I decided to try aprsdroid on my android ... / 2014-02-12

I decided to try aprsdroid on my android device. First and easiest should be to select the option AFSK via Speaker/Mic and I hoped it would work when the speaker and microphone of the portable radio are near the microphone and speaker of the android device. No luck: no transmitted APRS packet was found via aprs.fi call PD4KH and no incoming packet was decoded. I guess there was too much distortion and interference. I looked at the aprsdroid settings a lot since I noticed outgoing audio seems to be fixed at the highest volume, which can also be an issue.

In the video Get Started with APRS for only $30! - youtube.com video a simple cable from the android device to the radio is used, so it can be done.

Going for a solution like an Mobilinkd is more expensive, but maybe interesting in the long run when I want to do more with APRS. For now, an interim solution would be nice: building the right cable to get audio from the radio to the android device and back. I found the specs for such a cable at iPhone / Baofeng interface bouw en schema - PA4TW which can be adjusted for the android device and Wouxun. And PA4TW has used it for APRS in Aprs via porto en iPhone - PA4TW.

Old analog telephone equipment can be a source of 600 ohm 1:1 transformers, so I guess some old equipment will have to donate those when I go for such a cable.