[aprssig] Does Something Like This Exist?

[AE5PL Lists]

No.  There are no off-the-shelf TNC's with built-in IGate functionality
(a serial to TCP converter is not an IGate and should not be used as
such).

Can it be done?  Yes.  Using a single board computer (a number of
reasonably priced ones are now available) with a minimal Linux installed
running javAPRSSrvr.  It won't have the cutesy HTML configuration
interface (although you are welcome to create such a beast), but it
would have ssh access so all configuration could be done from a secure
command line.  With a more robust Linux installed (including X-Windows
or equivalent GUI) or with Windows installed, you could then have a more
graphical interface.

An HTML interface may be nice, but it should be using ssl, password
protected at a minimum (remember anyone (read hackers) can see your
plain text logins on the Internet).  It is a good idea for a packaged
system and I will post the challenge on the javAPRSSrvr users group.

73,

Pete Loveall AE5PL
mailto:pete at ae5pl.net 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jack
> Posted At: Sunday, July 03, 2005 2:30 AM
> Subject: [aprssig] Does Something Like This Exist?
> 
> A friend of mine is showing interest in APRS after I've shown 
> him some screenshots of my station and what APRS can do.  
> He's interested in setting up an Internet <--> RF gateway and digi.
> 
> Here's the hitch:
> 
> He's wondering (and me too) if there's a "TNC" out there that 
> can run APRS without a computer hooked up all the time?
> 
> Here's what he's looking for:
> 
> 1.  A GPS port for an external GPS unit
> 
> 2.  Radio Connector
> 
> 3.  A 10/100 mbit LAN port that can access an HTML set up 
> page for inputting his call, parameters, etc.
> 
> 1 & 2 I think are available on a number on TNC's, but 3 might 
> be hard to find?
> 
> His thinking is that you would set up the unit by means of 
> the browser and the unit from that point would be all self 
> contained.  Any adjustments later could be done at home on 
> his LAN (just like the initial set up) or remotely with some 
> sort of Remote Sysop function over the Internet.
> 
> Does something like this exist now or just a good idea?