Comments on: A custom APRS tracker with a real screen http://www.danplanet.com/blog/2011/03/20/a-custom-aprs-tracker-with-a-real-screen/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-custom-aprs-tracker-with-a-real-screen If they're not right...they're wrong Wed, 16 May 2012 18:19:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: SM0RVV http://www.danplanet.com/blog/2011/03/20/a-custom-aprs-tracker-with-a-real-screen/#comment-7412 SM0RVV Mon, 14 May 2012 06:22:53 +0000 http://blog.danplanet.com/wordpress/?p=97#comment-7412 Tnx for the --help update. 73! Tnx for the –help update.

73!

]]> By: Mark Phillips http://www.danplanet.com/blog/2011/03/20/a-custom-aprs-tracker-with-a-real-screen/#comment-4405 Mark Phillips Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:55:29 +0000 http://blog.danplanet.com/wordpress/?p=97#comment-4405 +1 on the-h switch. I tried to buy the Pi when it was released. Web site crashed under the demand for it. It's going to be a got item! +1 on the-h switch.

I tried to buy the Pi when it was released. Web site crashed under the demand for it. It’s going to be a got item!

]]> By: SM0RVV http://www.danplanet.com/blog/2011/03/20/a-custom-aprs-tracker-with-a-real-screen/#comment-4383 SM0RVV Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:35:33 +0000 http://blog.danplanet.com/wordpress/?p=97#comment-4383 Really great work Dan! I have been wanting to see something like this for a long time. Xastir is good in many ways, but it's not very car-friendly. Short wishlist: A "-h" option which displays usage. Comments in the example ini files, which lists valid options. Last but not least, two way messages! This is going to be a perfect match for Raspberry Pi. 73 and thanks for making your work Open Source. SM0RVV Really great work Dan!

I have been wanting to see something like this for a long time.
Xastir is good in many ways, but it’s not very car-friendly.

Short wishlist:
A “-h” option which displays usage.
Comments in the example ini files, which lists valid options.
Last but not least, two way messages!

This is going to be a perfect match for Raspberry Pi.

73 and thanks for making your work Open Source.
SM0RVV

]]> By: Donn http://www.danplanet.com/blog/2011/03/20/a-custom-aprs-tracker-with-a-real-screen/#comment-4294 Donn Tue, 06 Mar 2012 05:01:36 +0000 http://blog.danplanet.com/wordpress/?p=97#comment-4294 Hi Mark Phillips, Would you share your video/picture for your project? I like to built.. but have no idea on how to start it.. If you willing to share, it will be great.. thanks Hi Mark Phillips,

Would you share your video/picture for your project?
I like to built.. but have no idea on how to start it..
If you willing to share, it will be great.. thanks

]]> By: Mark Phillips http://www.danplanet.com/blog/2011/03/20/a-custom-aprs-tracker-with-a-real-screen/#comment-4258 Mark Phillips Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:54:45 +0000 http://blog.danplanet.com/wordpress/?p=97#comment-4258 I don't mean to sound condescending or start a flame war on Dan's site but this is not really complete project and what is required is already outlined in his (and other's) messages. Dan wrote some code (available via git: per above link) which you will need to compile on your given platform. Dan uses an ARM based device called a BeagleBoard (not PC compatible). I'm currently using an Atom based home theater machine I picked up at Micro Center for $240. Both these machines output 1V p-p analog video such as you would feed into your TV's yellow socket from the VCR etc. I'm running LXDM on mine and I'm guessing that Dan runs Angstrom Beagelboard default Linux distro) on his. As I have a regular PC I'm able to compile my code easily. Dan on the other hand has to "cross compile" the code to run on his ARM11 processor. I would not recommend you try cross compiling unless you are very familiar with both Linux and your chosen processor. The screen that Dan uses is available from ebay from about $50. It's not a computer screen but a TV screen. I'm using the spare TV input on my minivan's factory radio so I don't need to clutter the dashboard with hardware. I found a cool bluetooth keyboard at Micro Center for $70. Its about the size of an xbox controller that you type on with your thumbs and it has a track pad underneath that you operate with your index finger . However, unless you want to run a full suite of apps and need full keyboard input I would suggest using any number of arduino based keyboard emulators that will present a few buttons that you would link to the application function you want. My setup has grown into a monster; PC, GPS, KISS TNC (homebrew), <a href="http://www.gmskhotspot.com" rel="nofollow">NQSMHS</a>, <a href="http://goboxgizmos.com/usbdigivox.html" rel="nofollow">PSK31 interface</a> for my FT857and the relevant radio's for it all. All of this is far too much money. Dan's solution is also too much money coming in at over $300! In his defense, development and proof of concepts cost money. I've ordered one of those Android TV media player devices. They spec at a 1GHz ARM11 processor, 512MB+ RAM, 1GB flash storage, USB, video, wifi, 10/100/1000 for around $100. They can run Linux (Android is Linux based) too. I'll let you know how I get on with it. I don’t mean to sound condescending or start a flame war on Dan’s site but this is not really complete project and what is required is already outlined in his (and other’s) messages.

Dan wrote some code (available via git: per above link) which you will need to compile on your given platform. Dan uses an ARM based device called a BeagleBoard (not PC compatible). I’m currently using an Atom based home theater machine I picked up at Micro Center for $240. Both these machines output 1V p-p analog video such as you would feed into your TV’s yellow socket from the VCR etc.

I’m running LXDM on mine and I’m guessing that Dan runs Angstrom Beagelboard default Linux distro) on his. As I have a regular PC I’m able to compile my code easily. Dan on the other hand has to “cross compile” the code to run on his ARM11 processor. I would not recommend you try cross compiling unless you are very familiar with both Linux and your chosen processor.

The screen that Dan uses is available from ebay from about $50. It’s not a computer screen but a TV screen. I’m using the spare TV input on my minivan’s factory radio so I don’t need to clutter the dashboard with hardware.

I found a cool bluetooth keyboard at Micro Center for $70. Its about the size of an xbox controller that you type on with your thumbs and it has a track pad underneath that you operate with your index finger . However, unless you want to run a full suite of apps and need full keyboard input I would suggest using any number of arduino based keyboard emulators that will present a few buttons that you would link to the application function you want.

My setup has grown into a monster; PC, GPS, KISS TNC (homebrew), NQSMHS, PSK31 interface for my FT857and the relevant radio’s for it all.

All of this is far too much money. Dan’s solution is also too much money coming in at over $300! In his defense, development and proof of concepts cost money.

I’ve ordered one of those Android TV media player devices. They spec at a 1GHz ARM11 processor, 512MB+ RAM, 1GB flash storage, USB, video, wifi, 10/100/1000 for around $100. They can run Linux (Android is Linux based) too. I’ll let you know how I get on with it.

]]> By: Donn http://www.danplanet.com/blog/2011/03/20/a-custom-aprs-tracker-with-a-real-screen/#comment-4056 Donn Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:14:31 +0000 http://blog.danplanet.com/wordpress/?p=97#comment-4056 Somebody please list out the part that need to build this project.. really love the sound & look.. thanks to the creator.. hope I can build one like it.. 73 Somebody please list out the part that need to build this project..
really love the sound & look.. thanks to the creator.. hope I can build one like it.. 73

]]> By: Mark Phillips http://www.danplanet.com/blog/2011/03/20/a-custom-aprs-tracker-with-a-real-screen/#comment-4013 Mark Phillips Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:41:07 +0000 http://blog.danplanet.com/wordpress/?p=97#comment-4013 Hmmmnnn, Needs gpsd support ;) Been looking for the right board to start this project. Looks like it'll be mini6410 based. Dev kits start at about $100. Hmmmnnn,

Needs gpsd support Smilie: ;)

Been looking for the right board to start this project. Looks like it’ll be mini6410 based. Dev kits start at about $100.

]]> By: Mark Phillips http://www.danplanet.com/blog/2011/03/20/a-custom-aprs-tracker-with-a-real-screen/#comment-3915 Mark Phillips Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:43:57 +0000 http://blog.danplanet.com/wordpress/?p=97#comment-3915 ARM based AutoPC looking pretty good! Been looking at those Android based TV media players. Same specs as your Beagle Board but with wifi and BT for around $100. S0, APRS Tracker, Navit, CHiRP, D-RATS and other stuff for $100. And it'll fit the spare av-in line on my factory radio - result!! ARM based AutoPC looking pretty good! Been looking at those Android based TV media players. Same specs as your Beagle Board but with wifi and BT for around $100.

S0, APRS Tracker, Navit, CHiRP, D-RATS and other stuff for $100. And it’ll fit the spare av-in line on my factory radio – result!!

]]> By: Dan http://www.danplanet.com/blog/2011/03/20/a-custom-aprs-tracker-with-a-real-screen/#comment-3867 Dan Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:00:04 +0000 http://blog.danplanet.com/wordpress/?p=97#comment-3867 Yeah, I've got a wireless presentation remote connected to it now, which gives me five buttons for navigating an interface on the device. I don't have much of one created yet, but I can scroll back through the station history, which is nice. It opens a lot more options (read: work) :) Yeah, I’ve got a wireless presentation remote connected to it now, which gives me five buttons for navigating an interface on the device. I don’t have much of one created yet, but I can scroll back through the station history, which is nice. It opens a lot more options (read: work) Smilie: :)

]]> By: Mark Phillips http://www.danplanet.com/blog/2011/03/20/a-custom-aprs-tracker-with-a-real-screen/#comment-3827 Mark Phillips Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:51:34 +0000 http://blog.danplanet.com/wordpress/?p=97#comment-3827 How about some push buttons so that you can toggle between tracker, navit (for the mapping, and some gps stats from xgps/gpsd? Hmmmnnn. Having serious carputer ideas now. How about some push buttons so that you can toggle between tracker, navit (for the mapping, and some gps stats from xgps/gpsd?

Hmmmnnn. Having serious carputer ideas now.

]]>