Topic: Any Hams here use APRS?

[Blackx]

I'm thinking Paul you might use this?

I want to try and make my Yaesu 7900 work with my Garmin GPSmap 60csx.  I'm having a hard time finding the correct wires.  Seems ham's always want to make their own stuff.  I think this would be a good way for my wife to follow my route on trips where she can't make it.  Seems more spotty than a SPOT but way less expensive.

[Bobby B.]

I don't, but it sounds interesting since I have the same gps.  I seem to remember Jason doing something like this, though.

[xtatik]

My experience with APRS is......... you can pretty much just make a cell phone call from the places you'll have digipeater coverage. It's fine for the local offroad parks like Big Bear, Anza Borrego, etc. If you're a gadgeteer and just want the gadget, go for it. But, if you plan on having people tracking you in more remote locales....I'd get a "SPOT", in the long run they are actually cheaper and more reliable.

[Paul]

I don't APRS but looked into it. Unless you get a radio like the new Yaesu FTM-350 or the current Kenwood TM-710D with ARPS built-in you've got a bit of work to do. There's three moving parts - the GPS, the TNC, and the radio itself. TinyTracker is pretty popular and works with some of the cheap GPS units. You do have to be within 2M range of an APRS repeater system. The local search and rescue group uses them - we've got "suit cases" with gel cell batteries and magnetic mounts to toss on a vehicle we want to track.

The Yaesu has just been announced and I'll probably buy one once they become available. The Kenwood allows you to put in a "dither" which only gives your approximate location if you want. It would sort of creep me out knowing that someone could use ARPS to track me down too closely.

[Soylent Yellow]

It would sort of creep me out knowing that someone could use ARPS to track me down too closely.

They've been watching you for some time already. 

[Blackx]

Yeah I think I might do this just to see if I can figure it out and see how well it works.  One of my business partners is really into ham radios and has been helping me figure out what I need.  Now it seems he's more interested in this than I am. 

I'll let you know how i proceed.

[Bobby B.]

They've been watching you for some time already. 

You've just gotta keep moving. 

[Paul]

You've just gotta keep moving. 

And shooting back with authority!