[aprssig] Maemo Mapper APRS capability

[Dick Repasky]

Tom,

Thanks for the scoop, especially the links to the POIs.

The surprise has been that I can't connect directly to the BT GPS after
upgrading Maemo Mapper. I've found the solution and have to do a bit of tweaking.

Best,

Dick, KC9JLU

Tom Mandera wrote:
> On Sun, October 4, 2009 6:00 am, aprssig-request at tapr.org wrote:
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Sat, 03 Oct 2009 11:12:54 -0400
>> From: Dick Repasky <dick.repasky at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [aprssig] Maemo Mapper APRS capability
>> To: TAPR APRS Mailing List <aprssig at tapr.org>
>> Message-ID: <4AC769F6.1070505 at gmail.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>>
>>
>> I just upgraded upgraded Maemo Mapper on my Nokia 770 and was surprised
>> to find that it is APRS capable. Does anyone have experience with it?
>> Does it work well?
> 
> Dick,
> 
> I own a Nokia 770 and N810.  I bought the N810 planning to echo the GPSD
> output to serial for use with a Tracker, but before I finished ironing out
> the details, the new Maemo Mapper update with built-in APRS came along and
> was much easier to implement.
> 
> I've been using it for a few months now, off and on.
> 
> MaemoMapper will connect to an IGATE AND/OR a TNC at the same time.  You
> can send position reports either via the Internet or RF.  It plots
> received stations as way points, and you can review the list of
> known-stations for their comment, position, speed/heading, and so on.
> 
> It will display messages, but does not yet transmit them.
> 
> On my N810, I load up a PL2302 USB-to-Serial driver at kernel boot.
> 
> I then start Maemo Mapper, hook up my USB cable which is connected to an
> OpenTracker+ in KISS mode, then through the MaemoMapper UI I 'turn on'
> RF/TNC APRS.
> 
> I hear stations quite frequently in this manner, but seldom get picked up
> by an IGATE via RF, primarily because I live in Montana, and a 5w
> transmitter, even into a 1/4 wave antenna, is very seldom heard by a digi.
> 
> It works, and pretty well IMHO.
> 
> I'd like to find more N810s to buy.  A sub-$200 pocketable 800x480
> touch-screen GPS with keyboard and APRS functionality that ALSO is a
> pretty powerful little computer is pretty slick.
> 
> I'm holding back on doing all of this with my 770.  I have a bluetooth
> GPS, so that part is covered, but the serial interface is problematic on
> the Nokia 770 NIT since the USB port is not powered.  You either need to
> get a powered USB hub, or opt for a bluetooth serial adapter (seems those
> are nearly $100) to get serial-output for the radio/TNC.
> 
> On the other hand, with a BT GPS and an Internet connection, you'd be all
> set with the 770 and IGATEs.
> 
> There's also a list of Points Of Interest out there for Maemo Mapper for
> "all" (as many as known) 2m and 70cm repeaters in the US.
> 
> -Tom Mandera, KE7VUX
> N810/MaemoMapper/APRS thread -
> http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?t=203373
> 
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