All,
It occurs to me that crossband repeating on my Yaesu FTM-400 will knock out my APRS. OK, no problem. My first thought was to take my Kenwood handy-talkie and use it to beacon my position. Then I remembered something that I have to keep reiterating to the whole group – If you are going to do crossband repeating or if you do not have a radio with APRS built in and you have a smart phone, please go and install APRS/fi on it. You can use your smart phone to beacon your position.
Please go get it (here for iOS or the Apple App Store or here for Android) now and start familiarizing yourself with it.
Added: Someone pointed out to me that the iOS version is not free. That is correct. If you click the link for it you will see that it is a $6.99 in app purchase. Once you have bought it you can install it on multiple iOS devices, but yes, you do have to pay for it. Having said that, it is cheaper than buying a radio and it gives you APRS. The importance of APRS is a personal decision. My post was meant for those that would like the functionality but they are going to cross band repeat and lose their APRS capability or their radio does not have APRS built in.
It is a bit of a battery hog, so please make sure and take a cord and cigarette lighter adapter and/or outlet charger so you can stay plugged in while in your vehicle. If you are planning to be outside of your vehicle for extended periods and you have a backup battery, take it.
73
Phillip Beall (W5EBC)
