LightAPRS-W 1.0 is an affordable, smallest, lightest, powerful and open source APRS tracker with WSPR. It makes tracking pico balloons simple and easy. It is able to report location, altitude, temperature and pressure to the internet (APRS-IS) or direct to an amateur radio once a minute with a solar panel/supercapacitors or just 4xAAA batteries. Because LightAPRS-W is open source you can add your own custom sensors via I2C/SPI pins.
LightAPRS-W 1.0 is available on http://shop.qrp-labs.com/aprs/lightaprs-w for order. If you don't need WSPR, than check out APRS only tracker LightAPRS or LoRa/LoRaWAN only tracker LightTracker.
IMPORTANT: Do not forget to check out new LightAPRS-W 2.0 Tracker: https://github.com/lightaprs/LightAPRS-W-2.0
Important : LightAPRS-W 1.0 uses the amateur 2 meter (VHF) and 10m+ (HF) radio band which requires an amateur radio license to operate.
To programme LightAPRS-W 1.0 Tracker, all you need is a micro usb (B type) cable, a few installations and configurations.
The CH340 chip is used by a number of Arduino compatible boards (and by LightAPRS-W) to provide USB connectivity, you may need to install a driver. (If you have installed it before for a clone Android board, you don't have to install it again.)
Don't worry, it's really easy. Just download the following driver from sparkfun.com and install it.
Download and install Arduino IDE. If you have already installed Arduino, please check for updates. Its version should be at least v1.8.7 or newer.
https://mcudude.github.io/MightyCore/package_MCUdude_MightyCore_index.json
You are almost ready to programme LightAPRS-W 1.0 Tracker :)
IMPORTANT : LightAPRS-W 1.0 uses more libraries than LightAPRS. So if you purchased LightAPRS and copied libraries before, do it again for LightAPRS-W. Otherwise you get a compile error.
If you have any questions or need support, please contact support@lightaprs.com
Q. I'm interested in pico balloon flights but I have no experience. What kind of balloon, solar panel, capacitor, etc. should I use?
A. Please check out our wiki page Tips & Tricks for Pico Balloons: https://github.com/lightaprs/LightAPRS-W-1.0/wiki/Tips-&-Tricks-for-Pico-Balloons
Q. What kind of antenna do i need to use on LightAPRS-W?
A. You can use any type. For airborne projects (such as pico balloons) we suggest quarter wave monopole antenna for VHF (2m APRS) because this makes your payload lighter. So just cut a light 50 cm. wire and solder it to antenna footprint (VHF) Since your payload is airborn and wavelength is 2 meters, you don't need a wire for ground.
But for HF length the antenna depends on your band chosen for WSPR. For example if it is 20 meters, you need 5m for TX RF output and 5m for ground. Tie one end to the balloon and solder the other end to the ground plane of the PCB. Then solder another 5m of wire to the TX RF output on the PCB, and let it hang below.
During 20m WSPR tests on a pico balloon, we experienced LightAPRS-W beacons heard from 8.585 km. away as follows:
Also check out Tom's (W5KUB) web site (http://tmedlin.com/balloon-3/) for a successful 20m pico balloon launch with LightAPRS-W.
APRS Tracking : https://aprs.fi/#!mt=roadmap&z=11&call=a%2FW5KUB-11&timerange=604800&tail=604800
WSPR Tracking : https://aprs.fi/#!mt=roadmap&z=11&call=a%2FW5KUB-10&timerange=604800&tail=604800
Q. But I want to use a rubber duck antenna. Is it possible?
A. Yes. But you need a pcb type SMA connector (male or female) as follows:
Q. I would like to use it as a car tracker is it possible to use an external antenna?
A. Yes. But you also need a "n" type connector (n to SMA) along with the SMA connector as follows:
We have tested it for VHF (2m APRS) with Midland NW-2000 and for HF (20m WSPR) with Diamond HF20FX worked fine :)