APRS on a Yaseu 8800-R

[4x4mike]

Does anyone here run APRS on an 8800-R? I'm just looking for a little guidance and hopefully some experience. I've found others using radios from HT's to a dedicated mobile radio for APRS but I'd like to use one "side" of the 8800 for tracking. The 8800 has a data port which appears have a 1200 bps and a 9600 bps output.

I assume a cable would have to be made to attach the radio to a TNC device and as well as a GPS. For the most part I'd like to just track my vehicle at this point. I don't have a huge desire to have a screen in the vehicle (I've gone away from having a Garmin) showing myself but it would be nice to track others in my group in the future. Ideally I'd be able to see them on my mobile device that would be being used for navigation (back country navigator). I've seen apps such as APRSDroid for features like this.

 

[SARguru]

There was a post last few weeks topic "kicking around idea of APRS " another member posted this option he went with www.byonics.com/mt-rtg]MicroTrak RTG

 

[SARguru]

Ok that didnt work.. http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=119494

Check out HenryJ option

 

[abruzzi]

I originally was looking at a cheaper option like the 8800 combined with a tinytrac. The problem I ran into was as far as I could find, all the dual channel radios (except the APRS specific like D710 or FTM400) would only transmit on the selected channel. So if you wanted to use voice on one half and APRS on the other, you would have to select the B channel before you transmit a packet.

I think you are better off either getting an APRS specific rig, or a separate rig specifically for APRS. (I could be wrong as my research wasn't thorough, but every dual channel radio I looked at had this same problem.

Geof

 

[HenryJ]

Here is the link to the MicroTrak RTG
Still the best option that I have tried. I too am running the Yaesu FT8800R. Great radio. Leave the APRS in a stand alone. Mine is ignition activated and does a fantastic job mapping everything.
I have been testing the Moblink using a smart phone and APRSlink. Not as good IMO. Play'n with a GSat data logger now. TINY! Kinda neat but the jury is still out.

BTW, if anyone here is thinking about an APRS rig and needs a small mobile, shoot me a PM. I have a few little mobiles that I have saved for such a thing.

 

[4x4mike]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I found the same issue with the 8800, where you have to switch sides before it would transmit. I have extra HT's but didn't want to deal with the mess or wires, batteries and finding a space to hold all of that during a trip. Looks like I still have some home work to do, thanks.

 

[amusselm]

I've got an 8900 and I was hoping to do just what you described. But, it turns out that it the 8900 and 8800 will always transmit on the selected "side" on the front. So, it's something of a non-starter for using it as both voice and APRS at the same time.

Argent Data makes a integrated radio and tracker unit. It's a bit pricy, but all you need to make it work to provide it power, an antenna and a GPS receiver. It's no bigger than an HT and has about the same power output.

If you wanted to get the data to something like APRSDroid, I think you'd be looking some sort of embedded computer running your own Igate and APRS-IS server and using WIFI to get it onto the device. I don't know of any TNCs that do that out of the box. Certainly doable (and a project I've long thought about), but a bit more involved than just plugging a box into the radio.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Reading the original post it sounds like maybe you want just to see other APRS stations. If you do not want to transmit the FT-8800 can receive APRS on the sub band. In the menu you can select whether the sub band RX is muted or not when the main band is in use. With the mute turned off, if you hook a TNC to the data port it would hear both sides even if you turn down the audio volume on the sub band. The radio is far from ideal for APRS if you want to transmit, but for RX-only it works.

 

[Chipskip]

I also have an 8800r and have found it is not a good choice for APRS. I considered selling it and getting the new Kenwood 710g. Instead I got a Kenwood th-d72a and avmap gps. It was pricey to go that route, but I wanted an HT with APRS built in for hiking, etc. The Avmap and Kenwood are plug and play (a few settings to do). I put the HT in my center console and use a mag mount antenna. I didn't want APRS running all the time, but when I do what it, I am usually out of cell range. It takes me about 5 minutes to plug everything in and through the antenna on the roof... APRS is up and running.

In the future, I plan to get a small laptop/netbook to hook up to the d72a via usb and have greater APRS and packet capabilities.