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ZL3AI > APRDIG 20.03.07 12:09l 211 Lines 7695 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: [APRSSIG] Vol 33 #16, 1/1
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From: ZL3AI@ZL2BAU.#79.NZL.OC
To : APRDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. Tracker failed on balloon flight this morning, beacon might be alive
(Robert Rochte)
2. Re: APRSPOINT (Stephen H. Smith)
3. Fwd: [Ham-BONE] Zero-pressure balloon with 10m beacon in the air NOW!
(Robert Rochte)
4. Re: Fwd: [Ham-BONE] Zero-pressure balloon with 10m beacon in the air NOW!
(John Ronan)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 13:21:31 -0500
From: "Robert Rochte" <rochte_at_gmail.com>
Subject: [aprssig] Tracker failed on balloon flight this morning,
beacon might be alive
The main tracker on our balloon somehow failed shortly after launch this
morning. Packets were heard but could not be decoded. It is also carrying
a 10m CW beacon, however, and it might still be alive. The balloon was
launched in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan at approximately 9:30am and was
expected to reach Newfoundland by nightfall.
Assuming that it is still aloft - and further assuming that the
experimental timed ballasting device that it is carrying works as planned
this evening (all things considered, doubtful) - HYSPLIT predicts an
overflight of Ireland by early Friday evening....
Details on the beacon follow this message - if anyone copies it, please let
me know.
73,
Robert KC8UCH
The payload package includes:
- An 8-bit microcontroller (PIC 16C715)
- A barometric altimeter (MPX100A/LM358M)
- An outside temperature sensor (DS1721S)
- An insolation sensor (CdS cell in a ping-pong ball diffuser)
- Battery voltage monitor
- CW Beacon on 28.636 MHz (crystal oscillator)
- Vertically polarized 10m dipole antenna
- Eight AA Li-Fe batteries for 12V @ 2500 mAh
------------------------------
*Telemetry format* (sent every 2 minutes) :
DE KA2QPG BLN GPA/SD2 UP 14H34M A 033 T NEG 55C L 204 B 8.7V
EMAIL PT AT RIFTON.COM AR
where:
UP = flight time in hours and minutes
a = altimeter (absolute pressure [higher # = lower alt], 0 - 255)
T = outside temperature (-99 - 99 degrees C)
L = light level (0 - 255, uncalibrated)
B = battery voltage (0.0 - 9.9 volts)
The remaining time in the 2-minute cycle will have a Morse "dit" and a beep
of the piezo sounder every 4 seconds.
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:42:32 -0700
From: "Stephen H. Smith" <wa8lmf2_at_aol.com>
Subject: [aprssig] Re: APRSPOINT
cedwards_at_trane.com wrote:
>We are starting to setup for our annual June Triathlon here in Macon, GA. I
>was looking into whether or not my APRS+SA would do what I need it to do for
>the race and I ran across APRSPOINT. Any body use that program? It would
>make me bail out on Delorme Street Atlas by having to purchase another
>mapping program, but I wondered if it would be better for what we need to
>do.
>
>Please contact me if you have some experience with this program. Thanks!
I am a licensed user of APRSpoint as well as APRSplus and UIview. Some
random comments and observations follow.
1) APRSpoint DOES NOT support the standard APRS symbol set. It only
uses the generic Microsoft MapPoint "push pins". Symbol overlays are not
supported at all. Modern digipeater symbols using the secondary symbol
set with overlays don't show at all. The symbol set is embedded inside
of MapPoint. There is no way to replace/update the symbol set.
[NOTE: It IS technically possible to pass external symbols into MapPoint.
The UIpoint add-on for UIview is able to plot standard APRS symbols stored
externally to maps generated by MapPoint. See my update downloads below.
Apparently the APRSpoint author chose not to implement this capability.]
2) The rather thin outlines of the generic "pushpins", along with their
subdued colors make them hard to see against the complex and highly colored
backgrounds of MapPoint maps.
To maximize the visibility of MapPoint symbols in APRSpoint, switch the map
display mode from the default "Road Map" view to the "Political Map".
This renders the background in several shades of a pinkish/plum coloration
that makes the symbols stand out bettter. It DOES NOT suppress the
display of roads.
3) APRSpoint DOES NOT support KISS TNCs, thus ruling out the use of modern
low-cost KISS-only TNCs such as OpenTracker 2, TNC-X or the forthcoming
TinyTrak4.
4) Messaging does not follow the proper decaying algorithm.
5) If you are going to use it mobile, APRSpoint does not implement smart
beaconing or Mic-E format compressed posits. It does transmit standard
APRS-format posits.
6) APRSpoint does work with Kenwood D700/TH-D7 included the shared
GPS/Data on a single serial port mode.
7) I find the lack of terminal monitor windows, such as both APRSplus and
UIview feature, to view raw data streams from the TNC, Internet and GPS
while debugging equipment setups a real disadvantage of APRSpoint.
8) Note that APRSpoint requires the use of Microsoft MapPoint. It will NOT
work with the nearly identical looking (but far less expensive) MS Streets
& Trips.
The major difference between Streets and MapPoint is that MapPoint offers
an extensive API (Applications Programming Interface) to allow external
programs to pass data to MapPoint to be displayed.
9) MapPoint DOES do a good job of tracking multiple mobiles. It will
draw track lines connecting multiple successive position reports (as
APRSplus can) without add-ons, and can track each unit in a different color
and/or line weight if desired.
10) It does implement PHG range circles.
11) If you acquire MapPoint as part of the APRSpoint package, you get get
a fully functional standard copy of MapPoint that can be used standalone
with a GPS for non-APRS moving map navigation. This copy of MapPoint can
also be used with UIview via the UI-Point plug-in.
12) If you get the (now outdated but CHEAP) 2004 edition of MapPoint
bundled with APRSpoint, you can update it to the clatest 2007 road data by
purchasing a copy of MS Streets & Trips 2007 ($29.95 out the door at
Wal-Mart with no rebate nonsense). MS MapPoint and MS Streets use the
identical database format. Just copy the new Streets data from the CD or
DVD on top of the corresponding data files in MapPoint. You don't even
need to install the Streets program.
--
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com
EchoLink Node: 14400 [Think bottom of the 2M band]
Home Page: http://wa8lmf.com --OR-- http://wa8lmf.net
NEW! World Digipeater Map
http://wa8lmf.net/APRSmaps
JavAPRS Filter Port 14580 Guide
http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/JAVaprsFilters.htm
"APRS 101" Explanation of APRS Path Selection & Digipeating
http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths
Updated "Rev H" APRS http://wa8lmf.net/aprs
Symbols Set for UI-View,
UIpoint and APRSplus:
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:14:47 -0500
From: "Robert Rochte" <rochte_at_gmail.com>
Subject: [aprssig] Fwd: [Ham-BONE] Zero-pressure balloon with 10m beacon
in the air NOW!
It is alive! Woo-hoo! Who needs APRS anyway? :D
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 19:47:03 +0000
From: John Ronan <jronan_at_tssg.org>
Subject: Re: [aprssig] Fwd: [Ham-BONE] Zero-pressure balloon with 10m beacon
in the air NOW!
Hi,
Unfortunately i'm out of the area tomorrow evening, so I don't think I'll
be able to help.. I'll ask if any of the locals will be about.
Regards
de John
EI7IG
--
John Ronan <jronan_at_tssg.org>, +353-51-302938
Telecommunications Software & Systems Group, http://www.tssg.org
------------------------------
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End of aprssig Digest, Vol 33, Issue 16
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