[Xastir] Tracking with Xastir using NMEA tracker

Mon Jul 3 09:58:24 PDT 2017

Forgot the screenshots link: Eggfinder Map tracks
Kurt KC9LDH      From: Kurt <ksaves2 at sbcglobal.net>
 To: Menga <giuseppe.menga at polito.it> 
Cc: "xastir at lists.xastir.org" <xastir at lists.xastir.org>
 Sent: Monday, July 3, 2017 11:00 AM
 Subject: [Xastir] Tracking with Xastir using NMEA tracker

I use a B/T GPS for local position and a B/T TNC for for incoming waypoints.   A mouse is mandatory as the device lacks a touchscreen.I use an Rf mouse and plug it into the USB 2.0 port.  The micro USB socket I use for an external battery to buy time.I also run an NMEA tracker system for amateur rockets: Eggtimer Rocketry - Eggfinder TX/RX  I use the EggFinder LCD receiver that has an HC-06 B/T modulewired into it.  It's in the unlicensed 900Mhz ISM band.  Jason KG4WSV who frequents on the Xastir list here came up with this python script: http://www.ece.uah.edu/~jdw/rockets/gps2aprs.txtone changes the .txt to .pl.  Just allow "Networking" in the Xastir pulldown and is good to go.  I have to bond my devices in order as the connected port of the EggFinder receiverneeds to be defined in the script.  Jason puts the specifics in the comments.  My routine is bond the B/T GPS first, /dev/rfcomm0 followed by the Eggfinder LCD receiver at /dev/rfcomm1.Make sure the permissions are correct on the ports.  Fire up Xastir and have the local position plotted with the external B/T GPS source.  I pull up an xterm and run the gps2aprs.pl command.If the addresses are correctly defined in the script, the remote positions from the EggFinder GPS tracker start streaming in, in the window.  The xterm window can be minimized and a "pseudo" APRS icon is now plotted on the Xastir map at once per second mind you as long as the strings are clearly "heard".  Really neat.
I've been trying to get some of the electronics oriented rocket guys to come up with ham band NMEA trackers that would have better range and just inject a callsign here and there in an NMEA string.  Before you APRS people get yanked, we generally track on the 70cm band or if using a 2 meter APRS tracker we stay off the National Frequency as we're the only onesinterested in the position and finding the rocket after recovery. We like to use high rate tracking as one position every 5 seconds to try and keep a handle on the rocket's position aswe likely miss packets with the flopping around that invariably occurs on descent.
My experience with 900 Mhz is that positions are missed likely due to antenna positioning that occurs due to tumbling and the 100Mw power output of this system.If one is interested here is a thread Eggfinder Map tracks  that shows screen shots of live flights.  I used a hacked version of APRSISCE32 in a Windows tablet as it's easier to use out in the field than a full sized laptop.  Scroll down and one can see some test screen shot of Xastir on the Pocket Chip Jessie.  I haven't tracked out in the field yetwith the Pocket Chip but itching to try.  There is a smaller EggFinder Mini tracker  Eggtimer Rocketry - What's New... I have and need to build a small rocket so I can test it out closer to my QTH.The large rockets have to be flown at a defined site with an FAA altitude waiver in place.Kurt KC9LDH      From: Menga <giuseppe.menga at polito.it>
 To: Kurt <ksaves2 at sbcglobal.net>; Xastir - APRS client software discussion <xastir at lists.xastir.org> 
 Sent: Sunday, July 2, 2017 2:43 PM
 Subject: Re: [Xastir] new Wiki section for Raspbian Jessie

I gave a look to the poster of Pocket Chip, but where are the ports (at 
least 2, I assume USB) for the GPS and for the modem?
Giuseppe
IZ1GCL

-----Messaggio originale----- 
From: Kurt
Sent: Sunday, July 2, 2017 9:15 PM
To: Xastir - APRS client software discussion
Subject: Re: [Xastir] new Wiki section for Raspbian Jessie

Nice,  I did get Xastir running on a Pocket Chip believe it or not 
(https://docs.getchip.com/pocketchip.html).  Had to of course ditch the 
firmware they send with it and update to plain Jessie.Also had to setup and 
run as root in order to get my peripherals to work.  That's no big deal out 
in the middle of nowhere.  Single-threaded, one Ghz takes time to boot but 
it works actually.Latest version has 8Gb of memory so not bad for local 
monitoring in the palm of the hand.  Need a mouse to run it but I do like 
the novelty of it.  If I need to run other software, I spend $9.00 for 
another Chip, pop the one out and put the new one in the Pocket Chip 
assembly.  Kurt KC9LDH

      From: Lee Bengston <lee.bengston at gmail.com>
To: Xastir - APRS client software discussion <xastir at lists.xastir.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 2, 2017 10:48 AM
Subject: [Xastir] new Wiki section for Raspbian Jessie

It's about time we had this posted.

https://xastir.org/index.php/Installation_Notes#Raspbian

Lee - K5DAT
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