I am not sure why but I finally read how to setup Analog APRS on my BTECH DMR-6x2 HT radio. I want to say that I played with it before but for some reason, I do not think I ever read the setup instruction file that was included with the update that allowed the radio to beacon out packets.
Overall the setup was easy. The only thing I needed to do to get it working after I did the programming was to make sure the GPS was turned on and it got a lock. Once that happened when I hit the PTT it would beacon out a posit packet.
So in some ways this is like my old Kenwood TH-D7G, it will beacon out packets, of course with that thing, I had to supply my own GPS. This radio has GPS unit built in. The thing that this doesn't do of course is allow you to send APRS messages. It does not decode packets, so you have no incoming display of info. Basically the only thing it will do is make the radio a tracker unit.
Which is of course the cavet, if you just need a tracker then the setup makes sense. If you need more, then you are going to likely have to go with something else. Like say a Phone with APRSDroid, and some sort of TNC/or audio cable setup. I have used the BTECH this way and it works pretty good. Of course it's just a lot of equipment to have but it is a portable APRS setup, which is nice. APRSDroid is not the greatest software but I think it's the only one for an Android device. Still if you want more than to beacon out a position, then it a good option if you want to use an Android device.
Well I broke down and emailed the person on charge in the net I was trying to see if I could join. The reply email pretty much said it all.
I’m sorry to report that the net is no longer being held.
The website has much information that is not correct or current.
I have advised the webmaster but the information has not been corrected or removed.
Well so much for that.
Well in a nutshell, there was no net. Hell there was no EchoLink. I tried to connect to the conference and I was not able to connect. That Echolink conference must be down.
While I wait for what I am going to be doing with my radio equipment, I figured I once again try to do a local Net. This one has an EchoLink connection. So I will be monitoring both the radio freq and the EchoLink reflector.
The last few times I have listened, there was nothing. I do remember a few years ago when I was passing through, I did try and managed to talk to a few people during the Net. So at least at one point it was used. I think if I don't get any traffic today, I am going to see about emailing the Net Coordinator. I suspect that they will tell that the Net has been dead for sometime. I will keep post a quick update later today, if anything was heard or not.
Over the last few days, I have been trying to hit some repeaters from my house with my HTs. While there are about fourteen repeaters within 25 or so miles, I found I could only really hit four of them. Out of those four, only a single one was really good, which considering it's only maybe three miles from me, is not too surprising.
One of the things that makes this difficult is that we have a lot of hills and mountains that could be blocking signals. While a chunk of the repeaters were on on the mountains, I may have something in the way.
All of this has lead me to believe that a much better antenna is going to be a good call. I am not sure what antenna I will do yet. I have a few thoughts. I may do a a simple vertical dipole since that seems pretty simple to make. Perhaps even a J-pole for 70 cm, as I am not sure the wife would be down with me doing a 2 meter J-pole, might be too big or ugly for her.
At any rate, it does mean I will need some supplies before I can even test a new antenna.
On a side note, I'd also be down with a small mobile rig. These are the days I wish I still had the D710 I use to have.