Hardware Hacking Projects for Geeks

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Part II: Advanced Hacks, Tools, and Techniques

Project Overview

This hack uses the APRS technology developed in the amateur radio com-

munity. Depending on the PDA or laptop and operating system you use for

this project, you should find a large number of software packages.

You will be putting together a position transmitter package and a data

receiver package. The transmitter gathers GPS data and sends it out using

an integrated two-way radio. The receiver package listens for the data

packets sent by the transmitter using a second integrated two-way radio

and then displays the decoded position of the transmitter on its screen.

More than one transmitter can be picked up on the receiver. Each position

transmitter has its own identification information, so you can easily track

hundreds of objects. You can see an overview of how the transmitter and

tracker work in the diagram in Figure 12-2.

You will construct the transmitter electronics and receiver electronics, and

connect them to the FRS radios and one GPS unit.

Hardware Assembly Instructions

The following instructions walk you through the construction of the trans-

mitter and the receiver for your remote object tracker.

1. Build a transmitter

You will first assemble the transmitter out of a TinyTrack electronics kit,

a low-cost GPS receiver, and a two-way radio. The kit includes all the

required ...