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Reviews For: FoxTrak: APRS Tracker Kit

Category: Ham Radio Kits

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Review Summary For : FoxTrak: APRS Tracker Kit
Reviews: 2MSRP: 22.00
Description:
FoxTrak is a PIC16F84A APRS tracker. Uses R/A D9M/F Connectors and 1Amp regulator to power your GPS. Now available in kits with metal case.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.foxdelta.com/products/foxtrak.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0023
VE7JWS Rating: 2011-03-06
Frustrating Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Easy to build, frustrating to get working. Documentation for adjustment and interface cabling lacking, I had to go to the Byonics website to get any useful information, as this is merely a clone of that unit. Have only gotten a few useful location packets while on the bench, none while moving.
G4ILO has a blog entry documenting his frustration with his unit, and the difficulties in getting a FoxTrac working.
So far; thumbs down.
KC0WIF Rating: 2009-06-21
Good basic circuit board Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I constructed two of these boards for APRS tracking. It is essentially similar circuit as TinyTrak3. I had problems with RF feedback with TinyTrak3 (with Icom IC-V8) and found the problem cleared with FoxTrak. Foxtrak has a larger ground foil area, the circuit elements are flat to the foil giving it a smaller chance of RF feedback (compared to TinyTrak perpendicular elements) and several extra capacitors across the power supply and ground to minimize noise. I also tried the Foxtrak-m which gave me RF problems.

Where Foxtrak lacks is the supplied main chip programmed with less features. I simply substituted a TinyTrak chip. If you set the jumpers right you can run it as a TinyTrak3.