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[NB6Q]

I want to use my TH-D74A for tracking my driving (among other things).

I'm in NorCal, USA and will use it throughout the western United States.   I have a few basic questions as I am new to APRS.

Is an external antenna going to appreciably improve my success rate in fringe areas?
If so, what sort of small external antenna would be good for this?

[WB6TIX]

This summer I was driving all around the western USA with a Yaesu VX-8 handheld radio so my situation should be similar.

Putting a mag mount 1/4 wave antenna on the roof of the car and connecting that to the VX-8 helped tremendously. 

[NB6Q]

This summer I was driving all around the western USA with a Yaesu VX-8 handheld radio so my situation should be similar.

Putting a mag mount 1/4 wave antenna on the roof of the car and connecting that to the VX-8 helped tremendously. 

Thank you.  I have a mag-mount 1/4 wave now so this is good to know.

I'm taking it to Japan early next year and would like to track my travels around the country if possible.  I'm thinking of looking for a longer portable antenna to carry around on my day-pack to make contacts throughout the countryside.  I'm also working on getting licensed in Japan prior to departure, too.

[WD9EWK]

Thank you.  I have a mag-mount 1/4 wave now so this is good to know.

I use a larger Larsen 2m/70cm whip on my car when I drive throughout the western USA. Keep in mind that some areas won't have APRS coverage. The http://aprs.fi web site can be a guide for where you will have APRS coverage, and areas without it.

I was just on a road trip that went from Phoenix through Utah and parts of Idaho and Nevada. Throughout most of central Utah, into southern Idaho, and parts of Nevada (around Ely, and near Las Vegas) - no problems with APRS coverage. In central Nevada along highway 375, no coverage. Even drove through the Kingman area in northwestern Arizona, an area that had good APRS coverage in the past, where I didn't have any coverage until I was approaching the Phoenix area.

I'm taking it to Japan early next year and would like to track my travels around the country if possible.  I'm thinking of looking for a longer portable antenna to carry around on my day-pack to make contacts throughout the countryside.  I'm also working on getting licensed in Japan prior to departure, too.

The JARL has information on how to apply for the Japanese license:

https://www.jarl.org/English/3_Application/A-3.htm

Good luck, and 73!

[KD4UPL]

Any external antenna will make a HUGE difference compared to a rubber duck inside a car. Any 1/4 wave is fairly small and inexpensive. If you want some more gain a 1/2 or 5/8 wave will be even better. I'd pick a 1/2 wave if in the mountains and a 5/8 wave is driving thru the prairies.

[NB6Q]

It has taken me a few days but I finally have my TH-D74 tracking.  I don't have an external antenna yet (should be here today) but I finally figured out how to force beacon and the reply from the repeater ack's my beacon and it shows up on aprs.fi's map now.  From that standpoint, mission accomplished.

What I'm unfamiliar with is the lack of beacon effectiveness, that is, because of antenna deficiency how successful the beacon was in being received.

I'm struggling with the rubber duck antenna and hopefully reinforcements are on the way.

I'm also trying to figure out which beaconing system is best (i.e. manual, automatic, PTT, smart, etc.).  I'm still learning the user interface (UI) on this HT because it is loaded with features.

[WD9EWK]

I'm struggling with the rubber duck antenna and hopefully reinforcements are on the way.

I'm also trying to figure out which beaconing system is best (i.e. manual, automatic, PTT, smart, etc.).  I'm still learning the user interface (UI) on this HT because it is loaded with features.

Definitely improve the antenna.

As for the beaconing method, I use the automatic method. I beacon once a minute, rather than trying to go with the SmartBeaconing or something manual. Especially when traveling through the sparsely-populated places in the western USA, or even the flatlands in the Midwest. That gives me a good idea on how well I'm being picked up by APRS digipeaters and gateways whenever I go back to aprs.fi and look at my travels, knowing that I'm sending out one packet a minute.

73!

[NB6Q]

I'm struggling with the rubber duck antenna and hopefully reinforcements are on the way.

I'm also trying to figure out which beaconing system is best (i.e. manual, automatic, PTT, smart, etc.).  I'm still learning the user interface (UI) on this HT because it is loaded with features.

Definitely improve the antenna.

As for the beaconing method, I use the automatic method. I beacon once a minute, rather than trying to go with the SmartBeaconing or something manual. Especially when traveling through the sparsely-populated places in the western USA, or even the flatlands in the Midwest. That gives me a good idea on how well I'm being picked up by APRS digipeaters and gateways whenever I go back to aprs.fi and look at my travels, knowing that I'm sending out one packet a minute.

73!

Thank you.  For my TH-D74 I have a new tri-band Diamond SRH320A that worked OK tonight on my walk.  I have a mag-mount dual-band for the car that works pretty well.

As for my HT, like for riding a train in Japan, what is the best antenna I can get when trying to send beacons out the train window at 180-mph without getting some elaborate log periodic that's going to draw a lot of attention?  Am I SOL on a train or is there some optimal solution?

[W9IQ]

I think your Diamond is about the best that you can hope for on a train. That and a window seat!

Currently in Hiroshima.

- Glenn W9IQ

[NB6Q]

I think your Diamond is about the best that you can hope for on a train. That and a window seat!

Currently in Hiroshima.

- Glenn W9IQ

Does APRS work well in Japan?  That is, can you see your beacons on aprs.fi like you can in the US?  Sorry, I'm new to this.

Also, are you licensed or permitted in Japan?  I'm getting ready to fill out the paperwork now.

[W9IQ]

I have been licensed here in the past but for the last couple of years my business schedule here hasn't left me any time for ham radio other than the occasional trip to Akihabara.

I have never tried APRS here so I cannot give you any personal experience.

- Glenn W9IQ