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[KD2TUM]

This is the first year I’ve ever had a boat on a mooring and I just got into amateur radio. I would love to repurpose an old HT with a Mobilinkd TNC3 that I have to broadcast a beacon if the boat moves. I’ve seen that I can do this with APRS.fi Android app. I would also like to add a small weather station. All with a solar panel to keep it going. What would I need to get started?

[KG4RUL]

Does the app provide an interface to the weather station?  You would need a battery and a solar controller and a means to provide the voltages needed for the Android, Radio and TNC  Doable, but not an off-the-shelf project.

[KD2TUM]

Does the app provide an interface to the weather station?  You would need a battery and a solar controller and a means to provide the voltages needed for the Android, Radio and TNC  Doable, but not an off-the-shelf project.

I don't think the app does. I'm not so sure though. I'd prefer something that didn't rely on the app though because then that's one more piece of equipment I have to keep running. I'm not sure what to do to be honest. I have a Yaesu FT3D which does APRS decent, not great (I'm sure it's a settings issue, but I'm still learning it) but it's all in one machine. The Baofeng UV5r I have runs APRS good because of the Mobilinked TNC but needs a GPS device of some sort. That's three pieces of equipment to keep working. I'd prefer if it was all in one machine if possible.

[KG4RUL]

There are some all-in-one trackers that I am aware of but, none of them can be triggered by the device moving a certain distance.

You could use a small computer board such as an Arduino Nano to monitor the serial output stream of a GPS board and only transmit, using the TNC3, when the position data differs by a set amount.  Then, would you send an alert as a pre-recorded voice or MCW message? 

[KD2TUM]

any "all in one" trackers you'd suggest looking at?

[KG4RUL]

https://byonics.com/microtrak
https://qrp-labs.com/lightaprs.html

[KD2TUM]

https://byonics.com/microtrak
https://qrp-labs.com/lightaprs.html

Thank you! I will look into these.