Amateur Radio Communications
for the
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APRS/
Net Control |
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| Dick KD4ISC was net control on the SAG channel, the 147.015 repeater.
Jeff AC4ZO took the busier Aid Station channel, on 146.775. Separating
the traffic kept both nets manageable, and they sounded smooth and professional. |
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| The highlight of the Amateur Radio operation was supposed to be an
APRS display showing the position of the lead runner. KG4CXY set
up a projector and screen next to the Net Control area. |
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| Matt W2BYV prepared the APRS system for the original date, but he was
not available for the rescheduled weekend. |
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| Filling in for Matt, Aaron KG4FMF (above), Bill and Karl K4LNX scrambled
to put an APRS package together. Their biggest stumbling block was
the interface between the GPS and the Kenwood D-7 HT. |
| Turns out they needed a "null modem" interface, and at the last minute,
this is how they did it. Don't laugh... it worked. |
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| Well, it almost worked. The GPS package was to ride in the back
of this police car, which would precede the lead runner. But in the
rush to get it in place, the frequency knob on the HT was bumped.
No time to test... off it went, and there was no signal on 144.39.
Here Byron K4NGJ, Denyse KG4CXR and Liz KF4UQZ staff the public area
with ham info and the APRS display. Alas, the display showed a red
dot at the starting line for most of the race. Finally K4LNX tracked
down the police car and jumped in, corrected the problem, and the last
few miles of the lead runner popped up. Then, he moved the APRS system
to the trail car, following the end of the race. |
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| Everyone had a long day, starting at 5:30 AM. Dick and Jeff,
at Net Control, show the effects. Pleasant dreams, guys! |
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