User notes for CruiserAPRS

This software is the result of a do-it-yourself project motivated
by my disappointments with the existing APRS software, especially
in accessing NO-44 (aka PCSat), and the International Space Station's
packet rig.  Operation is intended to be simple and functional. It
has an untraditional combination of features.  It has a satellite
tracker, and it can port incoming position data directly to the GPS
receiver.  There are no mapping functions.  If a user wishes to 
navigate relative to another station, then the data belongs on 
the GPS receiver, where the navigational features already exist.  
The satellite tracker can be used to automatically initialize the
TNC for an upcoming pass, and also automatically beacon your position
when the satellite is available.  

It has a product registration feature.  You will be asked to supply
a registration number.  If you don't type in a winner, then the 
settings will not be saved.  The number only has to be entered once
in the product lifetime.  As a convenience, the satellite tracker's
parameters are saved, even with an unregistered product.  

The 4 buttons on the main window are:

"Time Tag On/Time Tag Off"  This adds a time-tag to each line of the 
incoming text. The time-tags also appear in the text if it is 
captured to a file.  

"Clear"  This clears the incoming text.

"Control"  This sets the TNC to control mode.  

"Converse"  This sets the TNC to converse mode. 
Typing a control-C in the text input box will do you no good.  



The menu items in the main window are as follows:  

File:

Send Position Report [F2]

	This sends your position report, and can be accessed via F2.

EMAIL <selected address> [F4]

	This uses the email utility via WU2Z.  The following menu item
	pre-selects the email address.  This item puts the prefix
	":EMAIL    :<name@isp.com> " on the text input window.  You
	can then finish it off with a brief message and hit return.

Edit/Select Email Address

	This opens a dialog that records and selects the email
	addresses and nicknames you enter.  This has to be done
	before you use the EMAIL [F4] menu item.

Capture Text

	The usual options.  The suggested filenames are time-tagged.  

View Station Data

	Position:
	The program accumulates location time-tag, and PHG data on 
	the remote stations as they appear.  This menu item opens a 
	dialog window to show it.  The entries are listed alphabetically 
	by callsign.  The data continues to accumulate even if 
	this window is dismissed. You may clear the entries all at once, 
	or one at a time.  Selected position reports can be sent to the
	GPSR via the "To GPRS" button.  Position reports are selected by
	clicking on the callsign.  You may use control-mouse-click and
	shift-mouse-click to select more than one position report.  

	Callsign Only:
	The program also accumulates the callsigns of reporting stations,
	even when they don't supply a position report.  This window 
	displays them, listed alphabetically.  The "Confirm" button sends 
	a confirmation message ("QSL [callsign1] [callsign2] ...") containing 
	the highlighted callsigns.  This facilitates hit-and-run QSO's with 
	just a few mouse clicks.  You may use control-mouse-click and 
	shift-mouse-click to select more than one callsign.  

	[Weather Reports]:
	I'd like to add this, but at the moment, I have no hardware for
	generating weather reports, and prefer to save this feature for
	later.  

TNC:

Open

	You have to have it on for the clock to work.  The thread
	communicating with the TNC also runs some other features.

Close, Initialize

	If you left the TNC the way you wanted it, you shouldn't
	have to re-initialize it.  If you have trouble with the 
	tnc, close it and re-open it.  


Settings:

TNC...

	The usual stuff.  By the way, I have the option of letting
	the TNC beacon independently of the PC using its own BTEXT 
	and B E settings.  This feature is available only when the
	station dialog indicates fixed operation.  

GPS...

	Enter the COM port number, and the mode you wish to use.
	At this time, I only have access to a Garmin eTrex Legend
	GPSR.  I've tested the Garmin mode, and NMEA (readonly) mode
	with the eTrex Legend, but not with other GPSR's.  When
	waypoint information is sent to the GPSR, the format may
	be different from the one I've tested.  I have code in place
	for the other modes, but it hasn't been tested.  The NMEA
	(readonly) mode will work with almost all GPSR's, but will
	not allow waypoints to be sent to the GPSR.  

Station...

	The usual stuff.  By the way, the latitudes and longitudes
	are in signed ddd.dddddd format (decimal degrees).  When the
	station is "Fixed", rather than "Mobile", position data from
	the GPRS is ignored.  The GPSR can still run the clock, set
	the PC clock, and receive waypoint data on remote stations.  

GPS:

On, Off

	At least with my Garmin eTrex Legend, in NMEA mode, the clock 
	will go from 1-second increments to 2-second increments if the
	GPSR is working properly.  

Set PC Clock

	It grabs the GPSR's time signal and feeds it to the PC.

Set Fixed Station Location

	It grabs your current location and puts it into your
	station information.  This item is locked out when the
	station is set to "Fixed" operation.  

Text Filter:

The intent here is to cut out all the chaffe when you're trying
to converse with a specific station.  It'll either highlight the
lines containing the specified text, or eliminate any lines that
don't contain the specified text.  The filter strings are manipulated
in a separate dialog.  

Tracker:

Yes, there's a satellite tracker in here.  I used the SGP algorithm,
and may upgrade it later if the need arises.  The intent is to have
the program automatically set the UNPROTO path, and begin beaconing
when the satellite approaches the horizon.  Hands off.  You pre-load 
a kep file.  Try http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/amateur.txt.  
It should walk you through finding the kep file, and selecting the 
satellites. The auto-beacon feature may be selected via the dialog.
The "Show Status" menu item will show a window listing the selected 
satellite, along with some data on them, including the countdown to 
the next AOS or LOS.  It computes the horizon time on start-up, and 
after the bird rises or sets.  So if you're traveling really fast, 
the  actual rise/set time may be significantly different.  Just stop
and start the tracker if you're in doubt.  An "W" next to the 
AOS/LOS countdown indicates that the program is waiting for this 
satellite to rise, at which time the program will automatically
beacon the satellite at the appropriate time.  A "B" next to the 
AOS/LOS countdown indicates that the beacon is active.  

Select Satellites Dialog:

The available satellites are shown in the combo box in the upper
left.  When one is selected, its current settings will be shown
below.  You can then hit the "Add/Modify>>" button.  If the
satellite is already in the list of selected satellites at the
right, its settings will be modified.  If the satellite isn't
in the list at the right, it'll add it, with the given settings.
You may select (one or more) satellites in the Selected Satellites
list, and delete them with the Delete button, below.  The entry
"Lead Time" setting allows you to start the beacon a few minutes before 
the satellite rises, and continues to beacon a few minutes after the
satellite sets.  

Believe me, if I had an az/el mounted antenna and/or a PC 
controllable rig, I would incorporate automatic antenna steering,
and QSY, too!

Received Position Data Window:

This is a modeless dialog box which shows the callsign, tracking status,
times the latest packet was sent (if it was tagged) and received, the 
position, and PHG signature of the station.  The 4 buttons are:

Toggle Track
	This toggles the track status of all the highlighted stations.  
	It also sends the current position to the GPS receiver. Programming 
	the thread synchronization for this guy was a bear.  While a	
	station is being tracked, the GPS receiver will be sent an
	updated position report every time a position report is
	received from that station.  
Delete
	Deletes the entries for all the highlighted stations.
Clear
	Deletes all entries.  
Dismiss
	Dismisses the window.  The data is still retained if the window
	is opened later.


Received Stations Window

This is a modeless dialog box which shows the callsighs of all stations,
even if no position report was received.  The 4 buttons are:

Confirm
	Sends "QSL <all highlighted callsigns>"
Delete
	Deletes all the highlighted stations.
Clear
	Deletes all entries.  
Dismiss
	Dismisses the window.  The data is still retained if the window
	is opened later.


Help:

It has an "About" window, and a dialog to show the registration
status.  For now, the only help you get is right here.  Sorry.  


Bugs, possible upgrades:

The routines I use to check the GPSR and TNC functioning don't
always work.  Sometimes, the program will continue without
incident with a dead TNC or a dead GPSR, or will give a failing
grade to a properly functioning device.  This happens rarely.  
When in doubt, close/open the device.  When the GPSR is operating, 
it will operate the clock. When the TNC is operating properly, 
you'll know it right away.

I had to use "Converse" and "Control" buttons to shift the TNC
between these modes.  It would be better to use ctrl-c and "conv"
to do these, but I can't get the edit box to digest a ctrl-c.  

All the child windows cover the main window.  It would be
better if the focus window were always on top.  For the time
being, I have "Dismiss" buttons on the modeless dialog
windows.  

Highlighting text.  I originally wanted to change the text
to bold if the filter string is present.  I found out (too
late) that I'd have to use a rich-text edit box for this.
Instead, I'm marking the beginning of the line with a distinctive
character.  

Garmin GPSR's generate output in NMEA format, but they
won't accept waypoint data in NMEA format.  I understand some 
other manufacturers' units allow this, but until I get access to 
another manufacturer's GPSR, I can't test the code for 2-way 
NMEA data transfers.  Of course, 2-way data transfer is possible with
Garmin format.  

This program uses registry items under CruiserWare/CruiserAPRS.
If you hit a snag, just reset some or all of the registry
items using Start/Run.../<specify regedit>.  

For now, the tracker is limited to 16 satellites.  It's already
dynamically allocating enough memory, and I don't have a leak
checker at this time.  If you really need to track more than 16,
my hat is off to you!  

My current rig consists of an old MFJ TNC, and old Icom Ht,
an old Mirage 20 watt brick, and a roof-mounted quarter wave,
somewhat weathered.  My GPSR is an (aforementioned) Garmin eTrex 
Legend.  I'm running Windows 2000 on a 600 MHz Gateway.  Anyone having 
different gear, especially a different TNC, or a slower PC, should 
report any problems.  




Best 73, and I hope you like the software!

Al, K1QN

The usual legalese:
The author does not endorse (or, for that matter, condemn) any 
product mentioned here.  This software is provided as-is, and is 
to be used for entertainment purposes only.  You assume all 
responsibilities associated with its use.  
