One of my Twitter followers asked me to write instructions on getting the Kenwood TH-D72 going with APRSIS32 so you could have your own iGate/Digipeater. Here's how you do it:
First, I'm going to assume that you have already properly set up the TH-D72 for APRS tracking with your callsign and an SSID. Next, I'm assuming you've downloaded and installed APRSIS32.
The TH-D72 has the ability to digipeat without the aid of software. I used this built-in functionality for the digipeating step. First, go in the APRS Menu and scroll to the Digipeat menu. Turn "Digipeat(MyCall)" = "On". Next go to the UIdigipeat menu. Set "UIdigi" = "On". Now you need to put something in the "Aliases" option. This is the path that other stations will need to transmit as part of their beacon or message to hit your digipeater. If you don't have any digipeaters in your area or just want to add a fill-in digipeater, you would enter something like "WIDE1-1" here. If you are setting up a temporary, event digipeater, you could enter something like "TEMP" or "EVENT" or something like that. Now go to the UItrace menu. UItrace is the functionality that replaces the UI Frame string (WIDE, for example) by decrementing it's hops and retransmitting it with your callsign added. Turn "UItrace" = "On". Set "Alias" to be the same string you used in your "Aliases" option under the UIdigipeat menu, except leave off the hops count. So, if you entered "WIDE1-1" on the previous menu, just enter "WIDE" here.
That's it. Your TH-D72 is set up to digipeat. Now you need to configure the APRSIS/32 software. I'm assuming that you've already installed the USB drivers and your PC can communicate with the radio. After you've installed APRSIS32, you need to go to the General Configuration and put in a MyCall-ssid. I put in my callsign followed by -1. You need a password for your callsign to be able to connect to the APRSIS network. If you don't have one already, send an e-mail to APRSISCE-owner@yahoogroups.com containing your name and callsign to request a password. Put that password into the "Password" field in APRSIS32. Accept the changes and close the General Configuration screen.
Now you need to make sure that APRSIS32 is able to talk to your radio. Make sure the TNC is turned off on the rig, then using the USB cable, attach it to the computer. Start APRSIS32 and go to "Configure" then "Ports". Add a new port by selecting type "KWD710(APRS)". You will need to specify the proper serial port. Give the port a name like TH-D72 and continue. On the following Port Configuration screen, check the "RF to IS" and "IS to RF" boxes. Make sure the "Enabled" box is checked. Also check the "Xmit Enable" box. Accept the changes.
If everything is set properly, when you close the setup screen, APRSIS32 will connect to the TH-D72, and enable the APRS TNC. It will also connect to the APRS-IS network and you will start seeing stations appear in your area. To see what the radio is receiving on the map, make sure there is a check box in the "View"/"RF"/"All" menu item. If you want to only see what the radio is receiving, then uncheck "view"/"All".
BTW, this setup will also allow for message delivery, either from other stations through your iGate or from the APRS-IS network out to stations you are hearing.
Hope this helps!
First, I'm going to assume that you have already properly set up the TH-D72 for APRS tracking with your callsign and an SSID. Next, I'm assuming you've downloaded and installed APRSIS32.
The TH-D72 has the ability to digipeat without the aid of software. I used this built-in functionality for the digipeating step. First, go in the APRS Menu and scroll to the Digipeat menu. Turn "Digipeat(MyCall)" = "On". Next go to the UIdigipeat menu. Set "UIdigi" = "On". Now you need to put something in the "Aliases" option. This is the path that other stations will need to transmit as part of their beacon or message to hit your digipeater. If you don't have any digipeaters in your area or just want to add a fill-in digipeater, you would enter something like "WIDE1-1" here. If you are setting up a temporary, event digipeater, you could enter something like "TEMP" or "EVENT" or something like that. Now go to the UItrace menu. UItrace is the functionality that replaces the UI Frame string (WIDE, for example) by decrementing it's hops and retransmitting it with your callsign added. Turn "UItrace" = "On". Set "Alias" to be the same string you used in your "Aliases" option under the UIdigipeat menu, except leave off the hops count. So, if you entered "WIDE1-1" on the previous menu, just enter "WIDE" here.
That's it. Your TH-D72 is set up to digipeat. Now you need to configure the APRSIS/32 software. I'm assuming that you've already installed the USB drivers and your PC can communicate with the radio. After you've installed APRSIS32, you need to go to the General Configuration and put in a MyCall-ssid. I put in my callsign followed by -1. You need a password for your callsign to be able to connect to the APRSIS network. If you don't have one already, send an e-mail to APRSISCE-owner@yahoogroups.com containing your name and callsign to request a password. Put that password into the "Password" field in APRSIS32. Accept the changes and close the General Configuration screen.
Now you need to make sure that APRSIS32 is able to talk to your radio. Make sure the TNC is turned off on the rig, then using the USB cable, attach it to the computer. Start APRSIS32 and go to "Configure" then "Ports". Add a new port by selecting type "KWD710(APRS)". You will need to specify the proper serial port. Give the port a name like TH-D72 and continue. On the following Port Configuration screen, check the "RF to IS" and "IS to RF" boxes. Make sure the "Enabled" box is checked. Also check the "Xmit Enable" box. Accept the changes.
If everything is set properly, when you close the setup screen, APRSIS32 will connect to the TH-D72, and enable the APRS TNC. It will also connect to the APRS-IS network and you will start seeing stations appear in your area. To see what the radio is receiving on the map, make sure there is a check box in the "View"/"RF"/"All" menu item. If you want to only see what the radio is receiving, then uncheck "view"/"All".
BTW, this setup will also allow for message delivery, either from other stations through your iGate or from the APRS-IS network out to stations you are hearing.
Hope this helps!