On 1/10/2023 9:59 AM, wa5luy wrote:
Wow Stephen!
Excellent test and information using Vara. I was wondering when someone would give it a try. Now if someone could just package that into a small box like a tracker for a mobile installation.
Wayne
WA5LUY
I'm working in more-or-less that direction.?? I'm moving the setup into a 7" Windows 8.1 tablet. The screen is just too small for any normal Windows activities, but as a single-use device, the "VARA-tracker" should be a perfect use for this tiny PC.
I did a review of this tablet on my web site some years ago...
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Now I am cramming VARA and VSPE into it's tiny SSD as well.
An interesting alternative might be one of the USB "stick PCs" now available that crams a workable Windows PC into an oversize USB dongle. These devices, based on a SOC ("system-on-chip") single-chip computer normally have an HDMI video-out for a 1080 monitor, WiFi , Bluetooth, and audio I/O. The USB end is used to provide 5VDC from a phone or tablet charger.
These devices are widely used for the video menu displays above the counter at fast-food places, and for schedule displays in airports and convention centers. The Geochron world day/night map display also uses one of these.
These devices give you the ability to run standard Windows applications natively under Windows OS in a form factor, and at a cost, similar to a Raspberry Pi. (Without the hassle of trying to force Windows apps to run under Linux.)
You could connect one of these sticks to an external monitor and keyboard to install and configure a "VARA-tracker" based on VARA and UIview or PinPoint. The apps would be placed in the Windows "Startup" group so they automatically run every time the device is powered up.
??? Then run it "headless" in the car as a dedicated tracker. You would connect a USB GPS receiver like the Globalsat BU-353 to the single micro-USB port on the device.
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Stephen H. Smith??? wa8lmf (at) aol.com
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