ARDUINO + GPS + APRS Part 1
An Arduino
For some time I dusted off my Arduino and I decided to commit myself to a couple of projects.
First I want to assemble an APRS tracker mounted on a motorcycle to track my speed.
Will run in conjunction with a handheld 5 watt, specifically a Yaesu VX150, but it will also display the "judgments" NMEA to control both the operation and positioning of the other beacons around me.
Everything can be done very simply by a TinyTrak 3 of Byonics but want to put the fun to assemble and program everything with their hands?
So I started with a shopping list:
- A new Arduino Duemilanove oo rev. 3
- GPS
- TNC Modem
- LCD Screen
- Software
- Cables, wires and Cavini
- a Handheld Radio (my Yaesu VX150)
Radio Shield AX25
The Arduino I already had at home, at any rate, I ordered an Arduino UNO to be used in the final cut.
For the GPS I was looking at some sites that sell the GPS shield for Arduino when I remembered to have at home a Bluetooth GPS, namely a HOLUX M-1000, to the astonishment I found that this GPS has a serial interface RS485 (with levels TTL 3.3 V - 5V) disguised as a Mini USB B, therefore perfectly compatible with the serial that comes with Arduino.
For the modem, TNC I orientated towards a shield specially produced by Argentdata also equipped with the necessary library for implementation from the software side.
Even the LCD screen I have found it convenient to turn a shield preassembled so that brings on board an LCD model Nokia 6610 is already mounted on different phones.
Nokia 3310 Shield
The necessary software is all open source, in particular the two libraries needed GPS to find the site ARDUINIANA namely NewSoftSerial and TinyGPS.
For cables and cords Cavini there are problems the drawers are full and palmarino is already in the house.
Now the work begins, the next!
Dipole or Windom?
After about two years of honorable service of my Carolina Windom Radio Works, model 80 short, it went to hell (literally, given the closeness of my QTH with the Vatican).
The Front End of all radio, I had at the station, has begun to saturate the medium-wave broadcasts of RAI and I could not make a QSO with the QRM that exceeded the 9 +20 (if it was OK).
One morning, in desperation, I call my friend Charles IK0APA and, thanks to the promise of a breakfast bar, we went to the roof and hooked to my antenna switch of a small antenna for HF SSB portable, the MP1 of Superantennas, without even adjust it for a specific band.
Miracle, the reception was very silent, and after a quick adjustment I have completed two quick QSO on 80 meters, but then what happened?
It was evident that the Radio Works had something wrong!
For those unfamiliar with the Carolina say that it is made with two asymmetrical arms, by a balun, by a length of coaxial cable of about 3 meters and passes and by a choke, the vertical portion of the house is called "vertical radiator".
The hypothesis is the one that after two years of bad weather, something has penetrated inside the balun or choke (read water) or toroids have been a good cook 
.
At this point a solution that was urgent, though not definitive, I put in condition to do radio.
I remembered lying in a drawer of a 1:1 balun Diamond, so I somno used immediately to make a nice dipolino, about 10 meters. per arm and the balun at the center.
Particular dipole 80 meters
Two ceramic insulators on the ends and running quick on the radio to try.
I did not make specific calibration of the tuner, but I trusted the station (very badly and you say I agree) but it was late and I did not want to stay on the roof at sunset.
However, good agreement in 20 meters, in 18, 21, decent on 80 meters, about 24 and about 28 meters.
For the moment, the dipole has been mounted that way, but wait a moment for a finer adjustment.
So far this is my score on LoTW:
| Award | Selected | Applied | Awarded | Total / Current |
| Mixed | 62 | 0 | 0 | 62/62 |
| Phone | 29 | 0 | 0 | 29/29 |
| RTTY | 47 | 0 | 0 | 47/47 |
| 80M | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2/2 |
| 40M | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15/15 |
| 30M | 18 | 0 | 0 | 18/18 |
| 20M | 29 | 0 | 0 | 29/29 |
| 17M | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10/10 |
| 15M | 21 | 0 | 0 | 21/21 |
| 12M | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7/7 |
| 10M | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8/8 |
| Challenge | 110 | 0 | 0 | - / 110 |
Charged QSO on 1072 152 confirmations are received or about 15%, but above all to get to 100 "entities", with the limited equipment that I find myself I know I'll have to work hard!
KENWOOD R2000
The Kenwood R-2000 is a great receiver, the characteristics altogether honest and very suitable to switch from the first radio type DEGEN 1103 at something more serious, not too much.
It can be bought almost exclusively by the well-known auction site Ebay, and I highly recommend you buy it directly from a Chinese seller.
prices that are more honest and, on balance for the dollar / euro, very convenienti.I customs duties, which sometimes pay to the postman, sometimes through postal account, they are content (about 6 euros or so) and the possibility of ending up with a malfunctioning device is rare, in each case the warranty (through dispatch of DEGEN in China) works. We must only make sure that the advertisement is identified as the serigraphs are in English, otherwise ....... Chinese ideograms are difficult understandability.
The device is delivered in a nice package which includes: duck antenna for HF (one wire to hook telescopic antenna), AC wall (in some cases with spina American necessiuta the special adapter), stereo headset, wrist strap and little bag in mock velvet for transport.
The unit is very ergonomic and sized to facilitate the transportation, the controls are all where they should be ... and more importantly holds great serious antenna without saturation.
Continue ..
