LORA APRS Tracker using T-Beam ESP32 with GPS

 Setting up a  LoRa APRS Tracker or Igate on 433Mhz.

I need to build a Tracker for LORA on 433Mhz and I hate two options to consider.

Using the same TTGO-T-Beam ESP32 with GPS and Lora 433Mhz module that will be the same as my Lora Igate board.

Setting up a Lora APRS tracker using the ESP32 Lora32 TTGO-T T-Beam 433/470Mhz Module.

 Here is picture of how the Lora signal looks like

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was looking for a low power battery backup APRS Lora system to track Balloons and cars.

I then got the TTGO-T T-Beam witch has ESP32 with WIFI and Bluetooth.
It also has a GPS Ublock and a Lora32 TTGO 433/470Mhz and USB port.

This module is available from Giga Technology here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found a project on Github https://github.com/lora-aprs/LoRa_APRS_Tracker
It seems to be strate foreword replacing the default firmware in the SP32

So lets get Started

Lets download the project from github here

On your pc run the following

git clone https://github.com/antonjan/LoRa_APRS_Tracker

cd LoRa_APRS_Tracker/

 
I Recommend installing Visual Studio Code with PlatformIO plugin.


PlatformIO can be downloaded directly from the PlatformIO website. There you just have to press the green button with “Install PlatformIO now”. Then just install it. If you have already installed Visual Studio Code, the PlatformIO Module can also be installed via the Plugin Manager. Now the source code can be opened in Visual Studio Code.

Start your Code editor

 

 

 

First we have to make some adjustments to the  data/is-code.json file

We now need to edit the is-code.json settings as follows

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The callsign must be changed (line 3) 

The SSID and password must be filled in of you WIFI.

Latitude and Longitude must always be filled in.  

If you don't have your coordinates in your head, simply open Google Maps, right-click on the desired location and click on ‘What's there?’  

These settings have to be changed if you want to use an iGate: the active in wifi and aprs must be set from false to true.

These settings have to be changed to get a Digi: the active in digi must be set from false to true.

It is not recommended to run an iGate and a Digi at the same time. This will be checked in a later version and only the settings of the iGate will run (presumably the Digi Mode will be active when no WiFi connection can be established - let's see). May board dont have the display but I dont think you have to change any of the setting.

Choosing the right board in Platformio plug in Code

Now the right board has to be selected, because each board is wired a little differently (the GPIOs are used differently) or has additional components. This can be changed in the status bar, which is currently still in Default.  

 Here is example of platformio.ini file. Select TTGO_T_Beam_V1_0 as in picture below

 

What can I do with the TP-Link TL-WR703N router? (APRS, SDR)

What can I do with the TP-Link TL-WR703N router? (APRS, SDR)

Basically this device is meant to be a little 3g travel router. You can plug in a 3g USB adapter and share that Internet connection to multiple devices over WIFI. It also supports Ethernet. It runs a Linux operating system so this opens up lost of Amateur Radio opportunities. So for $24 you can get a 400mhz Linux computer, with Ethernet, Wifi and USB ports and several GPIO pins.

This router is available from http://www.giga.co.za/ocart/index.php?route=product/product&path=99&product_id=150

1) SDR
Using a RTL-SDR dongle on TL-WR703n you can listing to Amateur radio frequencies.
If you’re running OpenWrt Barrier Breaker (i.e. trunk) you can install librtlsdr SDR dongle labraries
Here is the pre compiled applications
https://steve-m.de/projects/rtl-sdr/openwrt/packages/

2) APRS
This unit can be used to do APRS with external GPS unit.
More info how to make this router a (APRS) Igate go  to http://www.aprs4r.org/cgi-bin/trac.cgi/wiki/OpenWrtAPRS4RInstallation
The router is well documented http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wr703n/pcb

Android Application for Radio Amateurs

Here is some details of the Android Applications I use on my Galaxy S2


1) Echolink for Android)
2) HF Beacon. (HF beacon monitoring your android clock must be accurate)

Android Galaxy S2

3) Call Log. (Logbook)
4) HamGPS.
5) DroidRTTY.
6) AndPSKmail.
7) APRS View.
8) APRSdroid.
9) DroidPSK.
10) QRZDroid.
11) NCDXF Beacon.
12) NKCCluster.
13) DroidProp (very nice propagation program)
14) ElectroDroid.
15) HamSA.
16) Morse Code Trainer.
17) RF Calculator.
18) AHPSDR (Android SDR client for SDRServers)
19) AMSAT DROID (Satellite tracking)

1) Echolink for Android)

Very nice program works very well 3G or Wifi

Link where you can install the app

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.echolink.android&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsIm9yZy5lY2hvbGluay5hbmRyb2lkIl0.

Echolink Station List

HF Beacon.

Very nice program to monitor 20M Beacons make shore your time is correct.

HF Beacon

Call Log.

Very handy if you are a way from your computer or logbook (Field station)

Call Log.

HamGPS.

Ham GPS

DroidRTTY.

You can connect your radio via Mic / Speaker

DroidRTTY

AndPSKmail.

You can connect your radio via Mic / Speaker

AndPSKmail

 

 

 

 

 

 

APRS View. 

APRS View is just a simple APRS view

APRS View

 

 

APRSdroid.

This the better APRS Viewer that aloes you to send Message as well as publishing you position.(U have the option to use GPRS / HSDPA data not your radio or you can connect to radio with speaker / Mic or blue-tooth)
(Very handy)
Read my details how to connect android to radio.

 

DroidPSK.

QRZDroid

NKCCluster.

NKCCluster

DroidProp

ElectroDroid

This program is fantastic has all resistor xl, xc, f, resonant , and lots more

ic pin outs, regulator, cable details... ,555, tuned  ...78xx regulators.

HamSA

South African Radio armature information application.

Morse Code Trainer

 RF Calculator

AHPSDR (Android SDR client for SDRServers)

Raspberry Pin connections

RPiREF is an easy and quick way of checking the Pin-out and GPIO references of the Raspberry Pi P1 and P5 Headers.

This information is already available in a number of forms but having it available on your Android smartphone or tablet is useful when you are experimenting.

This app covers :

- Pin numbering of the P1 GPIO Header
- Pin numbering of the P5 Header on Rev 2 boards
- Proper GPIO references for each pin
- 3.3V, 5V and ground pins

SDR Touch

This it the best App ever.

Turns your mobile phone or tablet into a cheap and portable software defined radio scanner.

Using the RTL2832U driver you could use one of the following compatible USB DVB-T tuners.

You could also connect to rtl_tcp server (read my write up here)

video link

AmsatDroid

This App predicts future passes for amateur radio satellites for a specified location.

link where you can install it.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.me.g4dpz.HamSatDroid