Tracker - Revision history

UR3IRS at 18:59, 2 February 2009

2009-02-02T18:59:10Z

UR3IRS: /* Legal Implications? */

2009-02-01T07:56:59Z

‎Legal Implications?

We7u at 17:24, 17 August 2007

2007-08-17T17:24:18Z

ChrisW0EP: /* Legal Implications? */

2007-08-14T19:52:33Z

‎Legal Implications?

ChrisW0EP: /* Tracker */

2007-08-14T19:50:38Z

‎Tracker

ChrisW0EP: /* Tracker */

2007-08-14T19:49:34Z

‎Tracker

KM5VY: Fix formatting and remove wikka-wakka specific markup.

2007-08-13T23:22:18Z

Fix formatting and remove wikka-wakka specific markup.

KM5VY: Tracker Tracking moved to Tracker: Improper migration of wiki content.

2007-08-13T22:46:18Z

Tracker Tracking moved to Tracker: Improper migration of wiki content.

WikiSysop: New page: ====Tracker==== A tracker is a type of APRSStation APRS station. The intent of a tracker is to transmit position reports. To do this a transmitter, TNC and GPS are required. Techni...

2007-08-13T22:43:29Z

New page: ====Tracker==== A tracker is a type of APRSStation APRS station. The intent of a tracker is to transmit position reports. To do this a transmitter, TNC and GPS are required. Techni...

New page

====Tracker====

A tracker is a type of [[APRSStation APRS station]].
The intent of a tracker is to transmit position reports. To do this a transmitter,
TNC and GPS are required. Technically you don't have to have the GPS if there
is some other way to obtain position information (like typing it in or selecting it from
a map display), but having a GPS makes things automatic.

Trackers can be attached to a vehicle, a person, a balloon, or anything that moves around.

Using a map display along with a receiver (or the APRS-IS internet system) the accumulation
of position reports appears as a //track// on a map.

Every APRS transmitting station, trackers included, has to have a unique identification, usually
a callsign-SSID pair. The tracker should use an identification [[CallSign callsign]] of the licensed
radio operator acting as the control operator.

Notice that no receiver is required. This means that trackers blindly transmit,
and cannot serve as [[Digipeater digipeaters]], [[IGate I-Gates]] or other more
sophisticated roles. But stations with receivers can perform a tracking function
along with other [[StationRole roles]]. Blind transmitting means that the tracker
needs to be configured in such a way as to avoid unnecessary interference.
So trackers are usually low power, 5-watts or less output, and the interval
of position reports is the largest interval compatible with the goals of the
tracker operator.

Trackers can be made to various degrees of sophistication. Some of them are smart
enough to change the position report sending rate based on speed or directional changes.
Trackers usually don't have much of a user interface. It is sometimes possible to program
the tracker with a computer connection before it is put into service, then the only control might
be an on/off switch.

===Legal Implications?===

A tracker is a radio transmitter so it has to be controlled by a licensed radio operator following
the laws and regulations which apply in that jurisdiction.

In the USA, it is generally acceptable to have the tracker be //controlled// by a licensed operator,
who could turn it off if it were to start causing interference. (**Don't take this as legal advice!**)
The idea of control is not strictly defined. It may be that the tracker is not physically
within grasp of the controlling operator, but that he or she can access it within a reasonable
amount of time if intervention is required. Usually trackers are not configured for remote
control via DTMF, telephone, or other methods as employed in the voice repeater realm.

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 of position reports appears as a ''track'' on a map.
-Every APRS transmitting station, trackers included, has to have a unique identification, usually
+Every APRS transmitting station, trackers included, has to have a unique identification callsign-SSID pair.
-a callsign-SSID pair. The tracker should use an identification [[CallSign|callsign]] of the licensed
+The tracker should use the identification [[CallSign|callsign]] of the licensed
 radio operator acting as the control operator.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====Tracker====
+==Tracker==
-A tracker is a type of  [[AprsStation|APRS station]].
+A tracker is a type of  [[AprsStation|APRS station]]. The intent of a tracker is to transmit position reports.  To do this a transmitter, TNC and GPS are required.  Technically you don't have to have the GPS if there is some other way to obtain position information (like typing it in or selecting it from a map display), but having a GPS makes things automatic.
 The intent of a tracker is to transmit position reports.  To do this a transmitter,
 TNC and GPS are required.  Technically you don't have to have the GPS if there
 is some other way to obtain position information (like typing it in or selecting it from
 a map display), but having a GPS makes things automatic.
 Trackers can be attached to a vehicle, a person, a balloon, or anything that moves around.
-Using a map display along with a receiver (or the APRS-IS internet system) the accumulation
+Using a map display along with a receiver (or the APRS-IS internet system) the accumulation of position reports appears as a ''track'' on a map.
 of position reports appears as a ''track'' on a map.
-Every APRS transmitting station, trackers included, has to have a unique identification callsign-SSID pair.
+Every APRS transmitting station, trackers included, has to have a unique identification callsign-SSID pair. The tracker should normally use the identification [[CallSign|callsign]] of the licensed radio operator acting as the control operator.
 The tracker should normally use the identification [[CallSign|callsign]] of the licensed
 radio operator acting as the control operator.
-In special cases a tactical callsign may be used as the name of the station instead, as
+In special cases a tactical callsign may be used as the name of the station instead, as long as normal station identification requirements are met.  Usually this involves adding the station callsign into the comment field or a separate status packet periodically, but there are other methods that satisfy FCC rules.
 long as normal station identification requirements are met.  Usually this involves adding
 the station callsign into the comment field or a separate status packet periodically, but
 there are other methods that satisfy FCC rules.
-Notice that no receiver is required.  This means that many trackers blindly transmit,
+Notice that no receiver is required.  This means that many trackers blindly transmit, and cannot serve as [[Digipeater|digipeaters]], [[IGate|I-Gates]] or other more  sophisticated roles.  Blind transmitting means that the tracker needs to be configured in such a way as to avoid unnecessary interference. So trackers are usually low power, 5-watts or less output, and  the interval of position reports is the largest interval compatible with the goals of the  tracker operator.
 and cannot serve as [[Digipeater|digipeaters]], [[IGate|I-Gates]] or other more
 sophisticated roles.  Blind transmitting means that the tracker
 needs to be configured in such a way as to avoid unnecessary interference.
 So trackers are usually low power, 5-watts or less output, and  the interval
 of position reports is the largest interval compatible with the goals of the
 tracker operator.
 Stations with receivers can perform a tracking function along with other [[StationRole|roles]].
-Trackers can be made to various degrees of sophistication.  Some of them are smart
+Trackers can be made to various degrees of sophistication.  Some of them are smart enough to change the  position report sending rate based on speed or directional changes. Trackers usually don't have much of a user interface.  It is sometimes possible to program the tracker with a computer connection before it is put into service, then the only control might be an on/off switch.
 enough to change the  position report sending rate based on speed or directional changes.
 Trackers usually don't have much of a user interface.  It is sometimes possible to program
 the tracker with a computer connection before it is put into service, then the only control might
 be an on/off switch.
-===Legal Implications?===
+==Legal Implications?==
 A tracker is a radio transmitter so it has to be controlled by a licensed radio operator following the laws and regulations which apply in that jurisdiction.
 In the USA, it is generally acceptable to have the tracker be ''controlled'' by  a licensed operator, who could turn it off if it were to start causing interference. ('''Don't take this as legal advice!''') The idea of control is not strictly defined.  It may be that the tracker is not physically  within grasp of the controlling operator, but that he or she can access it within a reasonable amount of time if intervention is required ("reasonable time" not being carefully defined either!). Usually trackers are not configured for remote control via [[DTMF]], telephone, or other methods as employed in the voice repeater realm.