Date:         Sat, 9 Nov 2002 00:30:22 -0600
Reply-To:     Chris Smith <chris.smith@AQUILA.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris Smith <chris.smith@AQUILA.NET>
Subject:      Re: Do you use GPS mapping gismo?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

TURD now has GPS!!!! but in normal TURD fashion it's not your average
system.

The unit I use is a Motorola Oncore GT+ OEM Module.  It is not a
complete unit by any streatch though.  It is teh heart of a custom built
GPS system.  The unit is tiny (1"X2"X4") but has no screen, antenna, or
even power supply.  It is the heart of my APRS system onboard.  Here are
the details:

Motorola Oncore GT+ OEM Module
SM-76 High gain active antenna
McKinney Technologies Oncore interface (available from www.tapr.org)
IBM 730TS armtop pen based PC. with Pentium 233 processor mod
UI-VIEW 32 V1.8 mapping, APRS and telemetry software.
Yeasu FT-2400 2M Amatuer radio for position broadcast
AEA PK-88 TNC for interface from PC to radio
Homebrew DCD switch to run GPS and TNC off same comm port
Blue plastic box to house everything but PC
Still searching for angle mount to place PC on dash.
Street Atlas V5 for map generation
1500w inverter to power PC supply plus other AC needs
2) 72 Amp/hour batts for 12v storage
Antenna Systems 5/8 over 1/4 colinear antenna on custom roof rack mount

Why all this?

Thanks to the nature of amatuer radio, experimentation is not only
common but encouraged.  I have a system that lets me see wher the camper
is at any time via some interesting internet sites.  The plans are to be
able to run certain items off the laptop from my home, and be able to
check the status and position of the camper from home or from any pc
with internet access.  It's sort of like a remote security system that
allows me to kill the coil remotely.  to see if the van is on the road
go to www.findu.com and enter N9LCK-14 for the van and N9LCK for my home
station.  If you have an amatuer license follow the links to allow you
to send messages to my home terminal or the camper.

As you can see, I seem to have too much spare time lately :-)

Chris Smith
Chief RF Destroyer and ruiner of bandwidth, T.U.R.D.