Dan,
The TH-F6A DOES NOT have a modem in it. It can be used with an external TNC
(like a Kantronics KPC-3+, Open-Tracker, TNC-X, etc.).
Quite a few of the TH-F6A's suffer from a low deviation problem. If people
complain about your low audio, you WON'T be able to use the radio for packet
comms, until the deviation problem is fixed.
Radios that do have TNC's in them: TH-D7; Yaesu VX-8GR, FT-350;Kenwood
TM-D700, TM-D710; Alinco DR-635 (several other Alinco mobiles have an optional
TNC module). There are probably a few others I missed. Most will require a
separate GPS also.
How complicated it is depends on exactly what you want to do. If you want to
send out APRS packets so that others can track your movements - all you need is
a TinyTrak type device and an HT. If you want to be able to track others APRS
signals on a map, then you need a full blown TNC, radio, and a computer running
APRS software. The in-between area (you don't need a map display) - you can
use the self contained units like the Yaesu DX-8GR (includes the GPS) or the
Kenwood D7 HT ( will need a GPS) or the mobiles with TNC's built-in that will
also require a GPS.
Your best bet is to hook up with a local mentor that can help guide you through
the ins and out of getting up and running on APRS.
73,
Jeff Moore -- KE7ACY
Bend, Oregon
----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Walker
Thank you, seems so complicated! very limited funds. Will try to get it
setup with your help.
Again Thanks,
Dan
--- On Sun, 8/29/10, Jerry W <k0hzi...@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Jerry W <k0hzi...@gmail.com>
Subject: [digitalradio] Re: New
To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 7:58 AM
Dan,
Although the TH-F6A has a Packet modem, that is not all you need to
operate APRS with that HT. You will also need a computer, laptop if operating
portable or mobile connected to the TH-F6A, see page 45 of the operating manual
for cables ect. Then you would need a TNC that would connect with the GPS unit
or manually enter in lat - long locations though software (see UI-View:
http://www.ui-view.org/) that the TNC can send to the TH-F6A. You may want to
look for a used Kenwood TH-D7A/G that has APRS as one of the built in features.
There is supposed to be a new Kenwood HT, Kenwood TH-D72? with built-in APRS
and GPS, however no release date as to when the new HT will be available. You
might watch the TH-D7 Yahoo group for more information:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Kenwood_TH-D7/
--- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, Dan Walker <wd5...@...> wrote:
Plan on orerating mobile have Kenwood TH-F6A and my Tom Tom is not the
highend unit I thought it was. TH-F6A says it has 1200bps modem for VHF. How do
I put it all togather? Not even sure what I can do with APRS. Been off the air
for a while.
Dan
I would like to try APRS, but have no idea where to start. I now have a
GPS unit from TomTom. What else do I need and where do I start?
Thank you,
Dan Walker WD5CND
