Ham Radio Bicycle Mobile: Using APRS to track a marathon - Ham Radio Q&A

[@davidsradioroom9678]

A bicycle is the best way to run a marathon! Great work.

[@genebodenberger]

I hang out with a group of hams that support bike rides/races in SW Montana. We call the last ham bringing up the lead "Tailwind Charlie" It is awesome to support events. We have a didipeater that is at almost 10,000 feet. Even in the rugged terrain of Montana the digipeater will reach out danged near 50 miles. Keep it up. Fine business. Gene N7ARO Ramsay MT.

[@ChrisN8PEM]

Really enjoyed the detail of your set up and how you did a test run. Nice work Micheal!

[@M7BCN]

Oh my god, stop it. I’ve spent all my spare money on radio equipment and now I need to add a bike to the collection HIHI. Love it👍 M7BCN

[@joeddejohn]

Lol. I have the bike but need the radio

[@ca8746]

Nice Checkpoint! I have a 2021 ALR 5 myself. Had to rewatch this video today because I went on my first ride with some new Ortlieb panniers.

[@ke8mattj]

As a person who runs marathons, I thank you for volunteering your time. Also, thank you for the video. It may be the antenna I have is the reason why I have not been able to receive any APRS packets. I bought the same radio (Yaesu FT3D) and I replaced the antenna, but I still do not receive any info from any of the extremely few APRS stations. As a new ham, it can be disappointing when you watch these kinds of things, yet you are the only one so far that has mentioned that the antenna might be the issue. The rest were "just set it to 144.390Mhz, turn on the GPS, set baud rate to 1200bps, and there you go! Easy peasy!"

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Most KZbinr's won't admit it, but APRS with a handheld is rough; especially if your community doesn't have the infrastructure to support the handheld radio. Here's some things that can help. First, check APRS.fi to see what is available in your area for digipeaters. If there is no or little coverage, you may need to add a fill-in digipeater. I have a link to a video on that in the description of this video. But most likely your issue may be the antenna on the handheld. Check out this video on the ABBREE antenna, I do a comparison in receiving APRS packets with the stock antenna and the ABBREE: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnfCdKuLeplrj8U If you need more help, drop me a line.

[@ke8mattj]

@@KB9VBRAntennas Thank you for your response! I still think it may be the antenna, though coverage might also be another issue you mentioned. I did make a simple dipole and just let the HT be for an hour the other night. A digipeater did pick up on it, but only once. The digipeater was I think 4 1/2 miles away, but there is a lot of vegetation and hills in the way. So, it may just be a combination of things. Once I can afford a regular station and get a better antenna set up, I'll just have to see then. Again, thank you for your response.

[@HNXMedia]

Ultra-Marathoner here. The folks who help out and do this kind of stuff are awesome! That set-up was sweet and I might think about doing something like that for a bike packing trip I am planning.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Glad to help out. I know many times runners will staff rest stops when I'm on organized rides, so it's great that the two groups reciprocate.

[@kb5hxt]

Nice video. I enjoyed seeing other courses. We are looking forward to doing our OKC Marathon in less than a month. 73

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

Nicely done, we have a local race here in Western Ma called the Josh Billings Race and the local Club "NOBARC" has provided communications for that for years going back to at least 1973 that I can be linked to. And portables hand helds, mobiles and Ye old analog fm was used both simplex and thru our club's repeater. glad to see these traditions still being carried forward to the newer generations of amateurs. thanks for taking the time to share. 73 Gud dx and operating. de Ellis WA1RKS

[@peteleonard-aa9uu518]

Great video. Looked like a fun event and weather looked awesome. I've just started working with APRS and going to check your video on the fill in digipeater you set up at your house. Thinking that may help with some of my issues so far. Great channel, I am relatively new at this and your videos have been a great help.

[@alvarogaitan2529]

Great instruccional video Michael 73

[@hamradioonthego]

Great set up! I use the MFJ micro mag mount with a bracket I fabricated and mounted on top of the rear wheel. Pics on my QRZ. Keep up the good content 👌

[@Summicron1951]

One of your best videos

[@alvarogaitan2529]

You are in good shape my friend 73

[@Kori114]

14:58 "you're only supposed to go 26..." LOL glad you left that part in there. Good video. 73

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Joe's always busting my chops

[@Allocated_Brain]

I did some bicycle mobile operations over the weekend not much like that but to say hi to a couple quiet repeaters and a few nets. I did so using a UV-5Rx3 with a speaker mic by bridgecom connected to a magmount antenna siting atop a 14 inch cast iron flatpan. I had that pan sitting in a flatbed rear cargo trailer tied down in four places. I did not have any nice velco, bags or anything so lots of twine was utilized instead. I was able to key up repeaters 30-40 miles away but they were quiet, the net was on a closer repeater, that went much better. The ARES simplex net was mediocre as the time we got off the repeater and in to the simplex portion my position changed to being surrounded by aluminum siding every which way. I usually ride 70-100 miles a week on my Raleigh Cadent 3 and 20 or so on my older Misceo 2.

[@stevegriffin9552]

Hey Michael it was a great video looks like you had a lot of fun one thing I really enjoyed and I’m glad you did that is video while you’re riding your bicycle saw some beautiful areas and where you live. Hopefully the weather was nice and cool for the runners. Your set up on your bicycles quite awesome. Thank you for your time and thank you for sharing your video. 73 WD5ENH Steve

[@N4EJM]

Great video Michael. Darn Joe was pretty harsh on you there at the end. 😂

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Joe's always busting my chops. Keeps me in line.

[@larrybomber83]

Good Job Michael. I am sure the runners felt safer knowing they had Comm support.

[@JosephAnthonyJosefius]

Hey man, I should kit up my Surly Long Haul Trucker which has front and rear Surly racks. This bike has shifters at the end of the drop bars so you can put stuff everywhere and not get in the way of the shifters. I still have the JPole I bought from you, great antenna. 73! de AI5DD.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The LHT is an awesome bike, and bar-end shifters are bombproof. I rode a road touring bike (Novara Randonee) for almost 15 years before I upgraded to the Trek Checkpoint AL4. Glad to hear the antenna is working great for you.

[@forgetyourlife]

@@KB9VBRAntennas I have a Surly LHT as well. Been there done that, same aprs results. you just need more power if you want reliable packet out. Not worth the mess, makes a fun video though. Bar end shifters were bomb proof until the 9 and 10 speed versions came around. At the shop we saw several Ultegra and DuraAce rear shifters strip out. The index points internally got really small to occupy the same space inside and round out over time.

[@thuff3207]

Very nice and thank you for sharing.

[@davidg5308]

Well done - I have experienced similar results with even nicer duck in the LA area...poor tracking. Will have to give in and mount a mobile antenna on rack and see how that does. 73!

[@hamradioonthego]

Take a look at a simple commercial product I have on my bike mobile is the MFJ micro dual band mag mount. Made for HTs

[@d.b.cooper]

That was awesome! Thank you Michel.

[@HamRadioPortableOperations]

Interesting! I've been looking at doing something like this on my bike but thinking of using a Mirror Mount with Ground Plane Kit to possibly use a vehicle mobile antenna. It's something I am going to have to experiment with. - I know one thing if I was in that marathon and you stopped I'd be asking for a piggyback on your bike :) 73

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

Half wave antennas work great with the bike as a ground plane isn't necessary. I was thinking of jerry-rigging a mobile whip for this event, but decided to go the scrap wood route as I had all the parts.

[@chrissewell1608]

I made a similar rig, years ago, but it didn't have APRS, it was voice only. I mounted a 1/4 wave 2M, vertical antenna, to the rear bike rack with a small side plat. It worked good, but A 5/8 wave would have worked better, in the far out regions.

[@mikemiles3068]

Good video Michael❗️

[@bradleyjohnson452]

Great video. We have the Ironman and SG Marathon coming up. I am curious as to why you did not use a 1/2 wave mobile antenna where it would not require a ground plane?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The antenna is a 1/2 wave antenna, so no ground plane is necessary. I certainly could have drilled an MNO mount on my rack or added a mount to the side, but decided to go the homebrew route instead. Although I didn't mention it in the video, I built this antenna about a dozen years ago when I did some cross-state touring, so I knew it would perform well.

[@bradleyjohnson452]

@@KB9VBRAntennas Thanks, I was just wondering if there was a reason why one could not have been used. 29 miles. Good job

[@alardon1126]

Nice job!

[@NickKemp897]

For mission important situations needing to know where assets are, it may be better to use APRSDroid app where the cellphone beacons via the cellphone towers. Then use the HT for voice only. I've played with APRSDroid in cellphone beaconing mode and I get a perfect map of my route. The HT APRS hits were only a few for issues you mention in the video. Yes ... I wish APRS worked better on the HT and mobile but those dang physics laws keep getting in the way!

[@frankwc0o]

For those who might want to use APRS in a car, sometimes the motor will interfere with sending out the APRS signal for there is too much interference. In that case, you might want to have an external antenna or move the radio farther from the motor, that might help.

[@alvarogaitan2529]

fantastic video my friend 73 from kb2uew

[@fpaolo63]

hi Michael, just build same antenna. Q since it is a EFHW, what about the counterpoise ? How many wire between the matching and the chock did you left? Original design did not tell anything. thanks 73 iu2omt paolo

[@joeddejohn]

Nice set up. Thanks. Been looking at the FT5D and I like biking. Hmm. Enjoyed that video. Great touch in rolling your own antenna. Wish they still made the Vx-8. Do you use a decay algorithm or the standard 2 minute algorithm

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The VX-8 is an awesome radio and it has traveled with me on many bike rides. The only think I didn't like about it is the volume control. You need to push a button, along with turning the dial, which is hard to do one handed. I used a standard beacon rate. I'm not sure if Smart Beaconing is the best choice for low speed activities like cycling. You can tweak the algorithm, but I'd be afraid that because of the speed I was riding, the only time I'd get beaconed would be during a corner.

[@joeddejohn]

@@KB9VBRAntennas I hear you on the volume control. Yeah I'm having issues with my Kenwood dropping packets, but think it could be I'm playing with decay algorithm(maybe 2 or 3 choices here) instead of a standard beacon rate. Hate to waste energy by the water cooler so to speak. Thanks for the reply! Yes it seemed like your best bet was the standard rate with the dynamic twisty course you seemed to be on. But seriously you have much more experience with A.P.R.S. than I do.

[@joeddejohn]

@@KB9VBRAntennas Do you have issues with heat build up with the beaconing or even rag chewing on the FT3D or VX-8? Just saying because the VX-6 is die cast. Thank-you.

[@christophersmith1155]

how was your SWR with your home brew antenna ? I use a magnamount on my rear bike rack. My SWR is 1.1 on UHF and 1.2 on VHF.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

It's generally under 1.5:1, and I believe closer to 1.2:1. I've found that rider position can affect the SWR a bit.

[@MrAlanmcd]

I didn't follow about the fill-in repeater. Located at your home? So you were always able to get a signal back to your place?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The fill-in digipeater was located at my home. I turned it on during the event to only digipeat first hop packets (wide1-1) so they have a better chance of getting into the system. Because of terrain around the city, handheld APRS coverage of the closest wide digipeater is very weak. The fill-in gave the packets a fighting chance. Here's my video on how it works: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4TZmpWHpcaLeLs

[@MrAlanmcd]

@@KB9VBRAntennas ok excellent - thanks Michael

[@mrbodo69]

What bike are you riding in this one?

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

My bike is a 2019 Trek Checkpoint AL4.

[@mrbodo69]

@@KB9VBRAntennas Just got my early 90's Schwinn back on the road and looking hard at a gravel bike. Looks like a nice ride!

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

I rode a steel frame road touring bike for almost 15 years, the gravel bike was a nice upgrade. Whatever you pick, seriously consider hydraulic disc brakes. I thought they were marketing hype, but once you ride in the rain with them, you will be convinced of their value.

[@vironpayne3405]

Michael, would it be cheating to let your cellphone do the APRS work. In Orlando they have a major bike, run, walk event where all the participants are tracked via APRS. They must be using cellphone APRS.

[@maximumwoof8662]

nice ""California stops" at the stop signs, dude !!

[@AliReza-zx8km]

Nice..............

[@oldpreach]

APRS droid would be really useful a bike or foot race if the base had internet access. Takes away the RF failure component. Of course, that's assuming you are not trying to communicate with others on their ht's. Now, running both... That's the ticket.

[@manuelrodriguezkn6bfj982]

Great video. Manny KN6BFJ

[@SIGINT007]

“Wausau metro area” ROFL 😂

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The city is bigger than you think . . .

[@Gordofor12]

Who's that sexy voice for net control?

[@jamesnuznoff115]

As a non-digital ham, a lot of this went over my head like why FM isn't sufficient for this scenario.

[@KB9VBRAntennas]

The advantage of adding APRS is it gives the Net Control Station extra situational awareness. NCS is able to look at my location on a map via an app on their phone. This reduces radio traffic as the NCS doesn't have to constantly call for a location update. As much as hams like to talk on the radio, keeping the net traffic succinct is good as things can get quite busy during events like this and good location information is paramount in making better decisions if a crisis occurs.