1. A Poor Man’s APRS Setup
How to message, report position, and see other stations without spending $1500!

2. APRS in general Invented by Bob Bruninga
Allows position reporting and...
...more importantly, 2-way text messaging
Does not need to be expensive
Can use older radios that may have out-lived their usefulness in other modes

3. In a Perfect World We’d all make enough for an “ultimate” set up:
Kenwood D-710 ($539.95)

4. In a Perfect World, pt. 2
AVMap G5 Aviation certified GPS Receiver ($599.95)

5. Advantages Designed to work together
Fewer hook-ups, easy to set up and get working

6. Disadvantages D-710 TNC does not offer full TNC functionality
Messaging is thru rotating a knob to choose letters, no keyboard
Control is via radio, not touchscreen
Cost (at least $950)

7. The Poor Man’s Method
Any 2M FM transceiver that you can get audio out of, audio into, and PTT
Inexpensive TNC that offers full KISS functionality so nothing is sacrificed
Inexpensive GPS with keyboard
Readily available cables that you can build yourself to save money

8. Advantages Much lower costs (mine is under $400 including a new radio)
GPS allows control of TNC via its keyboard (full command set)
Touchscreen control of messaging
YOU have the satisfaction of making it work!
Full TNC capability allows flexibility in use
Hook it to a computer with UI-View, etc.

9. Disadvantages
The “best” GPS is discontinued, but available and supported
You have to hook it all up and make it talk together
Not as “elegant” as a ready-made system
You might have to read a forum or two to figure it all out

10. Parts List
Yaesu FT-2800M 2M Mobile Transceiver ($140 including shipping)
Garmin nuvi 350 GPS Receiver ($104 including shipping, from eBay, included all factory cables and windshield mount, also available from Radio Shack for $109, factory refurbed)
Argent Data OpenTracker2 TNC ($101 from Argent)
Garmin Fleet Management Interface Cable ($28 from Argent)
Various cables and connectors

11. Block Diagram 12V in Garmin Fleet Management Interface cable to
OT2 Data port
Mic w/
PTT
Speaker
12V to rear
Connector (required
By FMI)
OT2 Radio Port
12V in

12. Hints, 1
Other Garmins will work, see the online resources for help, BUT...
The nuvi 350 has a firmware “bug” that makes it the only model that properly handles moving waypoints, deleting the old one when it is detected as having moved to a new position. Others only leave breadcrumbs.

13. Hints, 2
A radio with a fixed-level audio output (as in a data jack) is nice so the volume control getting changed is not an issue with reception of incoming data.
A radio with a rear-panel data jack will also likely have PTT and Audio In so wiring is simpler.
Read the forums and wikis on a regular basis; a newbie comes along every day and asks the question you are afraid to ask!

14. Resources, 1 OpenTracker2 Product page and support:

15. Resources, 2 Garmin nuvi 350: