Arduino APRS Tracker

An APRS tracker is easy to build these days.

I had decided to build one for portable use (plan is to be used on hiking, but also in my car) powered from Lithium Ion battery and with all components running on 3.3V. Transmit of APRS messages is done through a UV-5R.

The tracker is powered from my favorite Panasonic NCR18650 3400mAH through a MCP1700-3302E LDO regulator, and has plenty of juice for daily use.

GPS is a Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout – 66 channel w/10 Hz updates (https://www.adafruit.com/product/746) not that i need 10 Hz, 1 Hz update is more than enough but i had in stock from a different project, so why not ? (i love it). You can also use a NEO-6M and change the appropriate define on the code

Arduino is a Pro Mini 3.3V 8 MHz (actually a clone of Deek-Robot Pro Mini)

Up and running on breadboard

Update

Bought a Kenwood cable to avoid the mess with the 2.5 and 3.5 mm audio connectors

BIG FAT WARNING : There is no load disconnect for the battery while charging. DO NOT CHARGE AND USE IT. The charging of the battery will never finish, resulting on explosion, fire etc. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/DIY-2-pin-4-Wire-Speaker-Mic-Cable-Spring-Line-for-Baofeng-UV5R-Kenwood-TK370-Linton/32734963747.html

TP4056 Lithium Cell Charger Module with Battery Protection to charge it through USB.

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/5x-TP4056-Lithium-Charger-Module-with-Battery-Protection-Micro-USB-5V-1A-TE420/1895489_32646760134.html

I have started working with the schematic of MicroModem (http://unsigned.io) but i have modified LibAPRS to make it work.

As long as GPS has a FIX it submits my location every two minutes and i have a button for a single shot APRS update. SmartBeaconing support is included and now is the default

The idea is to create a complete unit with a DRA818V with USB charging.
DRA818V is still on my desk… i have “trouble” designing a good low pass filter for VHF.

Schematic (breadboard version)

Remember power supply needs to be 3.3V

Arduino APRS tracker schematic (for the breadboard version)

Documentation has not been finalized yet and i use multiple libraries making it a bit difficult to handle everything

I have uploaded my working version to github
https://github.com/billygr/arduino-aprs-tracker

Remember to change the APRS_CALLSIGN to your call sign

You will need these libraries
libAPRS (modified) https://github.com/billygr/LibAPRS
TinyGPS http://arduiniana.org/libraries/tinygps/

PCB

Oh yes !!! We do have also PCB ready credits to aronaut. Thank you !!!

https://github.com/billygr/arduino-aprs-tracker/tree/master/archive/PCBv1%20KiCad%20(5.0.2)

Bill of Materials (breadboard version)

R1 1K
R2 2K2
R3 3K9
R4 8K2
R5 270
R6 10K trimmer
R7 1K
R8 10K
C1 100nF
C2 4.7uF/16V
1 x GPS Module
1 x push button
1 x Arduino Pro Mini 3V3 8MHz
Q1 2N2700/BS170

For using without an external power supply:

1 x Panasonic NCR18650 3400mAH (or your favorite 18650)
1 x 18650 socket
1 x MCP1700-3302E
1 x TP4056

Bill of Materials (PCB version)

Includes the 18650 socket+TP4056

https://github.com/billygr/arduino-aprs-tracker/tree/master/archive/PCBv1%20KiCad%20(5.0.2)

Comments

302 responses to “Arduino APRS Tracker”

billy

December 28, 2017

Confirmed this is a bug

Transmitted (so no issue with transmission):
2017-12-28 19:28:29 EET: SV1QFV-5>APZMDM,J41VAI*,WIDE1*,WIDE2-2,qAR,SV1BGM-1:=0256.40N/01014.84E>Arduino APRS Tracker

But it is interpreted as
2°56.40′ N 10°14.84′ E – locator JJ52CW95QO

It needs to be fixed to DDMM.hhN/DDDMM.hhW

Reply
billy

December 28, 2017

Fix in the latest git commit

Reply
1. 9W2GHH
  
  December 29, 2017
  
  hi billy,
  
  Gizillion Thanks to u. now its working,
  
  Location: 2°56.39′ N 101°40.83′ E – locator OJ02UW15PN –
  1.3 km Northwest bearing 293° from Putrajaya, Putrajaya, Malaysia
  12.9 km Southwest bearing 217° from Kampong Baharu Balakong, Malaysia
  22.4 km South bearing 182° from Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  
  tomorrow i will have a road trip to test it..
  
  Reply
Travis McCarter

March 12, 2018

I have been gathering parts for the APRS tracker. Can you provide a full parts list?

Reply
1. billy
  
  March 13, 2018
  
  Hi,
  
  I have update the page with a BOM
  
  Thank you
  
  Reply
Fred

March 31, 2018

HI,
I tried to download you PDF but the link to the PDF seems to be down.
Can you help me?

Reply
1. billy
  
  April 1, 2018
  
  Hi,
  
  I have double checked, the link is valid
  http://www.billy.gr/wp-content/uploads/arduino-aprs-tracker/arduino-aprs-tracker.pdf
  
  Reply
  1. Fred
    
    April 1, 2018
    
    OK, now I get it ! Many thanks.
    Please let me know if your adruino aprs version can monitor frame over the air?
    Many thanks.
    Fred
  2. billy
    
    April 2, 2018
    
    Unfortunately it is not implemented, its on my TODO list
Lee Jun Gyu

April 1, 2018

Hi in schematic, analog output is AFSK signal? and operate VOX??

Reply
1. billy
  
  April 1, 2018
  
  Hi
  
  Output is AFSK and i trigger the PTT with a FET/transistor so no VOX.
  
  You can try it depending on the transmitter and adjust the output accordinly
  
  Reply
Fred

April 15, 2018

OK Billy,
Many thanks for your answer.
Please let me know if you have some Ardunio source code from some other project?
I’m looking for a solution, just to monitor Over the Air strings.
Many thanks
Fred

Reply
David

April 30, 2018

hi,
i want transmet also weather information : temperature and humidity
any idea please

Reply
1. billy
  
  April 30, 2018
  
  The code will need to support telemetry messages for APRS, it is not so difficult.
  
  Any preference on the temperature/humidity sensor ?
  
  Reply
  1. David
    
    May 9, 2018
    
    DHT22
  2. David
    
    May 17, 2018
    
    juste only i like to test one sensor
    
    temperature and humidity sensor like DHT11 or DHT22 better
    temperature LM35 ,LM60 or DS18B20 better
    
    i wante only test one sensor for educational
    
    Thnks you
David

May 9, 2018

Hello,

Can i use arduino uno 5 voltsonly for educational test

73’s best regards

David

Reply
1. billy
  
  May 13, 2018
  
  Hi,
  
  Never tested on Arduino Uno, however you can try to change the
  #define ADC_REFERENCE REF_3V3
  to
  #define ADC_REFERENCE REF_5V
  
  And hopefully it will work
  
  Reply
David

May 17, 2018

thinks

Reply
1. Jens
  
  May 30, 2018
  
  Hey David, and does it work with 5V by changing the ADC_References?
  
  Reply
Anon

June 16, 2018

Hello, thank you for a nice project.

Can you please elaborate a bit on wiring the Kenwood cable to the board? What are you using the forth cable for, the schematic indicates only 3 connections?

My Baofeng is constantly transmitting once I plug in the cable, even when the power is off on the board.

I’ve wired it as follows:

https://i.imgur.com/c8lIsM8.jpg

Where does the SPK+ go?

Thanks in advance

Reply
1. billy
  
  June 17, 2018
  
  Hi,
  
  Check you grounding, without power on the board connecting the cable shouldn’t trigger the PTT.
  
  I have checked my board and without any power or the Arduino plugged in the Baofeng is not transmitting.
  
  The forth cable is unused at this stage, the plan is to check if the frequency is open before transmiting, if you want you can connect the SPK+ through a 100nF cap to A0
  
  Check the Q1 is case it has allready failed
  
  Reply
  1. Anon
    
    June 23, 2018
    
    Hello Billy,
    
    Indeed, Q1 was fried, after I replaced it, the HT stopped transmitting as soon as it was plugged in.
    
    However, nothing is happening when the circuit is powered on.
    
    I am getting valid NMEA sentences when I connect the arduino to a CP2102, i.e. “if (gps.encode(c))” is true, however nothing happens from that point on..
    
    I’ll let you know if I manage to debug it.
    
    Regards
  2. billy
    
    June 24, 2018
    
    Hi,
    
    It will not trasmit (or exit the loop) if you don’t have a fix. Can you check the serial output of the Arduino ?
Anon

June 25, 2018

Hello Billy,

I did check the serial output of the Arduino, but I’m not sure what to make of it.

1. When the GPS module (GY-NEO6MV2) is interfaced with a CP2102, in u-center, I get a 3D lock in a matter of seconds, the coordinates are accurate to within a few meters.

2. When I interface the Arduino with the CP2101 I get what appear to be valid NMEA sentences (see the pastebin below), however the coordinates in $GNGGA are more than 50km off from my current position!

3. Your software appears to be outputting 99999(..etc) as lan/lat and 0/0/2000 as the current date, so obviously the incoming data is not being parsed correctly.

4. I’m not quite sure what to make of the serial output coming in this way – the NMEA sentences are sometimes on the same line, or otherwise interrupted randomly. This is the reason I lowered the baud rate to the Arduino to 9600 from 115200, but the result is the same (please see the screenshot).

5. The APRS Update function will fire. Upon that event, the HT will start transmitting continuously, until it is powered off. Please see the screenshot below.

I will try to debug further when I have the time. If someone has any ideas in the meanwhile, it will be very much appreciated if you share them.

Pastebin of the serial output: https://pastebin.com/GX1KsshQ

Screenshot of the serial output: https://i.imgur.com/YsTydjs.jpg

Screenshot of HT transmitting: https://i.imgur.com/xQWDDBw.png

Kind regards

Reply
billy

June 26, 2018

Hi,

I can comment on the LAT/LON 999999999. This is parsed from the TinyGPS library, for some reason it cannot understand the output of the GPS

Can you please enable the gps.sendCommand(PMTK_SET_NMEA_OUTPUT_RMCGGA);

Let’s fix the parsing first, i do have somewhere a NEO GPS to test

Reply
1. Anon
  
  July 15, 2018
  
  Hello Billy,
  
  After some frustration with TinyGPS I used some simpler parsing for the NMEA sentences and I am now feeding the correct values to APRS_setLan and APRS_setLon
  
  However, I cannot get over the continuous transmission problem – i.e. once a packet is transmitted, the UV5R will not stop transmitting at all (obviously no data, though). Do you have any idea how to debug this?
  
  Here’s how it looks – https://i.imgur.com/Tzrh3Qw.png
  
  Reply
Anon

July 22, 2018

It was an EMI problem, temporary solution is a ferrite.

I’m getting packets on aprs.fi already, thanks again for the nice project. If you don’t mind I might post the modified code and hardware later on.

I think using NeoSWSerial instead of SoftwareSerial and not using TinyGPS at all makes a big difference for this weak chip.

Regards

Reply
1. Andreas
  
  April 29, 2019
  
  Hi Anon,
  can you pls. post the modified code and hardware.
  Maybe you have it already on Github?!
  I am really interested!
  Thanks,
  Andreas
  
  Reply
dario

July 28, 2018

hi Billy, i’am Dario iw2fzr…..beginner for ARDUINO. i try make your project but, not run correctly in my arduino NANO. after put in sw in board i see correctly serial .Arduino
APRS Tracker
28/7/2018 8:46:8 LAT=46175150 LON=9864482 4610.50N/00951.86E
i push the botton i hear first moment afsk correctly on the end bad qualyty and the serial MANUAL UPDATE
28/7/2018 8:46:18 LAT=46175150 LON=9864482 4610.50N/00951.86E
and stop run! you have a suggestion? nano isen’t correctly ?only micro? best regards ciao

Reply
1. billy
  
  July 31, 2018
  
  Hi Darlo,
  
  Can you see the build-in LED of Arduino Nano on TX to go high ?
  
  There is a modification to be done on libarps to support the Nano
  
  SV1QFV
  
  Reply
  1. adolfo
    
    November 11, 2019
    
    hi billy, you have the modification in libaprs ??? i build the project in arduino nano. thank you. adolfo from argentina
Russ

September 17, 2018

Has this been tested on a Pro-Mini 16mhz? My C language is really rusty (I’m mostly self taught), but I’ve seen the program run through most of void loop() but the manual button doesnt work, send_aprs_update never goes true, and the timer.run() isnt performed. The only output I get on the serial monitor is
Arduino APRS Tracker
17/9/2018 6:7:45 LAT=47000000 LON=-122000000 4700.00N/12200.00W
Any ideas?

Reply
1. Russ
  
  September 18, 2018
  
  Also tried it on a Duelimove, same results. All I have connected is the GPS on pins 11&12 and the button on 10. Nothing on the output.
  
  Reply
2. Russ
  
  September 19, 2018
  
  One minor issue is the program shows Tx on pin 11 and Rx on 12 whereas the schematic shows them opposite – easy fix.
  
  Reply
  1. billy
    
    September 20, 2018
    
    Thanks for reporting it, i will double check it.
    
    Code is verified only on 8 MHz, it could work but i have never tested it
3. Russ
  
  September 19, 2018
  
  It was something wrong with my digital pin 10 – I switched it to 13 and the problem changed. I may have a bad pro-mini, I’ll find another one to use.
  
  Reply
Russ

September 20, 2018

It appears that I need to read a bit better. I had not seen that you modified libaprs – that was the problem. I believe you can use the original libaprs if you change the button to pin 13 and watch PORTD 5 for transmit. All is better now – Thanks!

Reply
KB

October 20, 2018

What antenna are you using on the UV-5R? And do you like it?

Reply
1. billy
  
  October 21, 2018
  
  It’s a NAGOYA NA-771 SMA-FEMALE bought it from 409shop.com, i use it for many years, really happy with it, better than the stock one
  
  Reply
Andreas

October 24, 2018

Hi Billy, i am very interested in APRS Tracker but i am not so much into electronics. My question, is it possible to use this tracker also with a 5V/10000mAh PowerBank instead of the Akku? Or how do i have to adopt it? Thanks, Andreas

Reply
1. billy
  
  October 25, 2018
  
  Andreas hi,
  
  The regulator accepts input up to 6V, so if you can connect your powerbank USB output directly to the input instead of using the battery it will work
  
  Reply
  1. Andreas
    
    October 30, 2018
    
    Hi Bily, thanks a lot for your fast answere. Unfortunately another question comes up. I am interested in the APRS Tracker with the charging module to use it with USB-Powerbank. Your comment was very helpful. My question is if you have also a schematic file (pdf) were the Batterycharger electronic is includet. Thanks a lot, Andreas
  2. billy
    
    November 4, 2018
    
    Now i understood, unfortunately there is no option to charge the battery and also use the APRS tracker, i am missing a feature called load sharing
Paolo

December 4, 2018

Hi Billy, thanks in advance for you answer and for your great project. I’ve build it but it did not happen anything on my Baofeng UV-3R although TX LED on Arduino blinks for a little bit either on APRS UPDATE and on MANUAL UPDATE with button on PIN 10. Serial Monitor update every second with correct position data.

Could you please make a short list of controls to do?
Thanks. Paolo.

Reply
1. billy
  
  December 4, 2018
  
  Hi Paolo,
  
  If your UV-3R is not going on TX blame the PTT (Q1). Check with a voltmeter on PTT PIN first if it goes high on TX as a starting point
  
  if it is going on TX and you don’t transmit, check the R6 and adjust it accordingly
  
  Reply
Alexander

February 16, 2019

That’s really great project! Cheap and reliable.
It’s can super great time add additional hardware, as compass with display, for locating same APRS devices in range…. For example tourism, etc… Display can show direction and range to other listened devices, same as them can spot you. Thanks!

Reply
Andreas

March 9, 2019

Hi Billy,
i built everything. Looks good, but i have some problems with uploading the software. With Arduino IDE it works, but than the Tracker ist doing nothing. And with PlatformIO (ATOM or VS Code) it does not work at all! Always errors on debugging like board is not supported from PlatformIO and the LipAPRS will not be found. Are there any adjustments i have to do. Thanks a lot, Andreas

Reply
1. Michal
  
  March 11, 2020
  
  Where can I download arduino files who can I upload to my raspberry ?
  Maybe stupid question but Im beggining – it is my first project which I assembly
  
  Reply
  1. billy
    
    March 11, 2020
    
    This specific project is Arduino based, no raspberry at all. It means that you cannot run the code on your Raspberry Pi
billy

March 11, 2019

Andreas hi,

Do you see any output on the serial when connected to Arduino IDE ?

B

Reply
1. Andreas
  
  April 4, 2019
  
  Thanks Bily, i have already an working Tracker! 🙂 Will try to make an PCB for it. Its really cool… 🙂
  
  Reply
Current Projects Spring 2019 – KE8JCT

April 5, 2019

[…] This project is taken directly from http://www.billy.gr/arduino-aprs-tracker/ […]

Reply
Luke

April 13, 2019

For those strugling with the Manual update, it needs a 10k resistor as a pulldown resistor to make it work perfectly. If you use the 3.3v as stated somewhere here before, it tends to reset the Arduino (nano in my case), best 73 de ON2ON

https://cdn.instructables.com/FI8/KJ0R/IYGFJDYW/FI8KJ0RIYGFJDYW.LARGE.jpg

Reply
Nolan Pearce

April 21, 2019

Is there a way to see the completed APRS packet in the serial monitor? I have an afsk encoder with my radio that just needs a string. Can I read the buffer of the final project before it is sent? Thanks and 73

Reply
1. billy
  
  April 23, 2019
  
  You could do that by modifying libAPRS.cpp function APRS_sendLoc , just before APRS_sendPkt to print the packet instead of sending it
  
  Reply
William Levien

June 6, 2019

Any chance you have actual part numbers?

I ordered 3 PCBs from OSH Park and I found most of the items on Mouser, but looking for the exact switches you used…

Reply
1. William Levien
  
  June 7, 2019
  
  I love this project, and love that you shared the files. I can’t wait to build it but I am pretty bummed the BOM doesn’t list all the parts needed to build…
  
  Missing values for C3 & C4 & U2
  
  Also can’t find a part for SW2.
  
  Reply
  1. billy
    
    June 8, 2019
    
    To avoid confusion use the KiCAD schematic, contains all the info
    
    I will update the page accordinly, C3 100nF/C4 1uF
Noah

June 16, 2019

Hello! I am working on developing this to work with a weather balloon project I’m working on. I am trying to transmit some temperature data live with it. To do this, I am trying to alter the “comment” part of the code to contain a variable with it. I am doing this inside the locationUpdate() Part of the code. It keeps giving me an error saying, “initializer fails to determine size of ‘comment’.” My code is below.

void locationUpdate(int insideTemp, int outsideTemp, int alt) {
char comment []= (String)”Arduino APRS Weather Ballon! Inside Temp:”+insideTemp);

APRS_setLat((char*)deg_to_nmea(lat, true));
APRS_setLon((char*)deg_to_nmea(lon, false));

// turn off SoftSerial to stop interrupting tx
Serial1.end();

// TX
APRS_sendLoc(comment, strlen(comment));

// read TX LED pin and wait till TX has finished (PB5) digital write 13 LED_BUILTIN
while(bitRead(PORTB,5));

// start SoftSerial again
Serial1.begin(9600);
}

Any help would be great.

Thank You,
Noah (KM4VXF)

Reply
Andreas

August 5, 2019

Hi Billy,
i have a hopefully little problem. I got new GPS Modules for the Tracker (ublox 6MV2) unfortunately its not working with them. I am not sure what i can do. I tried many boud rates. I changed on the GPS Module and also in the software. On the Arduino IDE Serial Monitor i see the NMEA sentences on the Arduino board. I see that there is the &GNGGA with all the information. Do you think there is something with the baud rate or the parsing the GPS data? GPS has an fix. I recogniced also the manual push button is not working? Do you have any idea where i do some mistake or whats happen? THX, Andreas

Reply
1. billy
  
  August 5, 2019
  
  Andreas hi,
  
  Let’s isolate it: can you please run the examples from the tinygps ?
  
  If tinygps is not able to decode it, then the APRS tracker will not be able to do anything
  
  Billy
  
  Reply
  1. Andreas
    
    August 6, 2019
    
    Hi Billy, thanks. I run examples from TINYGPS called simple_test. It shows me all the NMEA sentences like this.
    
    $GNGGA,174010.000,4758.5081,N,01437.9094,E,1,12,2.1,252.6,M,0.0,M,,*7B
    $GNGLL,4809.2281,N,01628.1194,E,174010.000,A,A*48
    $GPGSA,A,3,03,22,31,23,17,,,,,,,,3.0,2.1,2.1*37
    $BDGSA,A,3,20,,,,,,,,,,,,3.0,2.1,2.1*22
    $GPGSV,3,1,10,01,22,160,,03,62,089,31,06,38,307,18,09,45,235,*74
    $GPGSV,3,2,10,11,03,172,15,17,22,253,14,19,26,268,,22,42,103,27*7C
    $GPGSV,3,3,10,23,86,197,21,31,17,040,28*71
    $BDGSV,1,1,01,20,67,068,14*51
    $GNRMC,174010.000,A,4809.2281,N,01628.1194,E,0.23,332.63,060819,,,A*7F
    $GNVTG,332.63,T,,M,0.23,N,0.43,K,A*22
    $GNZDA,174010.000,06,08,2019,00,00*4F
    $GPTXT,01,01,01,ANTENNA OPEN*25
    CHARS=7865 SENTENCES=0 CSUM ERR=0
    
    Looks ok so far?! KR, Andreas
  2. billy
    
    August 7, 2019
    
    Hi Andreas,
    
    I assume that you used this example:
    https://github.com/mikalhart/TinyGPS/tree/master/examples
    
    And it doesn’t display the coordinates but just skips to line 56 output of CHARS…
    
    This decodes correctly
    $GNRMC,174010.000,A,4809.2281,N,01628.1194,E,0.23,332.63,060819,,,A*7F
    
    This one no
    $GNGGA,174010.000,4758.5081,N,01437.9094,E,1,12,2.1,252.6,M,0.0,M,,*7B
    
    https://rl.se/gprmc
    
    I assume that this version of TinyGPS doesn’t support the GNRMC code which explains the behavior…
    
    Can you please try this version ?
    https://github.com/florind/TinyGPS
    
    Apologies but it is out of my control
    
    Billy
Andreas

August 8, 2019

I will try the other TinyGPS. Thanks a lot… 🙂

Reply
1. Andreas
  
  August 9, 2019
  
  Hi Billy, i assume the problem was that the NMEA sentence from GLOSNASS was not parsed. (GNGGA) I modified the TinyGPS from florind and now it works.
  I put the modified TinyGPS fork on GitHub https://github.com/aronaut/TinyGPS
  Thanks for your help, Andreas
  
  Reply
2. Mich
  
  April 12, 2020
  
  Billy what should I chage in code to see high over sea level on aprs.fi
  
  Reply
  1. billy
    
    April 20, 2020
    
    Hi,
    
    I have updated the code to include the altitude in the APRS comment field in the latest update. I don’t know if aprs.fi supports it or not… but it is trasmitted (value /A=infeet)
Andreas

August 10, 2019

Hi Billy,
i assume the problem was that the new GPS-Modules send GPS and GLONASS sentences I modified the TinyGPS from Mikal Hart by adding also the “GNRMC” and “GNGGA” type.
You find the GitHub fork under https://github.com/aronaut/TinyGPS
Now it works! Thanks for your support and giving the right hints!
KR,
Andreas

Reply
Ridwan Fauzi

September 12, 2019

how does the tool work? thanks

Reply
1. billy
  
  September 12, 2019
  
  It gets the position from GPS, and transmit it using APRS on the air
  
  Reply
Ridwan Fauzi

September 17, 2019

what the funtion this arduino aoos tracker? thanks

Reply
1. billy
  
  September 19, 2019
  
  Provide the location of you/your vehicle over APRS (HAM Radio)
  
  Reply
Aaron

October 26, 2019

Hi I need some help, I tryed to upload the sketch and I got an error message saying “no matching function for call to ‘SimpleTimer::setInterval(long int, void (&)())’” what can I do to fix this problem.
Thanks

Reply
1. billy
  
  October 26, 2019
  
  Hi,
  
  Have you installed the SimpleTimer library ?
  
  Reply
  1. Aaron
    
    October 26, 2019
    
    Yes I installed all 3 of the libraries required.
  2. billy
    
    October 27, 2019
    
    it compiles without issues https://travis-ci.org/billygr/arduino-aprs-tracker, what is your Arduino IDE version ? Can you try with the latest ?
  3. Aaron
    
    October 31, 2019
    
    Any solution to the problem I’m having.
    Thanks
  4. Aaron
    
    January 11, 2020
    
    Hi Billy
    I’m still getting the same error message.
    Anything else that might work, I have the latest version of Arduino IDE.
    
    Thanks
  5. billy
    
    January 12, 2020
    
    Hi Aaron,
    
    You used the SimpleTimer version from the Arduino Library Manager, delete it and download the one from github manually https://github.com/jfturcot/SimpleTimer (extract it on your libraries folder)
    
    I can understand the confusion, will try to include the needed library in my code
    
    Billy
  6. billy
    
    January 12, 2020
    
    Delete the library, i have included in the project on github to avoid confusion, thank for the comment
Aaron

October 31, 2019

Sorry didn’t see your reply will try suggestions above thanks

Reply
1. Aaron
  
  February 9, 2020
  
  Hi Billy
  I uploaded the sketch to the Arduino it says done uploading when I plug it into the radio nothing happens and when I open the serial monitor I see nothing as well.
  Could you please help.
  Thanks
  
  Reply
  1. billy
    
    February 10, 2020
    
    Hi,
    
    If you Arduino works well, you will get a “Arduino APRS Tracker” on your serial monitor right after restart.
    
    Check that first
    
    Billy
  2. Aaron
    
    February 11, 2020
    
    Hi Billy
    I don’t get that when it starts up.
    Thanks
  3. billy
    
    February 14, 2020
    
    Hi,
    
    Can you try the examples from Arduino and ensure that your serial is working ok ?
    
    Billy
  4. Aaron
    
    February 21, 2020
    
    Hi Billy
    I have tested the example codes and serial work no problem.
    Thanks
adolfo LU9HT

November 9, 2019

Hello Bily I built your design but with arduino nano, it works very well and I can see my position on the maps .. but … when I press the send location button it sends the location without problems but then the program stops and I need to restart it so that Go back to work, can you give me some tip?

Reply
1. billy
  
  November 10, 2019
  
  Hi,
  
  Check if you are using a push on switch, and could you please change the code to
  
  Serial.println(F(“BEFORE”));
  while(bitRead(PORTB,5));
  Serial.println(F(“AFTER”));
  
  73
  
  Reply
  1. billy
    
    November 10, 2019
    
    I just pushed an update to LibAPRS for Arduino Nano. Can you download again the lib and try ?
  2. adolfo LU9HT
    
    November 11, 2019
    
    Arduino APRS Tracker
    10/11/2019 23:14:45 LAT=-31746292 LON=-65001211 3144.77S/06500.07W
    10/11/2019 23:14:46 LAT=-31746293 LON=-65001212 3144.77S/06500.07W
    10/11/2019 23:14:47 LAT=-31746291 LON=-65001209 3144.77S/06500.07W
    10/11/2019 23:14:48 LAT=-31746290 LON=-65001206 3144.77S/06500.07W
    10/11/2019 23:14:49 LAT=-31746288 LON=-65001203 3144.77S/06500.07W
    MANUAL UPDATE
    BEFORE
    AFTER
    10/11/2019 23:14:51 LAT=-31746301 LON=-65001223 3144.77S/06500.07W
    …. DO THE SAME WITH THE OLD LIBRARY AND WITH THE NEW
    
    AFTER PRESSING THE MANUAL UPDATE THE PTT DOES NOT ACT AGAIN
    
    POSSIBLY IF YOU PUT A RESET THEN MANUAL UPDATE?
    
    THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME!
  3. billy
    
    November 11, 2019
    
    Could you please try without your radio connected ? Just want to exclude the RF part
adolfo LU9HT

November 13, 2019

Hi Billy, I did tests without radio and the problem continues, no changes are seen

Reply
adolfo LU9HT

November 13, 2019

I connect the system, the minute sends position and then does nothing more.
if I open the serial monitor you get this: 11/13/2019 16:20:28 LAT = -31746136 LON = -65001162 3144.76S / 06500.06W
11/13/2019 16:20:29 LAT = -31746138 LON = -65001157 3144.76S / 06500.06W
11/13/2019 16:20:30 LAT = -31746143 LON = -65001149 3144.76S / 06500.06W
11/13/2019 16:20:31 LAT = -31746148 LON = -65001141 3144.76S / 06500.06W
APRS UPDATE
BEFORE
AFTER
11/13/2019 16:20:37 LAT = -31746137 LON = -65001157 3144.76S / 06500.06W
and there it is. but if I restart the serial monitor it counts again until the next aprs update

Reply
1. billy
  
  November 19, 2019
  
  Trying to replicate it on one of my devices, will update you today
  
  Reply
  1. Adolfo lu9ht
    
    November 20, 2019
    
    thank you billy
  2. billy
    
    November 24, 2019
    
    Confirmed. Issues with Nano, and the SimpleTimer, looking to it
Riani

November 15, 2019

It is truly a nice and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you simply shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this.
Thank you for sharing.

Reply
Nicolas

November 24, 2019

Hi Billy and thanks for all the work you have done.

Just finished the project on a protoboard and having low audio received on the other end.

Have tried adjusting the RV1 levels in order to improve it but makes no difference.

Any idea of what should I try?

Thanks in advance!
Nicolas

Reply
1. billy
  
  November 24, 2019
  
  Try to get the audio just before the potentiometer and you should be ok
  
  Reply
  1. Nicolas
    
    November 24, 2019
    
    Do you mean to connect the the analog out before the potenciometer?
  2. billy
    
    November 24, 2019
    
    Exactly
adolfo LU9HT

December 1, 2019

Hola Billy encontre la manera de hacerlo funcionar con arduino nano
// read TX LED pin and wait till TX has finished (PB5) digital write 13 LED_BUILTIN
Serial.println(F(“BEFORE”));
while(bitRead(PORTB,5));
Serial.println(F(“AFTER”));
// start SoftSerial again

// turn off SoftSerial to stop interrupting tx
// COMENT THIS LINE ****** GPSSerial.end(); ****** COMENTE ESTA LINEA!!!!!!

GPSSerial.begin(9600);
}

/*
** Convert degrees in long format to APRS string format
SIMPLY COMMENTING THE GPSSERIAL.END LINE

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME

Reply
adolfo LU9HT

December 1, 2019

NOW ONLY LACK THAT WORKS WITH SMARTBEACON
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Reply
1. billy
  
  December 2, 2019
  
  Thank you for the feedback. Smartbeacon is on my list
  
  Reply
  1. Nicolas Solop
    
    April 5, 2020
    
    Any updates on smartbeaconing? do you need help testing out?
  2. billy
    
    April 7, 2020
    
    Hi Nicolas, i have started adding it, hopefully till end of the week i will update the github with the first version
  3. billy
    
    April 21, 2020
    
    Nicholas still pending, and i don’t have a way to test it, i have found the algorythm and a pseudo code around it it needs a bit of cleanup first before commiting it to the repo
  4. Nicolas
    
    April 26, 2020
    
    Let me know if you need help to tests smart beaconing.
    
    Have a few radios here to test and the government allowed us to go out our homes!
sigi

December 4, 2019

where or who makes the board.find no info about it.

sigi

Reply
Ardy

December 5, 2019

Hello Billy, I’m not a engineering but I’m trying to make an experiment. Can it be displayed on the web of aprs.fi? Or how do I see my location using the device?

Reply
1. billy
  
  December 5, 2019
  
  As long you are a licensed HAM Radio Amateur yes you can use it
  
  Reply
Sigi

December 5, 2019

Hi, Billy.
on june 8,2019 you report about an update. you should take the circuit diagram of KICAD. only the circuit diagram is from april 16,2019. i miss the changes and extensions in it.
sorry for my questions.
sigi

Reply
1. billy
  
  December 9, 2019
  
  Updating the page
  
  Reply
sigi

December 8, 2019

PCB

Oh yes !!! We do have also PCB ready credits to aronaut. Thank you !!!

Please,can you help me.search the path to aronaut.4 ham operator want to buy the board.

73de
sigi

Reply
1. billy
  
  December 9, 2019
  
  Hi,
  
  You can use the Gerber directly https://github.com/billygr/arduino-aprs-tracker/tree/master/APRS-Tracker_KiCad/Gerber and order them from your favorite PCB supplier
  
  Billy
  
  Reply
  1. sigi
    
    December 9, 2019
    
    Hi Billy
    
    many thanks for your info
    
    73-sigi
Kenan

December 17, 2019

Çalışman için teşekkür ederim Billy. PCB kart yaptırdım ve arkadaş çevreme verdim uğraşıyoruz.
TA1MKK 73

Reply
Nicolas

December 25, 2019

Hi Billy! finally works! thanks for all your help.

The thing is that I would like to add an external LED in order to know when the position is achieved without having to look the module itself.

Do you know how to do this based on your code?

Thanks again.

Nicolás

Reply
1. billy
  
  December 28, 2019
  
  Hi,
  
  Looks like a good addition, LED on when GPS has a fix. Will update it over the weekend
  
  Billy
  
  Reply
  1. Nicolás
    
    January 10, 2020
    
    Hi! Did you have the chance to modify the code? Let me know and will test it! Thanks
  2. billy
    
    January 12, 2020
    
    Yes, on latest commit. Add a LED to A3 with a resistor to ground, it should blink every second when you have a GPS FIX
  3. Nicolas
    
    January 22, 2020
    
    Will try this weekend and let you know! Thanks!
Adolfo LU9HT

January 20, 2020

Hi Billy, could you advance something with the theme of smartbeaconing?
the system still works very well with the arduino nano

Reply
1. billy
  
  January 22, 2020
  
  Still work in progress, i will upload a first beta this weekend
  
  Reply
Mich

March 12, 2020

Billy do You plan to support some temperture sensors in Your project ? Maybe BME280 or DHT22 ?
I plan to release ballon with this tracker, temp sensors would be very helpfull
BTW – how often this tracker send frames ? can I set it somewhere in the code ?

Reply
1. billy
  
  March 13, 2020
  
  Hi,
  
  We could add a BME280 nice idea . As for the updates default to every 2 minutes but you can modified.
  
  billy
  
  Reply
Mich

March 12, 2020

2.
PTT delay – I plan to use it with baofeng pmr who is able to work on 2m ( BF-T1 ) Point is – this radio transmit signal after some short time after pushed ptt. Do You have some setting who delay aprs frame after PTT ?

Reply
1. billy
  
  March 13, 2020
  
  2 Sure try with APRS_setPreamble(350); in the void setup()
  
  billy
  
  Reply