(Click on image for larger view.)
The Search and Rescue Tracker is based on the Automatic Packet Reporting
System
(APRS) for real time tactical digital communications of information of
immediate value in the local area of the Southern Cape. In addition, all
such
data is ingested into the APRS Internet System (APRS-IS) and distributed
globally for ubiquitous and immediate access. This tracker is not only
used for Search and Rescue purposes but also for general amateur radio-,
High Altitude Balloon Tracking-, Digipeating-,Announcements-,
Bulletin-, Message-,
Alert-, Weather and Disaster purposes and of course a map that reflect
objects, satellites, emergency nets, Search & Rescue Objects and
Search & Rescue Logging ect.
Let's move on to the tracker build. There is several tracker units on
the market that can be used. I played around with several units in the
past. This time around I decided to use a Arduino/PCB Tracker which use
a Trackuino open-source sketch. I am not going to go into great detail
here as there are literally hundreds of websites that contain an
abundance of information on how to build this tracker. The unit I
constructed contained the following features:
- Arduino shield form factor (you can stack more shields on it)
- GPS: Ublox LEA-4P Module. (RF Design)
- Radio: Baofeng UV-5R VHF/UHF HT
- 1200 bauds AFSK using 8-bit PWM
- Sends out standard APRS position messages (latitude, longitude, altitude, course, speed and time).
- Internal/external temperature sensors (LM35) to read temperature in and outside. (To still be activated.)
- Active/passive buzzer support to ease acoustic tracker location.(To still be activated.)
- Trackuino intervalometer (To still be activated.)
- Open source (GPLv2 license), both software and hardware. In other words, you can do whatever you want with it: modify it, add it to your project, etc.
The following images show the different modules of the tracker:
