iGate

Remember the C.H.I.P.? That $9 Linux computer that was going to democratize computing? I had one laying around doing nothing, so naturally I turned it into an APRS iGate.

Paired it with a hacked-apart SDR dongle (the antenna connector was… modified) and set the whole thing up near my parents’ house. It’s one of the only iGates for miles and miles out there, which says something about either my dedication to the hobby or the remoteness of my parents’ location. Probably both.

The setup managed to receive a few packets. Not a lot, but hey, it’s working. Packets are being gated. The APRS network is marginally better because of my janky $9 computer and butchered SDR dongle.

I should probably replace that stock SDR antenna with something that isn’t terrible. And maybe find a better location. Higher ground, fewer trees, the usual.

Hmmm.

Actually, I should probably just do both. But that requires effort. We’ll see.