Re: MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
Final question before I put in my order- What antennas are appropriate for an ATV/Motorcycle (not much metal). Will a HT Nagoya NA-771whip be appropriate?
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Re: compatible weather station for MTT4B-Mini
Dj,
What I know about using weather stations on APRS can comfortably be written on a matchbook with a crayon. The two main systems that are APRS compatible are some of the Peet Brothers. and the Davis units. My understanding is that APRS friendly? devices from both families have adapters that will allow the devices to put out compatible strings. I believe the Peet unit speaks KISS and the Davis Speaks a proprietary format ( If I have these backwards, it can be easily rectified by browsing the manual) Both as I understand it have RS-232 Serial outputs.
This would not present any special problems with the MTT4BT, because it is set up to handle "true" RS-232 serial data. The MTT4B-Mini only accepts TTL data, so you would need to add an inverter ( Like the MAX232 chip we use in the MTT4BT) to convert the serial to TTL. All things being equal, it may be wiser to use an MTT4BT transceiver for a variety of reasons. One, it is designed to accept serial, Two, the two serial inputs are readily connectable using off-the-shelf Byonics or simple homemade cables, and Three, the MTT4BT can have its output power dialed down for applicable conditions including range and power savings, whereas the MTT4B-Mini is always going to be a very-QRP transmitter, and adding output power would be considerably more involved.
73,
Allen AF6OF
-----Original Message-----
From: Dj Merrill via groups.io <groupsio@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sat, Jun 26, 2021 5:39 pm
Subject: [TinyTrak] compatible weather station for MTT4B-Mini
We want to setup a remote weather station powered by solar/battery.? I'm looking at the MTT4B-Mini that states in the addendum manual, "for stand-alone battery or solar powered digipeaters, weather stations, etc".
I'm making an assumption that this implies that a weather station can be directly connected to the MTT4B-Mini with no need for an intermediate computer like a Raspberry Pi.
My questions are, what weather stations would be compatible, and is there a "how-to" guide describing how to set this up (physical wiring as well as the MTT4B programming setup)?
Thank you,
-Dj
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compatible weather station for MTT4B-Mini
We want to setup a remote weather station powered by solar/battery.? I'm looking at the MTT4B-Mini that states in the addendum manual, "for stand-alone battery or solar powered digipeaters, weather stations, etc".
I'm making an assumption that this implies that a weather station can be directly connected to the MTT4B-Mini with no need for an intermediate computer like a Raspberry Pi.
My questions are, what weather stations would be compatible, and is there a "how-to" guide describing how to set this up (physical wiring as well as the MTT4B programming setup)?
Thank you,
-Dj
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Re: MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
Good time to update the firmware. I can think of 3 options for improvement: 1. Ignore the message "Talker ID" ($G?) and look at the 4th, 5th, and 6th characters 2. Parse out the 3 common options (all three have the messages decoded by TT# for APRS): ??? $GPS - North America variant and common Talker ID
??? $GPL - GLONASS
??? $GPN - combination -> Now most common as GPS units used more than 1 set of satellites
3. Leave it as is and hope users can change the settings of the attached GPS ??? Or miss a lot of the newer capabilities and
On Friday, June 25, 2021, 4:31:00 PM EDT, vhsproducts via groups.io <vhsproducts@...> wrote:
Garmin certainly does not make it easy to find out about? their products! It looks like you can get serial (RS-232) NMEA out of a Montana if you have the mounting bracket option. otherwise, it appears to just have a USB port that won't work with a TT4. It is not completely clear to me from a search of their documentation if the GLONASS sentences are included with their NMEA serial output, or if they can be deactivated. Every GPS module that I have seen with dual capabilities squeezes the GLONASS data into the serial, semi-NMEA data stream, but with any luck, the 700 is a bit more advanced than just a CHICOM GPS module.?
73,
Allen AF6OF
-----Original Message-----
From: toy4trax@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Fri, Jun 25, 2021 11:40 am
Subject: Re: [TinyTrak] MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
This is for the Montana 700 series.
The 600 series appears to be the same, but doesn't give the detail.
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Re: MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
My use case will be on the amps mount which does include data wiring. From another page(gpscity.com I think¡) I understand that the Garmin serial usb cable will work as well if you get a 5pin mini to micro adapter.
Garmin Serial Data / Power Cable
Garmin part number: 010-11131-01
5 pin cable(un-verified function)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RD9ZW4H/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A3GSDEVWHJ30D5&psc=1
***NOTE*** I was unable to get this combination to work. Not sure if it is the Garmin product, or Amazon product causing the issue.
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Re: MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
Garmin certainly does not make it easy to find out about? their products! It looks like you can get serial (RS-232) NMEA out of a Montana if you have the mounting bracket option. otherwise, it appears to just have a USB port that won't work with a TT4. It is not completely clear to me from a search of their documentation if the GLONASS sentences are included with their NMEA serial output, or if they can be deactivated. Every GPS module that I have seen with dual capabilities squeezes the GLONASS data into the serial, semi-NMEA data stream, but with any luck, the 700 is a bit more advanced than just a CHICOM GPS module.?
73,
Allen AF6OF
-----Original Message-----
From: toy4trax@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Fri, Jun 25, 2021 11:40 am
Subject: Re: [TinyTrak] MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
This is for the Montana 700 series.
The 600 series appears to be the same, but doesn't give the detail.
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Re: MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
This is for the Montana 700 series.
The 600 series appears to be the same, but doesn't give the detail.
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Re: MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
Thanks for the link!? Which unit of the Montana species is this spec sheet for? All the units I have checked not only have multi-GNSS, which is a problem for the TT4-based products unless they can be deactivated. Even worse, they only have I/O's that are USB, ANT, Wifi or Audio Bluetooth, also not things that are particularly MTT4BT compatible without adding a PC to the loop.
73,
Allen AF6OF
-----Original Message-----
From: toy4trax@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thu, Jun 24, 2021 9:58 pm
Subject: Re: [TinyTrak] MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
I was able to dig this up:
- Garmin Spanner (Creates a virtual serial port for use with most NMEA 0183 compliant programs)
- NMEA Sentences
- Status (GSA, GSV)
- Wpts/Route (WPL, RTE)
- GRMN Propritary
- Autopilot Mode
- Waypoint IDs
- Precision of Minutes
- MM.MM' (2 digits)
- MM.MMM' (3 digits)
- MM.MMMM' (4 digits)
- Baud
- Garmin Serial (Garmin proprietary data transfer format)
- NMEA In/Out (Use standard NMEA 0183 input and output)
- NMEA Sentences
- Status (GSA, GSV)
- Wpts/Route (WPL, RTE)
- GRMN Propritary
- Autopilot Mode
- Waypoint IDs
- Precision of Minutes
- MM.MM' (2 digits)
- MM.MMM' (3 digits)
- MM.MMMM' (4 digits)
- Text Out (Provides simple ASCII text output of location and velocity information)
- MTP (Media Transfer Protocol)
Based on the MTT4BT being able to take APRS audio, and convert it to NMEA serial waypoints ($GPWPL & $PGRMW), I think this is a go!
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Re: MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
I was able to dig this up:
- Garmin Spanner (Creates a virtual serial port for use with most NMEA 0183 compliant programs)
- NMEA Sentences
- Status (GSA, GSV)
- Wpts/Route (WPL, RTE)
- GRMN Propritary
- Autopilot Mode
- Waypoint IDs
- Precision of Minutes
- MM.MM' (2 digits)
- MM.MMM' (3 digits)
- MM.MMMM' (4 digits)
- Baud
- Garmin Serial (Garmin proprietary data transfer format)
- NMEA In/Out (Use standard NMEA 0183 input and output)
- NMEA Sentences
- Status (GSA, GSV)
- Wpts/Route (WPL, RTE)
- GRMN Propritary
- Autopilot Mode
- Waypoint IDs
- Precision of Minutes
- MM.MM' (2 digits)
- MM.MMM' (3 digits)
- MM.MMMM' (4 digits)
- Text Out (Provides simple ASCII text output of location and velocity information)
- MTP (Media Transfer Protocol)
Based on the MTT4BT being able to take APRS audio, and convert it to NMEA serial waypoints ($GPWPL & $PGRMW), I think this is a go!
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Re: How can I do this? toggling between two APRS messages.
Bear,
If you end up with a Garmin Colorado, would you mind telling us which one you bought, and whether you could turn off the GLONASS sentences?
73,
Allen AF6OF
-----Original Message-----
From: Bear Albrecht <W5VZB.NM@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wed, Jun 23, 2021 4:32 pm
Subject: Re: [TinyTrak] How can I do this? toggling between two APRS messages.
OK, I'm looking at the TT4 hardware manual and I have yet to figure out what to ground-or-not ...?
The word "bank" doesn't appear in that document at all.
;B
--
Bear Albrecht? W5VZB? OOOTC
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Re: MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
Rob,?
Thanks for the reply. To be clear, I don¡¯t have the MTT4BT yet, just considering a purchase if it fits my use case. I¡¯ll take a look at the firmware manual as suggested.?
My uncle works at Garmin and I¡¯ll ask about the GLONASS issue.?
Thanks for the replies!
Brian
KG7KHL
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Re: MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
Wonder if I just turn off the?Galileo will make a difference. Good point though.?
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Re: MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
Brian -
Can you give a better description of what you are having an issue with on your MTT4B and Garmin? From your message, I gathered the issue is waypoints.
From Allen's message, it appears you may not be getting GPS messages.
According to the video, the Garmin (400t) does use NMEA sentences. The video shows the D710 has the ability to filter which type of information received over the air is sent to the Garmin GPS as waypoints.? The MTT4B does not have that feature.
There is a setting to send your position to the GPS when . The MTT4B manual does not give as much information about settings as the TT4 firmware manual does. You may want to download that manual for more details on the options
Other related settings are: ? TSWPT TRUE????????????? (send a waypoint to the GPS of your position when you send it over the air)
? GWAYLEN #??????????????? (zero disables.? Common I think is 8 - check GPS manual for max length of waypoints)
? GWAYMODE NMEA??? (options are NMEA, KENWOOD, or MAGELLAN.? Video says to use NMEA)
On Thursday, June 24, 2021, 2:22:07 AM EDT, vhsproducts via groups.io <vhsproducts@...> wrote:
Brian,
I believe that all the new models of the Montana series all put out the GLONASS sentences. Older units were plain old NMEA serial. If you have a newer unit, you will have to find out how to stop it from putting out the GLONASS sentence, otherwise the MTT4BT won't recognize the GPS. I suppose a review of the Garmin manuals would be a good thing, I don't know if they can do that.
73,
Allen AF6OF
-----Original Message-----
From: toy4trax@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wed, Jun 23, 2021 7:10 pm
Subject: [TinyTrak] MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
I am looking to replicate what the Kenwood D710 can do with the Garmin system, but in a much smaller package. I want a headless APRS tracking system, with just the waypoints popping up on the garmin.
Example video:
I understand the MTT4BT is up to the task. Anybody doing this or have experiences to share?
-Brian
KG7KHL
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Re: MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
Brian,
I believe that all the new models of the Montana series all put out the GLONASS sentences. Older units were plain old NMEA serial. If you have a newer unit, you will have to find out how to stop it from putting out the GLONASS sentence, otherwise the MTT4BT won't recognize the GPS. I suppose a review of the Garmin manuals would be a good thing, I don't know if they can do that.
73,
Allen AF6OF
-----Original Message-----
From: toy4trax@...
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wed, Jun 23, 2021 7:10 pm
Subject: [TinyTrak] MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
I am looking to replicate what the Kenwood D710 can do with the Garmin system, but in a much smaller package. I want a headless APRS tracking system, with just the waypoints popping up on the garmin.
Example video:
I understand the MTT4BT is up to the task. Anybody doing this or have experiences to share?
-Brian
KG7KHL
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Re: How can I do this? toggling between two APRS messages.
I'll find out what it will do.? I think I have enough information to dive in. Thanks everyone.
;B
I just verified that you can switch between banks without a reset. HOWEVER, when switching banks, there is an immediate (okay slight delayed) TX with the new settings. The TT4 does not reset and give the
?
Press ESC 3 times to enter TT4 Options Menu
option when doing so.
So other than an additional TX on switch, it appears this option will work. BTW, My TT4 (had to dig it up since I use the MTT4B now) has a SPST micro switch (not momentary) right in the cable (I made) to the radio. For me, most often? I use BANK 0 in KISS and Bank 1 in Text (for troubleshooting).
On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 9:19:51 PM EDT, Rob Giuliano < kb8rco@...> wrote:
The hardware manual gives the hardware information. Bank 0 or Bank 1 are referenced in the firmware manual as firmware choices according to BNKMODE.
The hardware manual refers to J1 - Radio pin 4 as JP1. Firmware manual says BNKMODE sets how the desired bank is selected at run time.
?? Zero - no switching - always use BANK 0.?
?? One - means consider JP1: Open BANK 0 or GROUND means BANK 1.
Robert Bruninga commented about a TX at startup and since the bank is selected at runtime, a reboot would be required.? I thought I tested this on the lastest firmware (after a discussion with Allen) and it actually switch even without a reboot.? I may be thinking of something else and will test this again.
--
Bear Albrecht? W5VZB? OOOTC
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Re: How can I do this? toggling between two APRS messages.
I just verified that you can switch between banks without a reset. HOWEVER, when switching banks, there is an immediate (okay slight delayed) TX with the new settings. The TT4 does not reset and give the
?
Press ESC 3 times to enter TT4 Options Menu
option when doing so.
So other than an additional TX on switch, it appears this option will work. BTW, My TT4 (had to dig it up since I use the MTT4B now) has a SPST micro switch (not momentary) right in the cable (I made) to the radio. For me, most often? I use BANK 0 in KISS and Bank 1 in Text (for troubleshooting).
On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 9:19:51 PM EDT, Rob Giuliano <kb8rco@...> wrote:
The hardware manual gives the hardware information. Bank 0 or Bank 1 are referenced in the firmware manual as firmware choices according to BNKMODE.
The hardware manual refers to J1 - Radio pin 4 as JP1. Firmware manual says BNKMODE sets how the desired bank is selected at run time.
?? Zero - no switching - always use BANK 0.?
?? One - means consider JP1: Open BANK 0 or GROUND means BANK 1.
Robert Bruninga commented about a TX at startup and since the bank is selected at runtime, a reboot would be required.? I thought I tested this on the lastest firmware (after a discussion with Allen) and it actually switch even without a reboot.? I may be thinking of something else and will test this again.
|
MTT4BT and Garmin Montana APRS
I am looking to replicate what the Kenwood D710 can do with the Garmin system, but in a much smaller package. I want a headless APRS tracking system, with just the waypoints popping up on the garmin.
Example video:
I understand the MTT4BT is up to the task. Anybody doing this or have experiences to share?
-Brian
KG7KHL
|
Re: How can I do this? toggling between two APRS messages.
The hardware manual gives the hardware information. Bank 0 or Bank 1 are referenced in the firmware manual as firmware choices according to BNKMODE.
The hardware manual refers to J1 - Radio pin 4 as JP1. Firmware manual says BNKMODE sets how the desired bank is selected at run time.
?? Zero - no switching - always use BANK 0.?
?? One - means consider JP1: Open BANK 0 or GROUND means BANK 1.
Robert Bruninga commented about a TX at startup and since the bank is selected at runtime, a reboot would be required.? I thought I tested this on the lastest firmware (after a discussion with Allen) and it actually switch even without a reboot.? I may be thinking of something else and will test this again.
|
Re: How can I do this? toggling between two APRS messages.
Bear,
I don't have a TT4 on hand to look at, so I don't know where it is exactly, but the bank switch input should be labeled JP1. You have to allows the TT4 to use the BANK input in the configuration, otherwise I believe it defaults to BANK 0?
73,
Allen AF6OF
-----Original Message-----
From: Bear Albrecht <W5VZB.NM@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wed, Jun 23, 2021 4:32 pm
Subject: Re: [TinyTrak] How can I do this? toggling between two APRS messages.
OK, I'm looking at the TT4 hardware manual and I have yet to figure out what to ground-or-not ...?
The word "bank" doesn't appear in that document at all.
;B
--
Bear Albrecht? W5VZB? OOOTC
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Re: How can I do this? toggling between two APRS messages.
OK, I'm looking at the TT4 hardware manual and I have yet to figure out what to ground-or-not ...?
The word "bank" doesn't appear in that document at all.
;B
--
Bear Albrecht? W5VZB? OOOTC
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Dj Merrill
Bear Albrecht