VHF APRS Beacon Ideas

This is an early design sketch of VHF (2m - 145 MHz) APRS beacons that are small and can be placed in vehicles like ambulances or fire trucks. Key Points Si5351 module powered by the usual 25 or 26 MHz 0.5 ppm TCXO. Si5351 generates 145 MHz Two-Tone APRS RF output directly! Using an Si5351 for APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) transmission via FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) allows us to generate highly accurate AX.25 packets directly at the RF frequency (e.g., 144.390 MHz), eliminating the need for a separate modulator and VCO.Since APRS typically uses AFSK (Audio Frequency Shift Keying) fed into an FM transmitter, generating FSK with an Si5351 means directly shifting the carrier frequency or the VFO instead of modulating an audio tone. ...

July 8, 2026 · 2 min · 226 words · Dhiru Kholia

Simplest APRS Digipeater and iGate on MCU!

Description We have built the simplest, power-efficient and 'ready-for-solar' APRS Digipeater and iGate on an MCU (RPi Pico 2 W)! Our existing KISSLink v1 BLE KISS TNC device is capable of running in standalone mode with an alternate firmware! Goal(s): Our design prioritizes low power, reliability, and unattended deployment over flexibility. And yes, we want to do this with cheap, widely available BaoFeng radios. This means a couple of things: ...

February 7, 2026 · 1 min · 197 words · Dhiru Kholia

Wireless APRS interface for BaoFeng and other radios!

Description We have built a Bluetooth-enabled and APRSdroid-compatible digital interface (KISS TNC) for less than 15 USD (for the fully-loaded make including cables). We call it the KISSLink v1. This digital interface can be powered from the USB 5V or the inbuilt battery. Schematic Previous Next     / [pdf] View the PDF file here. RX path simulation (AF front-end) ...

January 29, 2026 · 3 min · 456 words · Dhiru Kholia

APRS Interface for BaoFeng and Other Radios

Design Here is a "safe" APRS interface for BaoFeng and other radios. Sample schematic: Previous Next     / [pdf] View the PDF file here. Render ...

January 17, 2026 · 5 min · 1053 words · Dhiru Kholia