SparkFun Electronics Commentsurn:uuid:214d0e4e-f1b1-d287-ce26-ac5b4c9f82492024-03-28T10:06:55-06:00SparkFun ElectronicsMiskatonic on APRS: Robust Wireless in an Age of IoTMiskatonicurn:uuid:e1fadee8-e45b-9770-89cf-2f8b3969b91b2019-06-13T09:21:43-06:00<p>I was remiss in not linking <a href="http://www.arrl.org/" rel="nofollow">ARRL</a>. This is a really great organization and they do tremendous work in education and supporting communities in emergencies.
Please find your local Ham Club and find out more about the work ARRL does!!</p>
dbvanhorn on APRS: Robust Wireless in an Age of IoTdbvanhornurn:uuid:0e239eff-be71-3104-6cbb-60992cdec7b32019-06-12T08:07:21-06:00<p>APRS is a lot of fun. I've been using it since the 90's. One thing to be aware of, this is a single low data rate channel shared among many users in your area. Whatever you do, please don't flood the network. There are plenty of online resources on how to properly configure your system, especially the path statement. There have been some pretty bad congestion events caused by someone's balloon project beaconing with a ridiculously wide path statement.<p>For example:
http://community.balloonchallenge.org/t/aprs-seriously-bad-path/1344</p><p>It doesn't take a balloon though, excessively large path statements and too frequent beaconing can seriously choke the channel even from a handheld radio. But the network survives, people make mistakes and learn, and it's all fun.</p><p>Like most things, it pays to look and learn before jumping in with both feet. :)</p></p>
Jakezilla on APRS: Robust Wireless in an Age of IoTJakezillaurn:uuid:663b9f89-9a08-b52a-4a35-2f8a51d917e22019-06-11T13:00:25-06:00<p>https://hamexam.org/exam/15-Technician take a test exam! Use that site to learn the test, it is EZ</p>
Customer #134773 on APRS: Robust Wireless in an Age of IoTCustomer #134773urn:uuid:b1b02e5d-ad21-d7df-062e-1ff4b89d3f532019-06-11T10:37:09-06:00<p>I happened to think that I should also mention this: If you're at all interested in Amateur Radio, there's a "national (and Canadian) event" coming up June 22-23 called "Field Day". (Briefly, we set up radios, often in public places such as parks or National Forests, and see how many other Hams we can contact in a specified 24-hour period.) Most clubs that participate <em>eagerly welcome</em> visitors. To find one in your area, the ARRL website has an area specifically about <a href="http://www.arrl.org/field-day" rel="nofollow">field day</a> that includes a "locator". It's about the only time in the year that I actually get on the air and talk to other Hams, though I've been licensed for about 28 years.</p>
Customer #134773 on APRS: Robust Wireless in an Age of IoTCustomer #134773urn:uuid:46c71b12-111a-1806-21f8-508c3c8da5512019-06-11T10:07:58-06:00<p>One of the best resources for getting your license is the <a href="http://www.arrl.org/" rel="nofollow">ARRL</a> website. "ARRL" stands for "Amateur Radio Relay League" -- they're the "national" ham radio club. Their website can help you find classes to prep for the license exam, books to study if you don't want to do a class, and find an exam session once you're ready.<p>Also, a good "source" for getting equipment inexpensively is a "hamfest" -- basically an Amateur Radio swap meet. Many hamfests have exam sessions, they always have people "tail gating" -- selling used equipment, and some attract commercial vendors. The ARRL website can help you find ones in your area.</p></p>