VE6AB Technical
APRS Man Pack
Here is a complete bi-directional APRS portable station that I recently put together with bits and pieces that I had lying around.
This compact station has more functionality that many full load APRS transceivers that cost 3 times more than what this portable station cost to assemble.
Show me an APRS rig that has a keyboard for ease of use.
Throw this one in your go-box, and when you need to use it, open the lid, attach the antenna, power it up, and your good to go.
The station is made up of a Byonics TT4 with the optional Byonics display, Byonics GPS5 receiver, compact Adesso PS2 compact keyboard (be aware that a USB keyboard will not function with this particular display), Baofeng UV-3R+ (any HT will work, although it has to have a fairly compact front to back form to allow the lid to close over the HT) with a telescopic whip antenna in place, and a roll-up antenna available when needed, as well as an extra battery, and a small 12 volt gel-cell for powering the Byonics devices.
All devices are fastened in place with Velcro adhesive-backed hook and loop tape, allowing for the various components to be removed when required, although there is no need to remove any of the components other than the HT and the spare battery for charging.
The whip may be left in place as shown when the station is stored, but the whip may also be removed and stored within the case if a more compact form is desired.
The case I found in a sporting goods store and normally meant to store a handgun in.
I removed the upper foam liner in the lid for obvious reasons, and modified the lower foam liner to fit the keyboard.
The keyboard is fastened in place with 3M double-sided foam tape.
Close the lid, and you have a very compact APRS Go Box as seen in the insert photo.
Click on the photo for a closer look.....
If you would like to build one of my roll-up-antennas.....
http://www.jerryclement.ca/MachineShop/Antenna-Werks/i-H75rMTc
