
]