Aircraft Tracking - Revision history

Bferrell: /* APRS / HAM Radio */

2012-07-20T00:14:31Z

APRS / HAM Radio

Bferrell: /* APRS / HAM Radio */

2011-05-24T18:49:17Z

APRS / HAM Radio

Bferrell: /* APRS / HAM Radio */

2011-05-24T18:48:55Z

APRS / HAM Radio

Bferrell: /* APRS / HAM Radio */

2011-05-24T18:48:34Z

APRS / HAM Radio

Bferrell: /* APRS / HAM Radio */

2011-05-24T18:48:20Z

APRS / HAM Radio

Bferrell: /* APRS / HAM Radio */

2011-05-24T18:46:48Z

APRS / HAM Radio

Bferrell: /* Overview */

2011-05-24T18:45:48Z

Overview

Bferrell: /* APRS / HAM Radio */

2011-05-24T18:45:35Z

APRS / HAM Radio

Bferrell: /* Overview */

2011-05-24T18:45:07Z

Overview

Bferrell: /* Overview */

2011-05-24T18:44:45Z

Overview

@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 The easiest way into getting your station up once you have your license is to buy one ready-to-go, like [http://www.byonics.com/microtrak/mt-rtg.php Byonics MircoTrak RTG].  This bad boy will take 12V from your airplane, and whip antenna internal (I put my behind the false bulkhead), and a serial GPS antenna and start broadcasting away.  You could even use this as a low jack should your airplane ever go missing.  The microtrak line are really cool, with SmartBeaconing.  Basically it will broadcast once every 2 minutes unless it senses your direction is changing.  If so, it sends out extra beacons to improve your track by the receiving units.<br/><br/>
-[[Image:Free_track.jpg|right|150px]]Once your unit is broadcasting, you can find the track on a free website like [http://openaprs.net/ OpenAprs] or build your own.  Building your own isn't that bad, and in fact I have offered to host sites on my [http://n44vf.velocityxl.com/aprs/aprs_track.php webserver] for my friends using Google maps. All of the broadcast information is available, tail number, speed, course, altitude.  You can even build a 3D flight from the track data in Google Earth.<br/><br/><br/><br/>
 [[Image:Avmap2.jpg|right|200px]]Another cool feature of APRS is that it's broadcast in real time, so it's available for in-flight (ship-to-ship) tracking as well.  I hope to experiment with this one myself, but this cool [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPH4mwn4uko YouTube Video] shows how this works in a car.  Simply hook up a APRS capable Ham radio (like the Kenwood D710A) to a display (like the Avmap G5) and enter the station/airplane you want to track.  Bingo, that station appears on top of your map.  This would be awesome for forming up and flying to Oshkosh together!  In the air the range of the APRS transmitters should be simply huge.

@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 [[Image:3d_track.jpg|right|200px]]So, the minimum license required is [http://www.arrl.org/licensing-preparation-exams Technician Class].  Licenses are good for 10 years, and are free to renew.  Get a book or a subscription to [http://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/index.html Ham Test Online], and you're a few evenings of prep and a 1 hour test away from having your license.  It's really that easy, in fact my EAA chapter offered free preparation sessions.<br/><br/><br/><br/>
 The easiest way into getting your station up once you have your license is to buy one ready-to-go, like [http://www.byonics.com/microtrak/mt-rtg.php Byonics MircoTrak RTG].  This bad boy will take 12V from your airplane, and whip antenna internal (I put my behind the false bulkhead), and a serial GPS antenna and start broadcasting away.  You could even use this as a low jack should your airplane ever go missing.  The microtrak line are really cool, with SmartBeaconing.  Basically it will broadcast once every 2 minutes unless it senses your direction is changing.  If so, it sends out extra beacons to improve your track by the receiving units.<br/>
 [[Image:Free_track.jpg|right|150px]]Once your unit is broadcasting, you can find the track on a free website like [http://openaprs.net/ OpenAprs] or build your own.  Building your own isn't that bad, and in fact I have offered to host sites on my [http://n44vf.velocityxl.com/aprs/aprs_track.php webserver] for my friends using Google maps. All of the broadcast information is available, tail number, speed, course, altitude.  You can even build a 3D flight from the track data in Google Earth.<br/><br/><br/><br/>

@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 ==  APRS / HAM Radio ==
-Edits: Created by Brett Ferrell
+Edits: Created by Brett Ferrell<br/>
 [[Image:MicroTrak300.jpg|right|200px]]APRS is the tracker that I'm personally most familiar with, and frankly recommend.  APRS is a specific band (2m) in the Ham radio spectrum that allows for "automatic position reporting".  Since the Ham spectrum is free to use, and there is a good network of ham radio repeaters (to forward your broadcast) and igates (to Gate your broadcast to the internet) in most areas of the country you only have to get your license and buy a cheap transmitter.<br/><br/><br/><br/>
 [[Image:3d_track.jpg|right|200px]]So, the minimum license required is [http://www.arrl.org/licensing-preparation-exams Technician Class].  Licenses are good for 10 years, and are free to renew.  Get a book or a subscription to [http://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/index.html Ham Test Online], and you're a few evenings of prep and a 1 hour test away from having your license.  It's really that easy, in fact my EAA chapter offered free preparation sessions.<br/><br/><br/><br/>

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:48, 24 May 2011
Line 38:		Line 38:

	Edits: Created by Brett Ferrell		Edits: Created by Brett Ferrell
−	Updated: by Brett Ferrell 05/24/2011	+	Updated: by Brett Ferrell 05/24/2011

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 Edits: Created by Brett Ferrell
-        Updated by Brett Ferrell 05/24/2011
+        Updated: by Brett Ferrell 05/24/2011
 [[Image:MicroTrak300.jpg|right|200px]]APRS is the tracker that I'm personally most familiar with, and frankly recommend.  APRS is a specific band (2m) in the Ham radio spectrum that allows for "automatic position reporting".  Since the Ham spectrum is free to use, and there is a good network of ham radio repeaters (to forward your broadcast) and igates (to Gate your broadcast to the internet) in most areas of the country you only have to get your license and buy a cheap transmitter.<br/><br/><br/><br/>
 [[Image:3d_track.jpg|right|200px]]So, the minimum license required is [http://www.arrl.org/licensing-preparation-exams Technician Class].  Licenses are good for 10 years, and are free to renew.  Get a book or a subscription to Ham Test Online, and you're a few evenings of prep and a 1 hour test away from having your license.  It's really that easy, in fact my EAA chapter offered free preparation sessions.<br/><br/><br/><br/>
 The easiest way into getting your station up once you have your license is to buy one ready-to-go, like [http://www.byonics.com/microtrak/mt-rtg.php Byonics MircoTrak RTG].  This bad boy will take 12V from your airplane, and whip antenna internal (I put my behind the false bulkhead), and a serial GPS antenna and start broadcasting away.  You could even use this as a low jack should your airplane ever go missing.  The microtrak line are really cool, with SmartBeaconing.  Basically it will broadcast once every 2 minutes unless it senses your direction is changing.  If so, it sends out extra beacons to improve your track by the receiving units.<br/>

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 == Overview ==
-Overview created by Brett Ferrell
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← Older revision		Revision as of 18:45, 24 May 2011
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	== APRS / HAM Radio ==		== APRS / HAM Radio ==
		+
		+	Edits: Created by Brett Ferrell
		+

	[[Image:MicroTrak300.jpg\|right\|200px]]APRS is the tracker that I'm personally most familiar with, and frankly recommend. APRS is a specific band in the Ham radio spectrum that allows for "automatic position reporting". Since the Ham spectrum is free to use, and there is a good network of ham radio repeaters (to forward your broadcast) and igates (to Gate your broadcast to the internet) in most areas of the country you only have to get your license and buy a cheap transmitter.<br/><br/><br/><br/>		[[Image:MicroTrak300.jpg\|right\|200px]]APRS is the tracker that I'm personally most familiar with, and frankly recommend. APRS is a specific band in the Ham radio spectrum that allows for "automatic position reporting". Since the Ham spectrum is free to use, and there is a good network of ham radio repeaters (to forward your broadcast) and igates (to Gate your broadcast to the internet) in most areas of the country you only have to get your license and buy a cheap transmitter.<br/><br/><br/><br/>