Hey,<br><br> Steve Conklin from Antitronics is a member of the local amature radio club. If he's licensed, perhaps he could help us on flights or help us get our ratings.<br><br> - Ethan<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 8:14 AM, Matt <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:brimstone@the.narro.ws">brimstone@the.narro.ws</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Forwarding on. We need to get a ham on our team or get our ham licenses.<br>
Next test should be on May 1, so I'm going to look into that and start<br>
studying.<br>
<br>
#matt<br>
<br>
-------- Original Message --------<br>
Subject: Re: Cheap APRS Tracker Solutions<br>
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2010 05:23:55 -0700 (PDT)<br>
From: Gary N. Dion <<a href="mailto:garydion@yahoo.com">garydion@yahoo.com</a>><br>
To: <a href="mailto:me@garydion.com">me@garydion.com</a>, <a href="mailto:wb8elk@aol.com">wb8elk@aol.com</a>, Matt <<a href="mailto:brimstone@the.narro.ws">brimstone@the.narro.ws</a>><br>
<br>
<br>
Hi Matt,<br>
<br>
Glad you could join us on Saturday. I hope you received your payload<br>
back in good condition. The balloon yours was on was not one of the two<br>
I helped retrieve, so I didn't get the opportunity to see it. Sorry to<br>
hear the cellphone didn't work too well. So did you get some cool pictures?<br>
<br>
I'll let Bill weigh in on his tracking solution, as he is currently<br>
building a turnkey solution with the GPS receiver, microprocessor, and<br>
radio all on one board. It really is an elegant design, and it's<br>
exactly what you need. He can fill in the details of cost.<br>
<br>
I haven't taken advantage of the hardware Bill has been developing<br>
yet, so my last tracker came in over the budget you are currently<br>
looking at. I found my transmitter on ebay for $40, and the GPS<br>
receiver was $80. Bill's solution is MUCH cheaper (and better!) than<br>
this now - just harder to solder. And while I made boards for the<br>
WhereAVR, I believe the microprocessor circuit could be made on<br>
perfboard for well under $10, leaving $90 for a radio and GPS. I<br>
haven't been through the code in a while, so regardless of if you want<br>
to go this way, I'll be going through it to freshen the design and make<br>
it easier to customize.<br>
<br>
Most importantly, is there an amateur radio operator in your group so<br>
you can put your tracker on the air? If not, it really isn't difficult<br>
for you to get a license given your predisposition for things technical.<br>
Beyond a smattering of electronics knowledge, you just need to know a<br>
few regulations. I can point you to some online resources, and local<br>
exams are given regularly.<br>
<br>
73 (ham radio jargon meaning "Best Regards")<br>
-Gary, N4TXI<br>
<div class="im"><br>
<br>
--- On Mon, 4/12/10, Matt <<a href="mailto:brimstone@the.narro.ws">brimstone@the.narro.ws</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
> From: Matt <<a href="mailto:brimstone@the.narro.ws">brimstone@the.narro.ws</a>><br>
</div><div class="im">> Subject: Cheap APRS Tracker Solutions<br>
</div><div class="im">> To: <a href="mailto:me@garydion.com">me@garydion.com</a>, <a href="mailto:wb8elk@aol.com">wb8elk@aol.com</a><br>
</div>> Date: Monday, April 12, 2010, 8:32 PM<br>
<div><div></div><div class="h5">> Hello!<br>
><br>
> First, thanks for letting us hitchhike on one of the<br>
> balloons this past<br>
> weekend. It was quite learning experience. One of the big<br>
> items we<br>
> learned is that we really need to get an ARPS based tracker<br>
> and not a<br>
> cell phone.<br>
><br>
> Looking around online it looks like this isn't going to be<br>
> as cheap as<br>
> we'd like. Do either of you know of a cheap radio,<br>
> microcontroller, and<br>
> GPS solution for less than $100?<br>
><br>
> Thanks for your time!<br>
> #matt<br>
><br>
><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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