[MNAPRS] Metro APRS update

[Doug Reed]

Most of you are probably more active with APRS than I have been. This is 
the first I've really looked at APRS in the metro in quite a while.

First, the K0TCA-15 WIDEn-n digi has been on-the-air from Shorewiew for 
just over a year now. If you think about the callsign and map location 
you will get a fair idea about the station. If you look at the findu.com 
or aprs-fi map of the metro area, you will see that the coverage has 
improved to the east, south, and west. Coverage to the north isn't as 
great but I'm not sure if it really changed compared to what it was before.

The N0NAS-10 WIDEn-n digi in Moundsview is off the air. The city will be 
painting the tower next spring and it was decided to remove the ham 
equipment from the tower last month rather than wait for uncertain 
weather next spring. I don't yet know if I'll be putting anything back 
on that site or not. Will not know until next summer. In the mean time, 
I'm looking around with an eye to finding it a new home. Does anyone in 
the Princeton area have a nice water tank available? That would probably 
fill the "hole" to the north of the metro fairly well.....

If anyone wants to upgrade an old TNC-2 clone for APRS, I have a 
lifetime supply of 27C256 EPROMs and could burn you a UIDIGI v1.19b3 
EPROM if you need one (or more). Or if you want to burn it yourself but 
need an EPROM, let me know. All I want is payback on the mailer and 
postage. Or you could send me a SASPE (Self-Addressed Stamped Padded 
Envelope) and tell me what you need.

I also have V9.1 software for the KPC-3Plus and KPC-9612Plus TNCs. I 
haven't burned or installed them yet and don't have many blank EPROMs 
for that software. But if you want to do a chip swap it can probably be 
arranged. Let me know if you are interested. The next TwinsLAN meeting 
is Sept 10 in St Louis Park and we could probably do it then if you let 
me know by early Friday.....

I've been trying to collect EPROM software for assorted older TNCs so I 
can upgrade older versions I might find. I might have what you need, or 
maybe you have something I don't have. If you need to update something 
old, send me an email to see what I have......

73, Doug Reed, N0NAS.