[Xastir] Xastir without X-Windows?

[Drew]

Hey Luc,

Thanks a bunch for the info! The more reading I do the more this looks 
like the most robust solution. However, one of the big reasons we 
decided to try and go with a computer was for the two-way capability, 
for issuing cut-down commands etc. Also, we're not just interested in 
position data, but also other data such as temperature. Ultimately this 
is supposed to be an experiment platform, and it's conceivable that 
experiments might need operator input from the ground. Do you have any 
suggestions for this type of scenario? Is there any way for a computer 
and the tinytrack to "share" a radio? Every 30-60 seconds an APRS packet 
is sent, but the rest of the time it would be really nice to be able to 
talk to something else in the payload. Also, for those of you that might 
be thinking I'm some yahoo who's too unfamiliar with amateur radio to be 
licensed, I am. :-) But there's several other members on the team who 
aren't and who will make sure I do everything by the book. Thanks!

~Drew

Luc Dore VA2KSH wrote:

> Hi Drew,
>
> Simply to send aprs position reports you don't need to send up your 
> computer; unless it's also doing other measurements on the balloon's 
> flight.  To be able to receive the balloon's aprs data, all you need 
> onboard is a gps, something as small as a tinytrack and a vhf radio 
> tuned to 144.39.  The tinytrack reads the gps information, makes a 
> proper aprs packet and sends it to the radio via it's audio in; it is 
> able to trigger the ptt switch also as required.
>
> On the ground, you'd need to do the inverse with any computer (it 
> doesn't have to be your net4511); any machine will do; as all it needs 
> is to have a radio (once again tuned to 144.39) and a tnc -- the tnc 
> can take many forms: a true TNC module a la KPC or Baycom; a pc with a 
> soundcard running AGWPE; or a kenwood radio like the D7A,D700 which 
> have a built-in TNC -- and then Xastir which will display the aprs 
> data on a map of your area.  If you're in an area covered by an linked 
> APRS listener/repeater; your balloon's tracks will be available on 
> sites like findu.com (amonst others).
>
> The simplest form, to me, would be small battery-powered equipment in 
> the balloon: a gps, a tinytrack and a hand-held VHF radio.  On the 
> ground, a radio connected to a Baycom TNC which connects to a PC 
> through serial io that Xastir can display.
>
> The only pre-requisite is to be a licensed amateur radio operator to 
> be able to use the 2m band.
>
> Luc D. -- VA2KSH
>
> On Jun 15, 2004, at 10:27, Drew wrote:
>
>> Greetings to everyone on the list! I am currently involved in a 
>> project using both aprs and packet radio, and am finding the learning 
>> curve to be rather steep but I'm realling hoping someone here can 
>> help me out. Here's the situation....
>>
>> I'm running linux (Bering) on a small single-board computer. (Soekris 
>> Engineering net4511) This computer has no video/keyboard, all i/o is 
>> via a serial console or remote terminal. The idea is to send this 
>> little guy to 80K-100K feet using a large weather balloon. 
>> Communication with the balloon will be via packet radio and the 
>> balloon will report its position using APRS.
>>
>> Or at least that's the idea. The computer has several serial ports, 
>> into which are plugged a gps receiver and a tnc. After I get AX.25 
>> installed/configured then what? I believe I need some sort of APRS 
>> "server" to listen to the gps and transmit the occasional APRS 
>> packet. In reading the xastir documentation it looks like I'd 
>> configure two interfaces, an AX.25 interface and a serial gps 
>> interface. Xastir then listens to the gps and transmits via the ax.25 
>> interface. But how do I do all of this without X-Windows? The 
>> documentation says xastir requires x-windows. This makes sense for 
>> the tracking/mapping functionality, but what about the basic "server" 
>> (listen to gps, transmit aprs) functionality? Can Xastir do this? Am 
>> I even looking in the right direction? Any information regarding any 
>> of this would be so hopefull, I've spent hours scouring the web and 
>> am more confused than when I started. MANY MANY thanks to anyone that 
>> has a chance to reply to this.
>>
>> ~Drew
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