APRS units are not expensive: The "black box", based on aByonics Micro-Trak RTG,which plugs into my glider electrical system was $325 US, while a Yaesu VX-8R with GPS is about $600. The handheld offers alternative radio communication which the black box does not. The black box system is completely hands off, sending one report when powered up and then waiting for movement to start tracking. Most people set APRS to broadcast Lat/Lon/Altitude/Direction/Speed every three minutes. For a contest like this you could increase that frequency if you think the bandwidth is there. One minute, for example. Faster report rate would likely eat up all the bandwidth of a system you're not paying to use. Use of either the dedicated APRS box or handheld with APRS functionality is free. You may choose to donate to one of the websites that provide tracking display, or to the local provider of digital repeaters. The complication is that users each need to have an amateur radio operators licence. Study at home for a while and take the test in a few hours. Several of us took the test together when we used to fly hang gliders and needed the radio licence for the 2m band. Jim
For more information: http://www.aprs.net.au/ http://www.byonics.com/microtrak/mt-rtg.php ________________________________ From: Matthew Gage <m...@knightschallenge.com> If someone wants a better system, they can pay for it.
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