On Mon, 11 Sep 2006, David Dobbins wrote:

> Just completed the 9th annual NWAPRS Summer Gathering near Seattle. We had a
> good presentation on trackers, including the OpenTracker project. If I could
> narrow this project down to one word, it would be "robust".

> Also, can you clarify there will eventually be two versions, one in the
> small plastic case, and one SMT chip that will fit in, say, an Alinco
> DR-135T radio, replacing the TNC chip in it. If so, good work!

Dave:  The OT1 series (OT1, OT1x, OT1m, OT1 Surface/Mount) are
transmit-only trackers similar to the TT3's that you're used to.
The OT1x (I didn't have one of those to show you) has extra
regulator capacity for powering the external GPS.

The OT2 series (OT2m, OT2-135, OT2 Surface/Mount) are the TX/RX ones
I was talking about at the gathering.  They are handled on a
different mailing list, the "Tracker2" mailing list.  The OT2m is in
beta-test right now, but should be in production soon, so I hear.
That's the larger one I showed you in the black case.

Before anyone asks about them, the OT1-S/M and OT2-S/M were just
prototypes, never in production.

The T2-135 is the one that fits in the Alinco.  It's in beta-test
right now.  Clay (N7QNM) should have one soon to play with so I'm
sure we'll hear all about it.

--
Curt, WE7U.   APRS Client Comparisons: http://www.eskimo.com/~archer
"Lotto:    A tax on people who are bad at math." -- unknown
"Windows:  Microsoft's tax on computer illiterates." -- WE7U
"The world DOES revolve around me:  I picked the coordinate system!"

On 9/11/06, Curt, WE7U <archer@...> wrote:
> For any APRS clients that will decode !DAO! format. Do any? I
> don't know of any yet.

I don't know of any.... but I did ask one of the guys that writes
xastir to add it... was that YOU, Curt??? lol.  I really like the
precision boxes around the stations now.... makes it loads easier for
the lay people to understand why my car can wiggle between two rows in
a parking lot.


> If they will decode compressed objects, items, and compressed items,
> does that mean those will get added back into the spec? ;-)

Or if they'll provide flash firmware or a SDK or API so we can add
more to the spec.
Wes

---

From: opentracker@yahoogroups.com [mailto:opentracker@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Gordon Arnold
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 3:11 PM
To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [opentracker] OT2

Hey Scott,

 

What's the latest timeline for the OT2? It's time to buy more toys. I have a "need" (read that "want").

 

73 de Gordon K6GKA

 

---

From: opentracker@yahoogroups.com [mailto:opentracker@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Andrew McDade
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 6:27 PM
To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [opentracker] opentracker on HF

Gday Scott etc.,

When running the opentracker with 300bps firmware, the TXdelay seems
to be somewhat longer than what the TXdelay parameter dictates. ie, a
TXdelay of 200ms .. seems to be almost a second (maybe 800ms?) .. When
using a Txdelay of 50ms, the actually Txdelay seems to be closer to
200ms .. I would assume the Txdelay is somehow therefore related to
the timing changes required for 300bps operation .

What does the DAO parameter mean/do in the configuration. ?

Would it be possible to setup a dual configuration with one config
being at 300Bps and the other config being at 1200Bps as per the Tiny
Track 3 ?

Regards .. Andrew .. VK5EX

---

From: opentracker@yahoogroups.com [mailto:opentracker@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Andrew McDade
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 6:27 PM
To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [opentracker] opentracker on HF

Gday Scott etc.,

When running the opentracker with 300bps firmware, the TXdelay seems
to be somewhat longer than what the TXdelay parameter dictates. ie, a
TXdelay of 200ms .. seems to be almost a second (maybe 800ms?) .. When
using a Txdelay of 50ms, the actually Txdelay seems to be closer to
200ms .. I would assume the Txdelay is somehow therefore related to
the timing changes required for 300bps operation .

What does the DAO parameter mean/do in the configuration. ?

Would it be possible to setup a dual configuration with one config
being at 300Bps and the other config being at 1200Bps as per the Tiny
Track 3 ?

Regards .. Andrew .. VK5EX

> 5. mice
>     Posted by: "Andrew McDade" amcdade@... vk5ex
>     Date: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:19 pm (PDT)

~Snip ~

> Going back a couple of years I created a little Pic based project
> that converted the WM918 weather station data into a aprs
> positionless weather beacon, which was then designed to feed into a
> ui-digi digipeter or normal tnc .. I spent some  considerable time
> on this project , after which I was told that the positionless
> weather format was outdated and preferably not to be used !!!
> There has to be a better way of managing changes etc to the APRS
> protocol and policies. Its absolutely ridiculous, the way things are
> at the moment.
>
> Regards .. Andrew .. VK5EX
>

Ah, I thought the call sign sounded familiar! - I've used your code a
couple of times with WM918 Wx Stns, and even got stuck in to the point
of modifying by hand the location pointers in the code that point to
the text strings in EEPROM, so I could alter & add to the message sent.

Did you ever do a version which had the logic level of the Input and
Output data bits inverted, so it could be used with a MAX232? I didn't
have any source of negative volts (No TxD line), so I had to add extra
inverters, which would have been un-neccessary had I the ability to
edit and recompile the code.

73,
Ian ZL1VFO



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On Tue, 12 Sep 2006, Andrew McDade wrote:

> "Include MicE format as opposed to compressed format"
>
> Well that comment caused a bit of a spark in the forum !!!.
>
> It can be rather frustrating for " we mere mortals " to keep tabs on what is
and isnt acceptable in the APRS world.
> So many different points of view, arguments for and against the way of doing
things. I tend to try to keep up with the goings
> on within the APRS world as best possible .. But obviously its not enough. I
don't know how the more casual Aprs'ite would have any hope of understanding
> what current policies and protocols are !

Even if one is totally into this stuff he/she'd still feel the same
way.  ;-)  Trying to make sense of how the spec and the addendums
are done and keep track of current developments is more than a
full-time job.

The things that frustrate me:

*) Holding on to things in the spec that don't make sense.
*) Getting rid of some of the good stuff in the spec because one or
    two implementations didn't implement them, or didn't do it
    correctly.
*) The continual "extra" things that are built-in to Kenwoods or
    APRSdos that aren't in the spec or the addendums at all.

But...  Are we having fun yet?  I still am!

--
Curt, WE7U.   APRS Client Comparisons: http://www.eskimo.com/~archer
"Lotto:    A tax on people who are bad at math." -- unknown
"Windows:  Microsoft's tax on computer illiterates." -- WE7U
"The world DOES revolve around me:  I picked the coordinate system!"

Trying to get up to speed on it from scratch is a difficult task! I'm
trying to help Scott write docs for the T2, but it's hard when I
don't know what I'm writing about, and there's no quick couple of
hour tutorial. I know enough that trying to sit in on most of the DCC
sessions would probably make my head explode.

I keep seeing the mice heading and read it as mice, not MicE and keep
wondering how Scott's going to fit a mouse into the tracker protocol. :)

>Even if one is totally into this stuff he/she'd still feel the same
>way.  ;-)  Trying to make sense of how the spec and the addendums
>are done and keep track of current developments is more than a
>full-time job.

---

From: opentracker@yahoogroups.com [mailto:opentracker@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Curt, WE7U
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 5:55 AM
To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [opentracker] mice

On Tue, 12 Sep 2006, Andrew McDade wrote:

> "Include MicE format as opposed to compressed format"
>
> Well that comment caused a bit of a spark in the forum !!!.
>
> It can be rather frustrating for " we mere mortals " to keep tabs on what is and isnt acceptable in the APRS world.
> So many different points of view, arguments for and against the way of doing things. I tend to try to keep up with the goings
> on within the APRS world as best possible .. But obviously its not enough. I don't know how the more casual Aprs'ite would have any hope of understanding
> what current policies and protocols are !

Even if one is totally into this stuff he/she'd still feel the same
way. ;-) Trying to make sense of how the spec and the addendums
are done and keep track of current developments is more than a
full-time job.

The things that frustrate me:

*) Holding on to things in the spec that don't make sense.
*) Getting rid of some of the good stuff in the spec because one or
two implementations didn't implement them, or didn't do it
correctly.
*) The continual "extra" things that are built-in to Kenwoods or
APRSdos that aren't in the spec or the addendums at all.

But... Are we having fun yet? I still am!

--
Curt, WE7U. APRS Client Comparisons: http://www.eskimo.com/~archer
"Lotto: A tax on people who are bad at math." -- unknown
"Windows: Microsoft's tax on computer illiterates." -- WE7U
"The world DOES revolve around me: I picked the coordinate system!"

----- Original Message -----

From: Ian ZL1VFO

To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 8:57 PM

Subject: [opentracker] Re: mice

> 5. mice
> Posted by: "Andrew McDade" amcdade@iprimus.com.au vk5ex
> Date: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:19 pm (PDT)

~Snip ~

> Going back a couple of years I created a little Pic based project
> that converted the WM918 weather station data into a aprs
> positionless weather beacon, which was then designed to feed into a
> ui-digi digipeter or normal tnc .. I spent some considerable time
> on this project , after which I was told that the positionless
> weather format was outdated and preferably not to be used !!!
> There has to be a better way of managing changes etc to the APRS
> protocol and policies. Its absolutely ridiculous, the way things are
> at the moment.
>
> Regards .. Andrew .. VK5EX
>

Ah, I thought the call sign sounded familiar! - I've used your code a
couple of times with WM918 Wx Stns, and even got stuck in to the point
of modifying by hand the location pointers in the code that point to
the text strings in EEPROM, so I could alter & add to the message sent.

Did you ever do a version which had the logic level of the Input and
Output data bits inverted, so it could be used with a MAX232? I didn't
have any source of negative volts (No TxD line), so I had to add extra
inverters, which would have been un-neccessary had I the ability to
edit and recompile the code.

73,
Ian ZL1VFO


__________________________________________________________
The all-new Yahoo! Mail goes wherever you go - free your email address from your Internet provider. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html

---

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.3/445 - Release Date: 9/11/2006

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From: opentracker@yahoogroups.com [mailto:opentracker@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Andrew McDade
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 5:01 PM
To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [opentracker] Re: mice

Gday Ian,

 

The code is really a bit of a re-hash of the original PicE <> WM918 project. But I found a few bugs in that with regards to the actual data presented in the weather beacon text along with a couple of the algo's were not quite right. I did do a later revision which reversed the position of the humidity and baro on the formatted beacon text because of some client software not decoding this properly. Inverting input and output levels would be pretty straight forward.  I haven't really looked at the code for some time now , but if you like, I can send you the source code for what its worth.

 

Regards .. Andrew .. VK5EX

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Ian ZL1VFO

To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 8:57 PM

Subject: [opentracker] Re: mice

> 5. mice
> Posted by: "Andrew McDade" amcdade@iprimus.com.au vk5ex
> Date: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:19 pm (PDT)

~Snip ~

> Going back a couple of years I created a little Pic based project
> that converted the WM918 weather station data into a aprs
> positionless weather beacon, which was then designed to feed into a
> ui-digi digipeter or normal tnc .. I spent some considerable time
> on this project , after which I was told that the positionless
> weather format was outdated and preferably not to be used !!!
> There has to be a better way of managing changes etc to the APRS
> protocol and policies. Its absolutely ridiculous, the way things are
> at the moment.
>
> Regards .. Andrew .. VK5EX
>

Ah, I thought the call sign sounded familiar! - I've used your code a
couple of times with WM918 Wx Stns, and even got stuck in to the point
of modifying by hand the location pointers in the code that point to
the text strings in EEPROM, so I could alter & add to the message sent.

Did you ever do a version which had the logic level of the Input and
Output data bits inverted, so it could be used with a MAX232? I didn't
have any source of negative volts (No TxD line), so I had to add extra
inverters, which would have been un-neccessary had I the ability to
edit and recompile the code.

73,
Ian ZL1VFO


__________________________________________________________
The all-new Yahoo! Mail goes wherever you go - free your email address from your Internet provider. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html

---

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.3/445 - Release Date: 9/11/2006

---

From: opentracker@yahoogroups.com [mailto:opentracker@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Andrew McDade
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 5:59 PM
To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [opentracker] Opentracker Telemetry

 

Gday All,

 

A couple of questions -

 

If possible, how do I setup the telemetry quadratic equation ie. Ax^2+Bx+C to correctly display the data within the opentracker telemetry frame, ie, the divide by 17 for the Voltage and convert the temperature back into degrees celcius etc.?  Im currently using the UI-History addon to Uiview for this.

 

Is there a client program that will extract the telemetry data from a log file and then produce a scaleable graph of all 5 analogue telemetry channels.  Or maybe a client program that can produce a graph of the telemetry data in real time as its being received off air. I know this sort of thing is possible through findu etc., but Im after a stand alone application that can achieve this.  

 

regards .. Andrew .. VK5EX

 

 

 

 

Quoting Andrew McDade <amcdade@...>:

>
> Is there a client program that will extract the telemetry data from
> a log file and then produce a scaleable graph of all 5 analogue
> telemetry channels.  Or maybe a client program that can produce a
> graph of the telemetry data in real time as its being received off
> air. I know this sort of thing is possible through findu etc., but
> Im after a stand alone application that can achieve this.

On the last flight of ARSAT balloon last year, I use a calculator
already programmed with the conversion formula.
It was on a (really old) HP 41CV calculator. Not the best solution
though, but this works.

73 de Paulus - N5SNN


______________________________________________________________
Email gratis 4 MB dengan fasilitas POP3 dan SMTP.
Kunjungi Indonesia Interactive http://www.i2.co.id.

----- Original Message -----

From: scott@...

To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 11:01 AM

Subject: RE: [opentracker] Opentracker Telemetry

Good questions.  Haven't tried the telemetry equations myself - I've just been writing custom viewers for it.  Try this as a starting point:

 

:N1VG-10  :PARM.Temp,Voltage,Aux,Count,HDOP,,,,,,,CFG,JMP
:N1VG-10  :UNIT.deg.C,Volts,,Events,HDOP
:N1VG-10  :EQNS.0,1.9608,-273.15,0,0.0588

There's no way to send that from the OpenTracker itself at this point.  That should define the units (HDOP is dimensionless) and I think the equations are correct for the on-board sensors.  Removing the -273.15 constant term will give you Kelvin instead of Celsius.  Should be 0,3.5294,-459.67 for Fahrenheit.  Leave out the constant term and you've got Rankine degrees, if you're so inclined.

 

I'm not sure what's out there for APRS telemetry software.  When I need telemetry data, I just connect to the aprsworld database and grab it with a SQL query.

 

Scott

---

From: opentracker@yahoogroups.com [mailto:opentracker@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Andrew McDade
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 5:59 PM
To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [opentracker] Opentracker Telemetry

 

Gday All,

 

A couple of questions -

 

If possible, how do I setup the telemetry quadratic equation ie. Ax^2+Bx+C to correctly display the data within the opentracker telemetry frame, ie, the divide by 17 for the Voltage and convert the temperature back into degrees celcius etc.?  Im currently using the UI-History addon to Uiview for this.

 

Is there a client program that will extract the telemetry data from a log file and then produce a scaleable graph of all 5 analogue telemetry channels.  Or maybe a client program that can produce a graph of the telemetry data in real time as its being received off air. I know this sort of thing is possible through findu etc., but Im after a stand alone application that can achieve this.  

 

regards .. Andrew .. VK5EX

 

 

 

 

---

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.3/445 - Release Date: 9/11/2006

---

From: opentracker@yahoogroups.com [mailto:opentracker@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Andrew McDade
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 9:31 PM
To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [opentracker] Opentracker Telemetry

Thanks for the info Scott,

 

all appears to be ok now, although, after a minor head scratch initially, I realized that I had to alter the C constant ie. -273.15 by the calibration factor as well  ... in my case -8 degrees. ie. making C = -281.15

 

Regards .. Andrew .. VK5EX

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: scott@opentrac.org

To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 11:01 AM

Subject: RE: [opentracker] Opentracker Telemetry

Good questions.  Haven't tried the telemetry equations myself - I've just been writing custom viewers for it.  Try this as a starting point:

 

:N1VG-10  :PARM.Temp,Voltage,Aux,Count,HDOP,,,,,,,CFG,JMP
:N1VG-10  :UNIT.deg.C,Volts,,Events,HDOP
:N1VG-10  :EQNS.0,1.9608,-273.15,0,0.0588

There's no way to send that from the OpenTracker itself at this point.  That should define the units (HDOP is dimensionless) and I think the equations are correct for the on-board sensors.  Removing the -273.15 constant term will give you Kelvin instead of Celsius.  Should be 0,3.5294,-459.67 for Fahrenheit.  Leave out the constant term and you've got Rankine degrees, if you're so inclined.

 

I'm not sure what's out there for APRS telemetry software.  When I need telemetry data, I just connect to the aprsworld database and grab it with a SQL query.

 

Scott

---

From: opentracker@yahoogroups.com [mailto:opentracker@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Andrew McDade
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 5:59 PM
To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [opentracker] Opentracker Telemetry

 

Gday All,

 

A couple of questions -

 

If possible, how do I setup the telemetry quadratic equation ie. Ax^2+Bx+C to correctly display the data within the opentracker telemetry frame, ie, the divide by 17 for the Voltage and convert the temperature back into degrees celcius etc.?  Im currently using the UI-History addon to Uiview for this.

 

Is there a client program that will extract the telemetry data from a log file and then produce a scaleable graph of all 5 analogue telemetry channels.  Or maybe a client program that can produce a graph of the telemetry data in real time as its being received off air. I know this sort of thing is possible through findu etc., but Im after a stand alone application that can achieve this.  

 

regards .. Andrew .. VK5EX

 

 

 

 

---

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.3/445 - Release Date: 9/11/2006

I have a question about the telemetry setting on my tracker.
I checked the telemetry box in config 1. When I look at the
raw data on Findu I see that with each transmission the T#
value stays at 000. Sometimes it will increment to 001 but
then goes back to 000. I tested this at home over a month ago
an it worked as it should. I now have it in my RV at Lake Mead
and it doesn't seem to be working. I have it set for a fixed
position and it will only change to config 2 if the speed exceeds
5 MPH so it should stay in config 1. Are there any other settings
that would affect this?
Thanks

Garren
KB6FAS

---

From: opentracker@yahoogroups.com [mailto:opentracker@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Garren Davis
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 8:09 AM
To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [opentracker] Telemetry

I have a question about the telemetry setting on my tracker.
I checked the telemetry box in config 1. When I look at the
raw data on Findu I see that with each transmission the T#
value stays at 000. Sometimes it will increment to 001 but
then goes back to 000. I tested this at home over a month ago
an it worked as it should. I now have it in my RV at Lake Mead
and it doesn't seem to be working. I have it set for a fixed
position and it will only change to config 2 if the speed exceeds
5 MPH so it should stay in config 1. Are there any other settings
that would affect this?
Thanks

Garren
KB6FAS

I did some tests with 20A radio power control on my new OT1m. So, I've
connected OT1m to TS-B2000 already installed in my car. With
transmitted power 100W current drain is about 20A. I didn't see any
problems at all. Just have some questions.
When channel is busy radio stays ON till the transmission is over. Is
there any maximum waiting time in the case of strong never fading QRMs?
Otherwise battery could be discharged without transmission.
Another useful option in the OT configuration would be power control ON
all the time above some Volts. I know not many stations use such radio
like TS-2000 with OT, but this would also allow work with 100Hz voice
alert when driving with many other radios. When engine is off, voltage
is about 12V, radio is turned on only for OT transmission. When
driving, voltage is more than 13V; radio is ON all the time and able to
work with Voice Alert.
73
Andy AB9FX

Greetings
   I have a bit of a problem. I have an Open Tracker (ver 4) set up
for portable operation. Trouble is that my base radio will not
recognise it's existance. I am using AGWPE. Using the tuning aid, the
signals when the OT beacons look clean and un-distorted. No higher
level than every other signal. No clipping. No distortion. So there
is no possibility of overload of the receiver. I have checked the
deviation and set it to be the same as the other stations. So no
overmodulation (I would see that as distortion, anyway).
   Yet the program (I have tried both UI-View and AGWTracker) will not
respond to it at all. Now what confounds the issue is that two local
stations (responding to 'Relay') read the OT OK. Not always but I put
that down to marginal signal strength. But my station will not.
    One possibility is that the software revision used in the other
stations is not the same (read older) as mine and mine is 'filtering'
out the O/T. I have tried re-setting the Tx delay with no
improvement. Values used varied from 250ms up to 850ms. I feel the
problem is in the O/T (or AGWPE since the messages never go past that
point). There is a noticeable difference in tone between the O/T and
other stations. Is this a normal characteristic? Is there anything
else I could try?

Graeme zl1gbb

ZL1GBB wrote...

> I have a bit of a problem. I have an Open Tracker (ver 4) set up
> for portable operation. Trouble is that my base radio will not
> recognise it's existence. I am using AGWPE. Using the tuning aid, the
> signals when the OT beacons look clean and un-distorted. No higher
> level than every other signal. No clipping. No distortion. So there
> is no possibility of overload of the receiver. I have checked the
> deviation and set it to be the same as the other stations. So no
> overmodulation (I would see that as distortion, anyway).
> Yet the program (I have tried both UI-View and AGWTracker) will not
> respond to it at all. Now what confounds the issue is that two local
> stations (responding to 'Relay') read the OT OK. Not always but I put
> that down to marginal signal strength. But my station will not.

It seems to me that you need to determine if you have a "problem" with the
transmitted signal with the OT or with your own setup with AGWPE. Take the
OT to where the other stations would have virtually a 100% chance of
decoding your beacons and see those other stations have a high success rate.
As always, packet collisions, bursts of local noise near the other stations
receiver, multi-path etc. can be a factor, but that would be an easy way of
seeing if the other stations come close to a 100% success rate at decoding
your signals.

Of course, if your setup with AGWPE has a high success rate decoding other
signals, it would start to point the finger back at the OT. Things to
consider... what is powering the OT? Any ignition noise becoming a factor or
are you running it on a separate battery? You say the levels are OK. You
could try decreasing them a bit and see if it helps. You could try a
different radio.

You could double-check the frequency... not off 5 KHz?

> One possibility is that the software revision used in the other
> stations is not the same (read older) as mine and mine is 'filtering'
> out the O/T. I have tried re-setting the Tx delay with no
> improvement. Values used varied from 250ms up to 850ms.

Increasing the TXDelay gives your transmitter time to turn on and gives the
receiving station time to open their squelch (if using squelch) and to lock
onto your tones. Too short a delay will lead to some (or all) stations not
being able to decode your signals. Too long is of course just a waste of
"air" time, but it's a good step to try increasing it for troubleshooting. I
would aim for a shorter TXDelay, but leave it over 250 ms for
troubleshooting.

> I feel the problem is in the O/T (or AGWPE since the messages never
> go past that point). There is a noticeable difference in tone between the
> O/T and other stations. Is this a normal characteristic? Is there anything
> else I could try?

If most other stations can decode your OT I would suspect AGWPE. If your
tones sound different from other stations, maybe there is something odd
about the tones from the OT, but it could of course be the radio you are
using too. Know anyone else with an OT or TT3? You could try their OT with
your radio and try your OT with their radio to try and pin down the problem.
You're on the right track, but need to do more work to determine just where
the problem lies. Keep in mind that the transmit audio might need to be
adjusted if they are using a different radio. Ain't troubleshooting fun? We
learn more in troubleshooting than we do in using devices that just work
perfectly out of the box! Good luck with it!

Is ZL1GBB-9 the OT station you are having trouble with?

73 es cul - Keith VE7GDH
--
"I may be lost, but I know exactly where I am!"

--- In opentracker@yahoogroups.com, "VE7GDH" <ve7gdh@...> wrote:
>
>
> Is ZL1GBB-9 the OT station you are having trouble with?
>
> 73 es cul - Keith VE7GDH
> --
> "I may be lost, but I know exactly where I am!"
>
Yeah, sure is Keith. I will look into your other suggestions. Looks
like all good stuff.

73 Graeme zl1gbb

Great, it's fixed. Turned out to be over-deviation. Noticed that the
spectrum lines from the OT on the spectrum analyser of AGWPE were way
outside the two lines provided. Turned back the audio going to the Tx
and voila. Good copy. Very touchy adjustment. Has to be just right.
   Thanks for your advice.

Graeme zl1gbb

--- In opentracker@yahoogroups.com, "VE7GDH" <ve7gdh@...> wrote:
>
> ZL1GBB wrote...
>
> > I have a bit of a problem. I have an Open Tracker (ver 4) set up
> > for portable operation. Trouble is that my base radio will not
> > recognise it's existence. I am using AGWPE. Using the tuning aid,
the
> > signals when the OT beacons look clean and un-distorted. No higher
> > level than every other signal. No clipping. No distortion. So
there
> > is no possibility of overload of the receiver. I have checked the
> > deviation and set it to be the same as the other stations. So no
> > overmodulation (I would see that as distortion, anyway).
> > Yet the program (I have tried both UI-View and AGWTracker) will
not
> > respond to it at all. Now what confounds the issue is that two
local
> > stations (responding to 'Relay') read the OT OK. Not always but I
put
> > that down to marginal signal strength. But my station will not.
>
> It seems to me that you need to determine if you have a "problem"
with the
> transmitted signal with the OT or with your own setup with AGWPE.
Take the
> OT to where the other stations would have virtually a 100% chance of
> decoding your beacons and see those other stations have a high
success rate.
> As always, packet collisions, bursts of local noise near the other
stations
> receiver, multi-path etc. can be a factor, but that would be an
easy way of
> seeing if the other stations come close to a 100% success rate at
decoding
> your signals.
>
> Of course, if your setup with AGWPE has a high success rate
decoding other
> signals, it would start to point the finger back at the OT. Things
to
> consider... what is powering the OT? Any ignition noise becoming a
factor or
> are you running it on a separate battery? You say the levels are
OK. You
> could try decreasing them a bit and see if it helps. You could try a
> different radio.
>
> You could double-check the frequency... not off 5 KHz?
>
> > One possibility is that the software revision used in the other
> > stations is not the same (read older) as mine and mine is
'filtering'
> > out the O/T. I have tried re-setting the Tx delay with no
> > improvement. Values used varied from 250ms up to 850ms.
>
> Increasing the TXDelay gives your transmitter time to turn on and
gives the
> receiving station time to open their squelch (if using squelch) and
to lock
> onto your tones. Too short a delay will lead to some (or all)
stations not
> being able to decode your signals. Too long is of course just a
waste of
> "air" time, but it's a good step to try increasing it for
troubleshooting. I
> would aim for a shorter TXDelay, but leave it over 250 ms for
> troubleshooting.
>
> > I feel the problem is in the O/T (or AGWPE since the messages
never
> > go past that point). There is a noticeable difference in tone
between the
> > O/T and other stations. Is this a normal characteristic? Is there
anything
> > else I could try?
>
> If most other stations can decode your OT I would suspect AGWPE. If
your
> tones sound different from other stations, maybe there is something
odd
> about the tones from the OT, but it could of course be the radio
you are
> using too. Know anyone else with an OT or TT3? You could try their
OT with
> your radio and try your OT with their radio to try and pin down the
problem.
> You're on the right track, but need to do more work to determine
just where
> the problem lies. Keep in mind that the transmit audio might need
to be
> adjusted if they are using a different radio. Ain't troubleshooting
fun? We
> learn more in troubleshooting than we do in using devices that just
work
> perfectly out of the box! Good luck with it!
>
> Is ZL1GBB-9 the OT station you are having trouble with?
>
> 73 es cul - Keith VE7GDH
> --
> "I may be lost, but I know exactly where I am!"
>

On Fri, 15 Sep 2006, zl1gbb wrote:

> Great, it's fixed. Turned out to be over-deviation. Noticed that the
> spectrum lines from the OT on the spectrum analyser of AGWPE were way
> outside the two lines provided. Turned back the audio going to the Tx
> and voila. Good copy. Very touchy adjustment. Has to be just right.

You might want to tweak the values on some resistors to make it less
touchy.  It depends on what the radio needs for audio drive.  My
TNC-X adjustment is touchy when hooked to the mobile rig I'm using
here at home, and I've been meaning to tweak the resistors on it for
the same reason.

Maybe there's an option in the OT config program for changing the
range?  Don't recall.

--
Curt, WE7U. 		 archer at eskimo dot com
http://www.eskimo.com/~archer
   Lotto:  A tax on people who are bad at math. - unknown
Windows:  Microsoft's tax on computer illiterates. - WE7U.
The world DOES revolve around me:  I picked the coordinate system!"

---

From: opentracker@yahoogroups.com [mailto:opentracker@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of contest VHFDX144
Sent: Sunday, September 17, 2006 12:39 PM
To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [opentracker] Re: LaCrosse 2310 Weather Station support

Thats for the reply Scott and Fair Enough.
Does the Opentracker support any off the shelf weather station right now?

thanks
73s
JW

JP1 is PTT in or relay out, but the settings for these are not mutually
exclusive in the config program.  Should they be?

How do the options "use PPT input" and "supress PTT out on ptt in"
differ.  Their descriptions are very similar on pg13 of the manual...

Ken, N0ITL

---

From: opentracker@yahoogroups.com [mailto:opentracker@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of n0itl
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 7:50 PM
To: opentracker@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [opentracker] doc and config questions

JP1 is PTT in or relay out, but the settings for these are not mutually
exclusive in the config program. Should they be?

How do the options "use PPT input" and "supress PTT out on ptt in"
differ. Their descriptions are very similar on pg13 of the manual...

Ken, N0ITL