Forgot the link for the map saves. They're here: Eggfinder Map tracks Sorry
Kurt KC9LDH
From: Kurt <[email protected]>
To: Menga <[email protected]>
Cc: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 3, 2017 11:00 AM
Subject: [Xastir] Tracking with Xastir using NMEA tracker
I use a B/T GPS for local position and a B/T TNC for for incoming waypoints.
A mouse is mandatory as the device lacks a touchscreen.I use an Rf mouse and
plug it into the USB 2.0 port. The micro USB socket I use for an external
battery to buy time.I also run an NMEA tracker system for amateur rockets:
Eggtimer Rocketry - Eggfinder TX/RX I use the EggFinder LCD receiver that has
an HC-06 B/T modulewired into it. It's in the unlicensed 900Mhz ISM band.
Jason KG4WSV who frequents on the Xastir list here came up with this python
script: http://www.ece.uah.edu/~jdw/rockets/gps2aprs.txtone changes the .txt to
.pl. Just allow "Networking" in the Xastir pulldown and is good to go. I have
to bond my devices in order as the connected port of the EggFinder
receiverneeds to be defined in the script. Jason puts the specifics in the
comments. My routine is bond the B/T GPS first, /dev/rfcomm0 followed by the
Eggfinder LCD receiver at /dev/rfcomm1.Make sure the permissions are correct on
the ports. Fire up Xastir and have the local position plotted with the
external B/T GPS source. I pull up an xterm and run the gps2aprs.pl command.If
the addresses are correctly defined in the script, the remote positions from
the EggFinder GPS tracker start streaming in, in the window. The xterm window
can be minimized and a "pseudo" APRS icon is now plotted on the Xastir map at
once per second mind you as long as the strings are clearly "heard". Really
neat.
I've been trying to get some of the electronics oriented rocket guys to come up
with ham band NMEA trackers that would have better range and just inject a
callsign here and there in an NMEA string. Before you APRS people get yanked,
we generally track on the 70cm band or if using a 2 meter APRS tracker we stay
off the National Frequency as we're the only onesinterested in the position and
finding the rocket after recovery. We like to use high rate tracking as one
position every 5 seconds to try and keep a handle on the rocket's position aswe
likely miss packets with the flopping around that invariably occurs on descent.
My experience with 900 Mhz is that positions are missed likely due to antenna
positioning that occurs due to tumbling and the 100Mw power output of this
system.If one is interested here is a thread Eggfinder Map tracks that shows
screen shots of live flights. I used a hacked version of APRSISCE32 in a
Windows tablet as it's easier to use out in the field than a full sized laptop.
Scroll down and one can see some test screen shot of Xastir on the Pocket Chip
Jessie. I haven't tracked out in the field yetwith the Pocket Chip but itching
to try. There is a smaller EggFinder Mini tracker Eggtimer Rocketry - What's
New... I have and need to build a small rocket so I can test it out closer to
my QTH.The large rockets have to be flown at a defined site with an FAA
altitude waiver in place.Kurt KC9LDH From: Menga <[email protected]>
To: Kurt <[email protected]>; Xastir - APRS client software discussion
<[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, July 2, 2017 2:43 PM
Subject: Re: [Xastir] new Wiki section for Raspbian Jessie
I gave a look to the poster of Pocket Chip, but where are the ports (at
least 2, I assume USB) for the GPS and for the modem?
Giuseppe
IZ1GCL
_______________________________________________
Xastir mailing list
[email protected]
http://xastir.org/mailman/listinfo/xastir
