APRS noob in need of help

[AJ4ZV]

I'm an APRS noob and have some questions.

I'm looking to get a Tinytrak4 with the Byonics GPS2, but am unsure of the cables and such needed. I know I need either the M12 or M96 cable, not sure which would be better. Is that all I need? I have a FT8800R.

If I wanted to view other APRS users on a map while I was mobile, with this equipment, how would I do this? What else would be needed for this sort of operation?

[K7VZ]

I can answer a few of your questions.

You can use the data port on the back of the 8800. You can get the cable CT-39A and solder on a DB9 to the tracker. HRO sells the cable for around $10-12. Don't trust the pin-out/color guide on the front of the packaging. I found mine to be wrong, but easily figured out.

The 8800 isn't the best radio to use for APRS. You have to leave the active side of the radio on the APRS frequency and switch back and forth to the voice side when you talk. You run the risk of accidentally beaconing on the wrong frequency.

[AJ4ZV]

The 8800 is all I have that can be used for this right now. I know its possible to connect a Nuvi 350 to a Tracker2 or opentracker, but can it be used with a TT4? If so what is required?

Scott
AJ4ZV

[K7VZ]

Feature-wise, I believe the Tracker2 and TinyTracker4 have very similar features. I don't know for sure, but they probably use similar cables if not the same. Any tracker device works as an interface between your GPS and radio. You will need a cable between the GPS and tracker and another cable between the tracker and radio. The pinouts are quite simple and don't be afraid to build your own.

[KE7KUS]

Although the Tracker2 and TT4 are similar in performance and features, the Tracker2 has code built in to the firmware which allows the Tracker2 to send display data to a compatible Garmin GPS receiver. The end result is the GPS receiver displays the APRS data overlaid on the map. In addition, once you have the GPS receiver configured to display the data from the Tracker2, you can also use the messaging function of the GPS receiver (once you put it in the proper mode) to send APRS messages via the GPS receiver's touch-screen keyboard. The Tracker2 uses the GPS output of the Garmin dashboard GPS for position reports, so you don't have to get a separate GPS for that setup.

The Tracker2 Yahoo Group has lots of good info about that system, most of which will answer pretty much any question you may have. I ran the T2-135 (the version which fits inside the Alinco DR-135 radio) with a Garmin Nuvi 350 in my truck for about a year and can fill you in more on the specifics, pro's, and cons of Tracker2 if you have questions.