iPad, HAM, APRS

[CLK Foxhall]

Hi Everyone!

Just took & passed my HAM radio test. Now I'm researching radios & carputers, with the idea of integration.

I'm not a techie, nor am I familiar with what options are available.

Are there any apps or integration options between an iPad & HAM radio (for example APRS)?

Currently, I have no equipment & would be outfitting my vehicle from scratch. With that in mind, I'd love to hear some ideas &/or great setups to consider (carputer, navigation & radio).

I do use a Mac as a desktop,... so I might be partial to what I could do with an iPad.

Again, I'm starting with a blank canvas,... & am open to ideas of the newest & slickest HAM, carputer & nav integration setups.

Thanks!


Cheers!
~CLK

 

[SP Jon M3]

I use my iPad 3G+WiFi for Topo maps and aprs. There is the OpenAprs App that will allow you to see APRS stations and to transmit your APRS location. But this does not work through the Amateur radio, it works through the 3G cell connection. The iPad does not connect at all to your Amateur radio.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/topo-maps/id306014271?mt=8
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gaia-gps-offline-topo-maps/id329127297?mt=8

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/openaprs-xl/id363666470?mt=8

 

[evanthebruin]

I've pondered a setup like this since I became interested in HAM radio and learned about APRS. I'm now a proud owner of an Ipad also. The OpenAPRS app is cool but I'm interested in capability that doesn't rely on cellular networks.

A bidirectional interface that sends NMEA strings (timestamped position data in this case) between a radio TNC and the IPad is what needs to be developed. I imagine this would happen over Bluetooth. With something like this you would be able to both transmit your vehicle location on a local APRS frequency and plot the location of other nearby stations received from the radio on an Ipad mapping app. The only gps hardware I've seen this capability demonstrated on is the Avmap G5 and the Garmin nuvi 350 (with quirks).

I know Ipad is becoming popular for Marine navigation where the NMEA standard was created so it would only seem natural that somebody in that industry is working on an NMEA interface for the Ipad. Hmmmm...

 

[FletcherFregoe]

I've pondered a setup like this since I became interested in HAM radio and learned about APRS. I'm now a proud owner of an Ipad also. The OpenAPRS app is cool but I'm interested in capability that doesn't rely on cellular networks.

A bidirectional interface that sends NMEA strings (timestamped position data in this case) between a radio TNC and the IPad is what needs to be developed.ipad 2 smart cover
iPad 2 case
leather ipad 2 covers I imagine this would happen over Bluetooth. With something like this you would be able to both transmit your vehicle location on a local APRS frequency and plot the location of other nearby stations received from the radio on an Ipad mapping app. The only gps hardware I've seen this capability demonstrated on is the Avmap G5 and the Garmin nuvi 350 (with quirks).

I know Ipad is becoming popular for Marine navigation where the NMEA standard was created so it would only seem natural that somebody in that industry is working on an NMEA interface for the Ipad. Hmmmm...

I use my iPad 3G+WiFi for Topo maps and aprs.

 

[rambrush]

You would think someone would be developing something for this Ipad as the Android Based have the APRS viewer and also Echolink apps.
The EVO4g has the actual GPS capability and does not rely on cell towers from my understanding in this capability.
Wondering out loud and about the new Motorola unit and if it would work

 

[evanthebruin]

Fletcher, are you able to plot positions of local APRS stations on your topo map? How do you pipe that data into the iPad from your radio?

Rambush,

To clarify, the iPad 3G (not wifi only) has an assisted GPS chip. It will get a faster fix if it is within range of cell towers but can also get a fix on satellite signals only, just like a regular GPS. The wifi only Ipad has no GPS chip.

 

[cactusjk]

I am interested in learning more about experiences with open APRS.

 

[Taco Gunner]

http://redpark.com/news.html

The beginning of using the iPad with APRS?