YGate -- Turn your Yaesu radio into an APRS igate! No extra hardware required.

If you have a Yaesu FTM400 or FTM100, and a PC or Pi, you have all the hardware you need to create an APRS igate. You just need one bit of software called "ygate" which translates the serial data output from your Yaesu radio, and converts it into APRS packets, then forwards them to the APRS information service on the Internet. So why build an igate? An igate listens to APRS packets on 144.390 (144.800 Europe), and relays them to the APRS Information Service where they're processed and relayed all over the world. APRS can provide email, SMS, position reporting, and a host of other services. You need an FCC/CEPT amateur radio license to use this software!
Generate your APRS password here: apps.magicbug....
Get ygate here github.com/cra...

[@Ethator11]

Wow it's a small world! Instantly recognized your voice from the Coffee Break net.

[@KM6LYW]

aha! the coffee-break-net! that puts us in VHF range :)

[@rlm913]

I was able to get this working on Windows 11 on a Mac M1 running parallels. I had difficulty because the RTSystems programing software was holding on to the COM port. I also had to uninstall Serial and then Python. Then reinstall Python and pyserial. I used the RTSystems programming cable because I could not get the Yaesu driver for their cable to install. Rtsytems was able to get the cable working and it works as well as the Yaesu would have. I am now sending packets to the APRS servers.

[@flukesmith1034]

It works very well and thanks for this project. However, I have taken a Linux course and therefore had no trouble. For a beginner, it goes a bit too fast. A link to a text file or PowerPoint would be appreciated. I also had to trim the URL to avoid an error message about uncompressed information. Thanks again.

[@danadkin8652]

Thanks for working on and releasing this, works well.

[@greentwins1]

receive only igates CAN cause messaging problems. igates can and many do transmit. Ours included. Well done on the video all the same :)

[@KM6LYW]

Hey Tim! I just haven't seen that. the aprs server-side range filters send it to every device in range, some which can transmit, some can't. In fact, I copied your range filter off gapcon, "IGFILTER t/m/GTOWN/160" send me all messages within 160km of GTOWN, regardless if it originated from a rx-only igate. The point of ygate is to get more radios on the internet with no additional hardware. You and I both know how to build tx/rx igates :)... with lots more hardware, btw, I'm rocking that FE-Pi Zerov2 you showed me. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZiymaSaqNunqJY on how to build a rx/tx digi -- extra hardware required of course. Great to see you on KZbin!

[@greentwins1]

@@KM6LYW You actually copied the filter from GAPGTE ;) GAPCON is just a digipeater not igate. Was mostly referring to your statement in the beginning of video saying that igates have no transmit ability. Our igate (Sacramento Location) is setup to pass on messages to RF, that is what in fact makes two way messaging work in remote locations. I hope that makes sense. There's some folks out there with way more knowledge than me.

[@thuff3207]

Nice and thank you for sharing. I run APRSDROID for portable monitoring of APRS I have used my RPI with YAAC to do this but yours is simpler.

[@jdotson41041]

I truly love your videos and chanel. I want to build a complete APRS system with a BBS integrated to explore And expand APRS. I think it has great emergency communications capabilities.

[@KM6LYW]

Thanks for the encouragement! The DigiPi has a Linux Node BBS craiger.org/digipi/ , along with every digital mode I can think of :)

[@jdotson41041]

Keep up the great work.

[@KM6LYW]

Generate your APRS password here: apps.magicbug.co.uk/passcode/

[@williamokrasinski9840]

Thank you Craig. Been trying to figure out how to APRS Via. Satellites/Iss (digipeat). I think lack of Satgates/igates in my area may be issue, so wondered about Ygate. I may be able to do this as I have MacPorts running Gpredict which I believe uses python. Thanks again and especially for solid camera and excellent audio.

[@KM6LYW]

Yes, we can always use more satgates, thank you! Tune to 145.850 and run ygate -- you instantly become a satgate.

[@nismo4x4n]

It's really a shame that the Yaesu FTM-400 is read only for APRS over its built in serial modem. As well a bidirectional bluetooth serial costs under $5 in quantity and really is inexcusable not to have in a 2010+ device.

[@KM6LYW]

Agreed, a full-featured KISS TNC is missing from Yaesu radios. The internal modem on the FTM400 isn't bad. Additionally we can get access to the 1200baud descriminator (noemphasis) pin on the back of the radio for a full featured pi-based TNC. See my other video on how to build a rx/tx igate on the FTM400/FTM100: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZiymaSaqNunqJY (additional hardware required of course).

[@darrenrhoads4874]

I did a quick scan of the comments and didn't see it. But if someone had commented the same question and a clear answer was given - Sorry. But is it possible to use the internal GPS in the radio itself to be read by the python program. If so, could one install a lightweight pi package into a vehicle and have a mobile igate?

[@craig9309]

nope, no gps data on that cable when in packet mode

[@kentanch2601]

I'm not having any luck running it under Python3 in Windows 10 or PI OS Bullseye any chance you might update it to run under Python3?

[@4666L]

You showed an SCU-19 cable. That doesn't plug into and FTM400. Don't you need the SCU-20 cable for the FTM400???

[@KM6LYW]

yah, i think i grabbed the wrong cable for this video -- use the cable for the FTM400/FTM100

[@RookieLock]

I'm quite new to raspberry pi/linux.. I'm wondering if this would work with an Orange-Pi Zero and a Yaesu ft5dr

[@KM6LYW]

orange pi? nope. ft5? yep!

[@RookieLock]

@@KM6LYW Thanks buddy!

[@javiermoreno1612]

My install does not work I get the following error

[@ouijim]

While updating firmware and then trying APRS I Noticed on Yaesu FTM-100D APRS Digi Path is fixed with NO apparent way to input Digi Path : (

[@craig9309]

this is normal. no way to enter ARISS , no space station aprs on the ftm100, just WIDE*

[@ouijim]

@@craig9309 Yaesu huge failure if by design as FTM-400XDR is able to to enter custom Digi Path. Haven't used APRS until just recently, made a couple contacts via ISS APRS with FT5D and FTM-400XDR. Looking at Microsat WX3.1 2.0. Any recommendations for complete APRS package? Thank You

[@kikodv1ksantos936]

installed as you instructed, but the error gives me no serial found on FTM100 Traceback (most recent call last): File "/home/pi/bin/ygate.py", line 22, in import serial ImportError: No module named serial

[@KM6LYW]

You can install the missing serial library by running "pip install serial" , or possibly "pip install pySerial"

[@maesoph1]

Just curious if this works for FTM-300 also?? I am new to HAM so just don't know the hardware all that well.

[@craig9309]

it should, I'm hoping you tell me :) it has the 10-pin cable right?

[@timothytapio4252]

Is it possible to maintain the rig as a digi-peater in conjunction with the Igate? I just received an FTM-400 and wanted to use it as a digi and possibly as an igate. I haven FT-2940 80 watt 2 meter and KM4ACK has a video showing how to set it up as a digi/igate on a Pi. Unfortunately, I'd have to use my highest antenna...precluding use for standard voice...if I do a digi, I want it 24/7...haven't played with APRS since way back when it was all the rage. 73 de Tim K4SHF

[@maesoph1]

I specifically bought a Yaesu FTM-400 to run this software and provide an iGate in the area for my pico-balloon launches as there are no digipeaters or iGates in the area. Software crashes daily at least and there appears to be no support. Does anyone know of any other iGate options that work with FTM-400?

[@craig9309]

it exits when the aprsis server disconnects... i can fix that at some point, but for now you can put ygate in a loop and restart it when it exits

[@maesoph1]

@@craig9309 cool! Got a link on how to do this?

[@jimdarrough1732]

Craig, can I use the RT Systems USB-77 instead of the Yaesu one? Looks like it will work to me.

[@KM6LYW]

Possibly! Try it and let us know! I just want to tell you good luck, we're all counting on you.

[@rlm913]

@@KM6LYW That cable works on my Mac M1/ Windows system to both Mac and Windows.

[@johnnorris1792]

Struggling to understand your position format?? My digital format is 51.822119N0.502236E Is this the correct format to enter in the position section??

[@flukesmith1034]

Sorry, my position error. The URL works fine as it is.

[@4666L]

Good job.

[@jacobKC3MRA]

I am getting an error, saying that it cant import "serial"

[@KM6LYW]

run "pip install serial"

[@mo-gee7151]

Hi, Thank you, new to APRS. Your screen shows a green line on the left side of your 400's APRS. I haven't yet seen that green line on the left side of your APRS indicator and I'm not receiving much in if anything but I show up in Google APRS. Is there something you can suggest to turn on that vertical green indicator and start receiving packets? And if that works can I use ygate for winlink with no other needed peripheral devices?

[@KM6LYW]

try turning off the squelch. use the lower/B receiver if not already. ygate is just for aprs, not winlink. lookup my "DigiPi" project if you want to do a lot more.

[@mo-gee7151]

Thank you I turned off the squelch and the green indicator presented itself. I had to turn down the volume but its green. TY. My ARES club asked me to get 2 meter Winlink set up and I'm just starting from video number 1. thanks for your time. How can I donate and support you guys? I know ill have a couple more questions and our DOD exercise is in 10 days. Yaesu FTM 400XD I'm praying that Winlink is capable on 2 meters from my PA QTH The task is Winlink without digital as if power went out due to a storm. Thanks Much for helping with the first issue:) K3JZK

[@mo-gee7151]

Also I'm using Parallels, how do I address the microphone and speaker default settings (Green Circles, the microphone and Speaker on the mac are my only devices. Just using the PC without Signal Link. Must I have a signal Link with a mac book to FTM 300? Watching DigiPi now.

[@KM6LYW]

Get ygate here github.com/craigerl/ygate

[@KM6LYW]

Satellite fans, become a SatGate! tune to 145.825 and fire up YGate.

[@watchmanmichael2023]

Thanks!

[@steelheadplayer]

Struggling with the decimal co-ordinates , decimal conversion gives -0.6922222222222222 , so is that -69.22 ? , unsure about the - sign

[@KM6LYW]

Just round up, using this example (for some reason aprsis wants the decimal moved two places to the right) POSITION = "3890.75NR12099.15W" (38.9075 degrees north, 120.9915 degrees west)

[@steelheadplayer]

@@KM6LYW I wonder if I have done the conversion right , in old money my position is 00.40.016W.

[@KM6LYW]

@@steelheadplayer Using the new math, this is your GPS location: whatismycoordinates.com/

[@matthewpray3058]

Two questions. How do I get that position to be in decimal format with my GPS coordinates? Also, what would I need to add to make this a digipeater?

[@KM6LYW]

1 www.gps-coordinates.net/gps-coordinates-converter 2 existing yaesu cable cant transmit. you'll need to buy a real breakout cable to get access to the audio and ptt pins. if you do, see my other videos "km6lyw radio" on youtube to build a digipeater which can transmit.

[@matthewpray3058]

@@KM6LYW thanks for the reply. I understand how to get the gps coordinates and I’ve input mine. What do the first four numbers mean in the config file “position”. I see xxxx.N.W. I input my North and West coordinates but those first four numbers I have no idea what they are! Thanks again!

[@KM6LYW]

@@matthewpray3058 right, for some reason aprs moves the decimal over to the right two places.. so if you're at 38.1234 degrees west, you enter "3812.34W"

[@hondocalrissian1918]

How do you have the radio set up?

[@KM6LYW]

turn on the aprs modem in the menu settings, serial port set to NMEA9

[@Hawkoutdoors]

Please dont do this . It breaks messaging .... since it's one way when they reply it gets stuck in never never land since the I gate the last heard was rx only .

[@KM6LYW]

I've never made this observation. APRS-IS sends message to all devices within range of the intended target. The "range filter" is adjustable in kilometers. Each digipeater operator can set their aprs range filters to the effective transmit range of their tower.

[@mikkolahteenmaki9664]

Atleast in here (Finland) it requires additional permit to run own digipeater. Igate is better than nothing.

[@africantwin173]

@@mikkolahteenmaki9664 Netherlands also. First request for a digipeater cost you €153 administration cost. Then €30 for every 3 years. Thats why APRS packet is dead here in the Netherlands on 144.800 MHz.

[@marcinmichigan2772]

will this work with ftm-300?

[@KM6LYW]

It should - let us know!

[@LifeAtTerminalVelocity]

I wonder if I can do this with my FT3D.

[@KM6LYW]

negative.... the yaesu ht's do not send aprs data out the serial port in any way.. just gps info.

[@christianwuethrich2222]

0:24 An APRS i-gate SHALL have transmit capabilities: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIO9maBrl7GartU

[@vk3ant]

Hi Craig, et al. Need help so more a question than a comment. When I type ./ygate.py I get the response :- File "/home/pi/ygate/./ygate.py", Line 48 print position_string.strip() SyntaxError: invalid syntax I "think" I have entered my correct co-ordinates along with my callsign and password but have left the HOST as the default for the time being. Can anyone suggest what has happened please. Thanks for that. Ron VK3ANT

[@KM6LYW]

I need to port ygate to Python v3. It's written in Python v2, and I'm sure you're running Python v3. try running "python2 ygate.py" .. assuming you have python2 installed on your host.