RX-ONLY APRS IGATE, AND FUTURE PLANS FOR PACKET NODE
(Posted 2016-05-11 01:23:07 by corey_reichle)

So, I've deployed an receive-only iGate for the APRS system.  It's not very
impressive as of now, an old RadioShack Pro-2023 scanner, with the audio
cable going to a Raspberry Pi running tnc_pi [
http://www.coreyreichle.com/2016/05/03/tnc_pi-a-wifi-enabled-tnc-for-amateur-radio/
].

It's current range isn't so good, by and large.  Mainly, because it's a
desktop scanner with it's OEM antenna (A collapsible stick antenna) sitting
on a table in my bedroom.  So, I have a couple of options:  Upgrade just
the antenna to something better (And outdoors), or replacing it with a
TX/RX setup + Outdoor/Better antenna system.

I'm leaning towards just an antenna.  I'd like to place the RX/TX radio I
have (FT-2500M) in service as a packet node, which I had running a long
time ago.  I need to get re-familiar with how the new modem (Direwolf)
works with the Linux AX.25 stack (Soundmodem, which I used in the past, is
seamless, by and large).  Once I get there, I'll have a packet node back
online.

Yes, I know, people will say,"Packet is dead man!"  To that, I reply,"I
don't care."  I'll continue to use my own packet node, for my own needs,
even just to send email from within range.  I also like old-school BBS's.
 I had Synchronet as the BBS when I was running it last.  Likely, the main
reason it got little use from other hams:  They had no idea what a real BBS
was!

But, enough rambling:  KC2UGV-15 is up, and taking packets, right now:
aprs.fi info on my station [ http://aprs.fi/info/a/KC2UGV-15 ]!

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