APRS ~BAOFENG UV-５R with iPhone App "PocketPacket" ~ It works!

APRS setup with iPhone

BTECH APRS-K2 Cable

  I got a cable to connect between BaoFeng UV-5R and iPhone from Amazon.  I tested this configuration today.   It works!  I can send out a packet with a location information to digipeaters and I also can receive from other stations.

  I guess this might be one of low cost solutions to use APRS through amateur radio, not rely on a cellular network.

Here is the configuration:

1. Radio (Transceiver): BaoFeng UV-5RTP
2. TNC modem: iPhone 5 + PocketPacket
3. Cable (between the radio and iPhone); BTECH APRS-K2

   It is not like a solution with all-built-in radio from YAESU and KENWOOD.  However, just thinking about the cost, it is probably OK.  However, it might not be very convenient when I am on a trail.  Since the setup needs to be dedicated for APRS and to do a regular QSO, we need to disconnect everything and using as a regular mode.  Also, I mentioned the previous post, iPhone will consume a lot of power due to GPS.  Therefore, we might need an external battery to feed power to iPhone since GPS function always needs to be enabled.   Those are potential concern.

Other observation

   I saw sometimes the radio transmitting something unexpected.  I do not find out why.   However, I saw a couple times even PocketPacket transmitting is disabled.  When I just connect headset instead of the cable, I could not hear anything.  Therefore, currently I have no idea why the VOX switches to transmit something.   Most of time, it works well and I did not see this symptom.  But it happens sometimes.   I will spend some time why it happens, but currently I do not have any ideas.