I have equipped the airplane with an APRS transmitter, which uses amateur radio to transmit basis position data (latitude, longitude, altitude, heading, groundspeed) to a network of ground-based digipeaters. This information is picked up by gateways which send it to a worldwide network of servers, and can be accessed and displayed in near-realtime via the internet.
Note that the APRS network is set up and maintained by many individual amateur radio operators, and there is no guarantee of coverage at any particular time and/or location. If the map doesn’t show that position reports are being received, it most likely means we’re just flying in an area where coverage is spotty.
The tracking website APRS.fi is currently having problems embedding maps into external pages (likely because of recent unfortunate changes to Google’s mapping service). Eventually I’ll get something else working on this page, in the meantime here are some alternative links that will open in a new window:
- APRS.fi
- FlightRadar24
- FlightAware (will not show all flights unless you have an account and enable the proper settings)
Much more information on airborne APRS is available online:
- Byonics, maker of the MicroTrak RTG that I have installed.
- VAF thread on APRS install and configuration, and an entire forum area dedicated to the topic.
- Sam Buchanan's install documented on his site.
- APRS.fi, a gateway site to the APRS internet database, using Google maps. (The map shown above is generated using this site.)
Also note that APRS uses the amateur radio (ham radio) bands, and requires a license to operate.
Oh, the places we'll go... (and places we've been)
The map below shows our home base (blue), destinations we've visited (green), and places we'd like to make it someday (red).
Wondering where we can go in the airplane?
The circles on the map below indicate how far from home we can travel at a conservative airspeed in 1- to 5-hour intervals (not taking into account winds aloft). We can go farther than 5 hours, of course -- but need to stop for fuel first.
