Update on posting to aprs.fi

Things have been quite hectic around here for the last few weeks so I haven't had a chance to post. I been asked to add some additional detail to the process I use to send my house / outdoor / & garage temperatures to aprs.fi.

I've updated my git repository (www.github.com/robingreig/raspi-git/aprx) with the latest files.
***** aprx.conf is now my configuration file with all of the custom beacon files included *****

beacon01.txt is the actual beacon file that transmits the temperatures & is beaconed every 10 minutes
T#136,22.5,38.7,15.7,0,0,00000000
T# = Telemetry
136 is my unique number (0 to a maximum of 999) each day.
***I take temperature readings every 10 minutes and save them to the file, then I take the  # of minutes since midnight for this beacon file / 4 to give me a unique number and copy that to this text file
So the unique number for my first beacon file should be 10 minutes past midnight / 4 = 2
Second unique number for the second beacon file = 20 minutes / 4 = 5
Since there are 1440 minutes in a day (24 hours x 60 minutes) / 4 my maximum beacon number would be 360 each day before it resets.
22.5 = House Temperature
37.7 = Outside Temperature + 40
*** Remembering that the number sent has to be between 0 & 255, if it is cold and I have a negative temperature, it won't send properly. So, worst case my outside temp would be -40C, so I add 40 to the outside temp so even worst case, my number would be 0. Then within my equations text file, I subtract 40 off the number to return to the actual outside temperature.
15.7 = Garage Temperatur
0,0,00000000 are additional values that are not used, but in my experience I needed to add them to the string for it to be recognized properly.

beacon02.txt is the parameters file and is beaconed every 120 minutes
:VE6RBN-1 :PARM.House Temp,Outside Temp,Garage Temp
This is a static text file that is beaconed, it does not change, since my parameters don't change

beacon03.txt is the units of measure file and is beaconed every 120 minutes
:VE6RBN-1 :UNIT.Deg C,Deg C,Deg C
This is a static text file as well and doesn't change.

beacon04.txt is the equations file and is beaconed every 120 minutes
:VE6RBN-1 :EQNS.0,1,0,0,1,-40,0,1,0
There are 3 variables sent for every parameter
House Temp (first set of 3) = 0, 1 , 0
Outside Temp (second set of 3) = 0, 1, -40
Garage Temp (third set of 3) = 0, 1, 0
First number of the set is used if we want to square the variable ( which I don't need to do)
Second number is a multiplier (I don't want to multiply my value, so I set it to 1, value x 1 = value)
Third number is a value to add to your variable.
Remembering that I added 40 to my outside temperature, here I subtract 40 from my outside variable to bring the value back to where it should be.

The only other point I wanted to bring up was that I haven't had time to experiment with sending these values out over the air, so I've set my 3 static beacon files (beacon02, beacon03, & beacon04) to be sent out over the internet only. As time allows I want to play with sending this information out over the air in a way that will be displayed properly.

Thanks for reading,
Robin

Raspi & APRX

For some reason when I completed the assembly of my RaspiTNC, I couldn't get it to run with APRX software, yet I was able to get it running on XASTIR. So I knew that my transmit and receive was working fine.... and had assumed (correctly) that I had probably made a mistake in my configuration file. I've gone back now and revisited the APRX Software page and re-read the APRX Manual. This time around I still had issues, but with the help of the APRX-Software Google Group I was able to find my configuration problem (I had left the - in my APRSIS password, so it wouldn't connect). Also I have to say that using my portable APRS setup = ASUS tablet running APRSDroid & Yaesu VX-6R & Mobilinkd TNC makes it easy to test out my iGate configurations.

Portable APRS Unit

Here is a pic of my Portable APRS unit that I've also used to test my Raspberry Pi TNC setup to ensure it is working OK:

You'll notice the high quality blue elastic that holds the Mobilinkd TNC to the back of the Yaesu VX-6R radio (grin). The cable was also purchased from Mobilinkd and I'm running APRSDroid on my ASUS Android tablet. The tablet is connected to the TNC via a Bluetooth link. You can see the map displayed on the tablet, however I usually run it in log mode to see  all of the traffic that it receives or transmits.

Raspberry Pi TNC & APRS

I've finally got my RaspiTNC up and running on my Raspberry Pi. It is hard to tell from the screen, but I'm running Xastir APRS software. The APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) is a wonderful project led by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, APRS. Essentially APRS is digital communications for Amateur Radio operators. Here is my home iGate station with Xastir running on the screen:

Here is a closer look at the radio and Rasperberry Pi & TNC:

The radio is showing APRS, which is the memory name for 144.390MHz, the North American APRS frequency.

A closer look at the brains of the system:

The red board is the RaspiTNC, & the green board just below is the Raspberry Pi. Just below that in the somewhat clear case is an external USB hub to power everything and below that is an 8 port switch to hook everything up. 

**** Please ignore the very, very poor job of soldering the capacitor & resistor to the 9 pin SubD connector on the RaspiTNC. This is what happens when you are in a hurry……

However I am happy to report that the TNC receives data packets via RF and transmits them to aprs.fi, and also receives packets from the internet and sends them out via RF.

You can see the APRS J-Pole antenna that I used in a post about 4 weeks ago. it is omnidirectional to provide fairly even coverage around Irricana.

If you want to see where my station is from anywhere in the world, click over to aprs.fi and track call sign VE6RBN-1 which will zoom right into my rig show here.

Raspberry Pi TNC

As if one project isn't enough (Arduino running as a Mobilinkd TNC). I found this link for a TNC for my favorite platform, Raspberry Pi. (TNC-Pi)
Here is a pic from their website:

I've got a couple on order and will be playing with both the Arduino / Mobilinkd TNC as well as the RaspiTNC.

Mobilinkd TNC

Well, I'm really enjoying my Mobilinkd Bluetooth TNC piggybacked onto my VX-6 (got the idea from VE6AB, Jerry Clement).

The photo does not include the cable running from the TNC to the radio because I'm playing with another project that Rob Riggs of Mobilinkd has shared with everyone. Using an Ardiuno as a TNC

I was able to successfully download his .hex file into my Arduino Nano and now I'm in the process of wiring it up!