On this page you will find:

• Geosat5 Navigation System with APRS
• MicroTrak-300 APRS Transmitter
• TinyTrak APRS Controller
• TinyTrak 3
• WX-Trak weather beacon controller
• TinyTrak-3Plus
• TinyTrak-3SMT
• SCS Tracker DSP TNC
• GPS Mouse

APRS

What is APRS?
APRS (Automated Position Reporting System) is a special variant of Packet Radio.

With APRS is is possible to display and track the geographical position of mobile or fixed ham radio stations superimposed on a map on a computer screen. Mobile stations need an on-board GPS receiver. The APRS system is operational on any kind of vehicle, e.g. also on board of a (RC-model) airplane.
What is required: An APRS capable 2m radio (e.g. a TM-D700 or TH-D7E) or a TNC with APRS software. For non-APRS capable radios a small optional PC board is available which processes and transmits the APRS data based on the inputs from a GPS receiver. On the receiving side a PC with the appropriate control software is required as well as a digital mapping software. The maps are available in larger scales as freeware and more detailed maps can be obtained though the National Geographical Services on CD-ROM. The APRS data is distributed in real-time via a dedicated digipeater network; in Germany this is done on 144.800 MHz in simplex mode or via Internet gateways world wide.

• Mobile station: GPS-Mouse, TM-D700, laptop incl. mapping software.
• Portable station: GPS-Mouse, TH-D7E
• Fixed station: TH-D7E, PC, mapping software, a GPS receiver is not required because of the fixed location.
• Digipeater station: TNC21 with a handheld radio or equivalent, a GPS receiver is not required because of the fixed location.

Geosat6 APRS: GPS Navigationssystem with APRS-Integration

Geosat6 APRS

The transmit-side of APRS is no problem - but to display the received data only the text display of some radios was available. To display received APRS data on a map you needed a portable computer, which was not installed properly and could lead to security problems...

The new Geosat Navigation System has APRS fully integrated. The device is compatible to all APRS enabled Kenwood Transceivers (TH-D7, TM-D700, TH-D72, TM-D710); both devices are simply connected with a supplied cable. The received APRS data is now displayed on the Navigation screen.
The received APRS stations are assigned with the correct icon as defined by the APRS protocol, for example a mobile station is displayed as a car. APRS target can be used as navigation targets, which allows you to track also moving targets - the route calculation changes according to the changing position of the target.

The Geaosat6 has a slim and nice looking metal case with a large 4.8" screen in wide 16:9 format. Route instructions are spoken by a voice system, including the street names. The display shows the navigation route either in 2D or 3D mode.

The supplied suction cup holder allows tilt and swivel and is very easy to use: just attach it to the wind screen. A strong magnet holds the device, a row of contacts connects the power supply. When rotated in the holder the display switches automatically from horizontal to vertical screen mode. The power supply is attached to the holder, which in turn feeds it with a row of sping contacts to the device. When removing the Geosat6 the power cable stays on the holder.

The 'trip computer' helps the driver to get an easy overview of the planned journey. It shows informations like speed diagrams, average speed, fastest speed, arrival time etc.

The 'break planner' helps to organise the perfect journey. After defining the target and the departure time you can enter the time or distance, after which a break should be planned. The software finds a restaurant, filling station, hotel or other ameneties in the target area.
Geosat6 calculates the route according to pre-defined parameters like 'shortest route', 'avoid motorways' etc. The navigation system has a much mor sensitive GPS receiver which locks very fast and supplies very accvurate GPS data. The display automatically switches from 'day' to 'night' design.

Maps of 35 european countries are included in shipment: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Gibraltar, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Principality of Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Monaco, Great Britain, Czech Republic, Russia, San Marino, Slowakia, Slowenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Hungary, Vatican State.

A suitable software for the Geosat6 is available in the internet free of charge, which helps you to maintain your navigation systems. It loads free firmware updates or 'POI' (Points of Interest' databases. Allegedly there are also lists of speed traps available in the net…

APRS Funnctions

Bi-directional RS-232 APRS Communication
Included in shipment of the Geosat6 is an APRS cable für all APRS enabled kenwood radios like the TH-D7, TM-D700, TH-D72 and TM-D710. The Geosat6-APRS supplies GPS position data for transmitting APRS beacons to the radio, and shows various received APRS information on the display. The device can store and display up to 1000 APRS contacts.

Geosat6 APRS

Navigate to moving targets
Geosat6-APRS can be setup in a fashion that navigation to a moving target becomes possible. When the target moves the route is recalculated accordingly.

APRS Icons
All APRS activities are shown on the display. Fixed and moving APRS stations are shown with different icons, the callsign is shown as well. If the device is used with a TM-D710 and switched to the Kenwood data protocol, it supports all standardised APRS icons.

Tactical Mode
Geosat6-APRS benefits from the Kenwood data protocol. The tactical mode allows you to select an APRS contact and display additionally the callsign, position, speed, heading and height of the selected station.

APRS Contact Management
Due to the new APRS contact management, inactive APRS contacts can be deleted after an adjustable time automatically. The received APRS stations are stored in a separate memory with over 1000 storage locations, which is managed and can be deleted separately from other targets. The regular memory for your favorite targets is not filled up with the volatile APRS targets. All APRS stations can be sorted by alphabet or by reception time.

APRS Messages
When using the Geosat5-APRS with a Byonics TinyTrak device, you can transmit APRS messages as well. Entering text is easy with the large virtual keyboard.

Geosat6 Rear

Included in shipment is:

• GEOSAT6-APRS Device
• Suction Cup Holder
• Cigar Lighter Cable
• PowerSupply/Charger for 230V
• USB Cable
• APRS Cable for Kenwood Radios

Note:
The model of the Geosat6 available in other countries, which includes GSM and Bluetooth functions, is not offered in Germany.

Accessories Geosat-5, Geosat-6

MicroTrak 300 Miniature APRS Transmitter

A 2-meter FM transmitter combined with a TinyTrak 3 controller chip that provides an easy and inexpensive way to build a small APRS tracker. Just plug in a GPS receiver, and track!

• No need to tie up an expensive radio for APRS tracking
• No complicated radio cabling
• Simple 2 wire GPS connection
• Supports all the latest TinyTrak3 features.

Microtrak-300

Micro-Trak 300 is available on 144.800 MHz, transmits 300 mW and is sold as a built and tested unit.

The Micro-Trak 300 PCB measures 82x25mm. Because of its small size and light weight it is ideal for portable and airborne operations.

An on-board 5 volt regulator provides an optional 200 mA power output for your GPS receiver. (Many applications, including the use of the device with hand-held GPS units, will not require the 5 volt output of the Micro-Track.) The entire system runs well on 9-15 volts DC, and draws only about 10 milliamps in standby, and increases to 180 milliamps during transmissions (which last approximately 1/3 of a second using MIC-E). This provides for a very efficient battery-powered package. The transmitter will typically run for about 25 hours on a nine-volt battery with 2 minute check-ins.

A male DB-9 connector and a 9V battery cable are included, but not soldered to the board. The DB-9 connector can be wedged in to form a temporary connection during configuration (with a null modem gender changer) if desired.

The Micro-Trak can connect to a standard GPS receiver directly through the DB9 connector, but it is important to remember that computer programming and communication uses a reversed connection, meaning you will need a female to female Null modem cable, or a null modem adaptor and a gender-changer connector for programming your Micro-Trak.

Note: Micro-Trak 300 is a transmitter only. It does not receive radio signals, and therefore may occasionally transmit over other stations. This is normally not a problem due to the power level of the MicroTrak 300.

TinyTrak 4

TinyTrak-4 SMT

TinyTrak-4 is the successor to the well known TinyTrak-3. It offers more or less the same possibilities as the TT-3, but with some very interestng new features:

• DSP Packet Decoding - Using software DSP, the TinyTrak4 can not only decode 1200 baud packet, but also 9600 baud, and 300 baud packet, DTMF, and more. Since the decoding is not hardware based, new demodulation capabilities can be added to existing TinyTrak4s.
• Field Upgradeability - New firmware can be downloaded for free from the TinyTrak4 website and sent to the TinyTrak4 with a computer serial port and a F-F null modem adapter.
• Analog & Digital Telemetry - TinyTrak4 can read temperature, battery voltage, and other analog and digital sources.
• More powerful processor - TinyTrak4 has more processor speed, code space, RAM, and EEPROM than the TinyTrak3 to allow for more features.

Implemented Functionality:

• Field upgradeability
• TinyTrak3 features - Most all the TinyTrak3 functions have been translated to the TinyTrak4
• KISS TNC
• UI TNC
• APRS tracker that can plot positions as waypoints on compatible GPS receivers
• Telemetry
• Smart Digipeater
• Packet display

Planned Functionality:

• 9600 baud and 300 baud encode and decode TNC & Tracker
• DTMF encode and decode - use for remote control, logging, transmitter hunting
• Weather station support
• PSK31 support
• Remote control
• Full TNC

We supply the TT-4 as SMT vrsion, fully asse,bled and operational, with box. The installed software has equal functions like the TT-3.

TinyTrak-4 with box

TinyTrak 3

TinyTrak-3 Chip (PIC)

WX-Trak Kit

APRS is more than just position reporting. Right after the introduction of APRS many stations started to broadcast weather data as well. Usually this required an entire PC plus TNC besides the WX station. Now there is a much better solution, freeing the PC for other tasks.
The WX-Trak is based on the reliable hardware of the TinyTrak-3. But instead of connecting a GPS device, a WX station is connected, the supplied WX information is broadcasted in adjustable intervals. For operation the callsing and fixed position is programmed once into the WX-Trak interface, then the WX station can be connected. In adjustable intervals WX data is braodcast, other users can ses this data with the appropiate software on their PC.
Many models of WX stations can be used: WX-200, Huger WM918x (Oregon Scientific), Ultimeter Models 100, 800, 2000 and 2100 (Peet Brothers) and more.

These weather stations by Peet Bros. are now also on sale at WiMo. Together with the TM-D710E you have an unbeatable APRS station. And of course you know what the weather will be. Link to Peet Weather stations.

WX-Trak is a kit and comes with required parts for assembly, except the dcase (optional, see above). An existing Tiny-Trak can be modified into a WX-Trak by exchanging the PIC chip.

Wx-Trak Chip (PIC)

TinyTrak-3Plus

GPS Beacon: In combination with a GPS receiver any handheld or mobile radio can broadcast the GPS information.
The beacon features a serial interface which allows PC-programming of the call sign, TX delay, beacon intervals and beacon text. During operation the GPS receiver is connects to the serial port and the audio as well as PTT terminals connect to the radio.
Imagine a moving fox hunt with such a relative simple set-up.
The analysis of the received data is not possible with TinyTrack.

TinyTrak3 is a GPS position encoder which, when connected to a GPS and a radio, will transmit its location at an adjustable rate. TinyTrak3 is a construction project providing an inexpensive way to build a mobile tracker without the need for a full TNC. It is configured by connecting to a computer's serial port, and running a simple configuration tool which allows setting of all user options.

TinyTrak3Plus is a redesigned TinyTrak3 with a larger voltage regulator that can power a 5V GPS, such as a Garmin GPS18. TinyTrak3Plus has the same features, and uses the same firmware chip, configuration software, and case as the TinyTrak3, but a separate documentation file is available with instructions for the different PCB. TinyTrak3Plus is sold with a case.

SCS Tracker DSP TNC

Multimode-TNC for Packet Radio and APRS, USB connection to PC

One Packet Radio TNC for all modes like 300Bd AFSK, Robust Packet Radio (RPR) for shortwave, 1200Bd AFSK and 9600/19200 FSK (G3RUH). First TNC to use a DSP as modem processor, resulting in a much larger captive range of AF frequencies (e.g. ±400Hz at 300Bd AFSK, the usual modems only have a few hertz range). This allows reception of larger groups with slightly differing frequencies. Supports KISS and Hostmode. Includes position tracker for APRS: transmits position data in APRS format. A computer is not required, the GPS receiver is connected directly to the Tracker. Control output for transceiver for low power consumption.

The Tracker is connected to the PC with an optically isolated USB cable, thus alleviating all problems with ground loops. The device itself is shielded against HF radiation and does not produce noise. During APRS sleep mode only 15mA power consumption, shortly before the next transmission the Tracker wakes up, turns on the transceiver, checks the transmission channel and transmits the APRS data set when the frequency is not in use.
The firmware can be updated over the USB line, firmware updates are free. Size 88 x 22 x 102mm, power consumption 70mA at 13,8V.

GPS Mouse

GPS Mouse USB

Small GPS Antenna with integrated receiver, for USB or serial interface (DSub 9pin). Powersupply for the serial mouse is done with the PS/2 keyboard connector of the computer. If this is not available another power supply must be used.
The USB mouse is supplied by the USB port (where else?). The serial mouse has a small built in magnet, but this is usually not strong enough to keep it attached to a car roof while driving. Removing the rubber feet improves this a little. For APRS: Just configure your radio according to the manual and be ready for APRS operation.

GPS Mouse serial