In a few weeks I'm going to drive from San Diego to Brazil along the
pacific coasts of Mexico, Central and South America then around
Santiago Chile driving across Argentina to Uruguay and up through the
south of Brazil. I was wondering if a APRS system reporting to nets or
a sattlites would be viable along this route? Are there maps or
internet sites where I could verify that? I never used packet or APRS
before.Thanks!
Dave KB2RVJ
San Diego, CA USA

Sorry, no help here about APRS south of the border (it works fine here
in Kansas, however).

This trip sounds like a blast. Sorry for all the questions, but this
is something I've always thought would be fun. It this personal
recreation or some type of adventure? Is it safe to drive all that
way? What type of clearances (passport, licenses, etc.) do you need?
What type of vehicle will you be driving?

On 28 Nov 2004 15:18:39 -0800, (David
Auletta) wrote:

In a few weeks I'm going to drive from San Diego to Brazil along the
pacific coasts of Mexico, Central and South America then around
Santiago Chile driving across Argentina to Uruguay and up through the
south of Brazil. I was wondering if a APRS system reporting to nets or
a sattlites would be viable along this route? Are there maps or
internet sites where I could verify that? I never used packet or APRS
before.Thanks!
Dave KB2RVJ
San Diego, CA USA

Spammers, please send email to:

and get your SMTP server blacklisted!

Sorry, no help here about APRS south of the border (it works fine here
in Kansas, however).

This trip sounds like a blast. Sorry for all the questions, but this
is something I've always thought would be fun. It this personal
recreation or some type of adventure? Is it safe to drive all that
way? What type of clearances (passport, licenses, etc.) do you need?
What type of vehicle will you be driving?

On 28 Nov 2004 15:18:39 -0800, (David
Auletta) wrote:

In a few weeks I'm going to drive from San Diego to Brazil along the
pacific coasts of Mexico, Central and South America then around
Santiago Chile driving across Argentina to Uruguay and up through the
south of Brazil. I was wondering if a APRS system reporting to nets or
a sattlites would be viable along this route? Are there maps or
internet sites where I could verify that? I never used packet or APRS
before.Thanks!
Dave KB2RVJ
San Diego, CA USA

Spammers, please send email to:

and get your SMTP server blacklisted!

It's a personal recreation adventure! I don't think it will be safe or
easy but definitely fun. I'm not even sure exactly what I need yet,
I'm sure we'll find out at the borders. I'll be going with 4 other
people and we are taking a dually double cab pickup with a camper,
diesel and 4x4.
Ideally I'd like to take a vhf "tracker" with built in APRS, and be
able to have that data read and uploaded to websites along the
way..I'm thinking that is probably easy to do in the states but I
don't know about where we are going - there might not be too many hams
around. That's why I was curious about satellites. The other option
might be HF or cellular phone APRS but I'm concerned about cost and
complexity - I don't know what equipment I need or how to do it. I
have some old VHF radio shack HTs and a Garmin II+ GPS. I'm thinking
about bringing a GSM cel phone like T-mobile (USA) or TIM (from
Brazil) mainly for emergencies and SMS messaging.
Dave

It's a personal recreation adventure! I don't think it will be safe or
easy but definitely fun. I'm not even sure exactly what I need yet,
I'm sure we'll find out at the borders. I'll be going with 4 other
people and we are taking a dually double cab pickup with a camper,
diesel and 4x4.
Ideally I'd like to take a vhf "tracker" with built in APRS, and be
able to have that data read and uploaded to websites along the
way..I'm thinking that is probably easy to do in the states but I
don't know about where we are going - there might not be too many hams
around. That's why I was curious about satellites. The other option
might be HF or cellular phone APRS but I'm concerned about cost and
complexity - I don't know what equipment I need or how to do it. I
have some old VHF radio shack HTs and a Garmin II+ GPS. I'm thinking
about bringing a GSM cel phone like T-mobile (USA) or TIM (from
Brazil) mainly for emergencies and SMS messaging.
Dave

Hi Dave

My first though (if your license covers it) would be to use HF to send a
slow data rate stream back to your home QTH. Use PSK31 or Q15X25 maybe?
40M is probably good for 500 miles or so.

You may even get away with one of the meteor scatter modes on VHF (eg
FSK441) depending on how much data you want to send.

There would be a few problems to solve of course!

My 2c worth

Cheers Bob VK2YQA

David Auletta wrote:
It's a personal recreation adventure! I don't think it will be safe or
easy but definitely fun. I'm not even sure exactly what I need yet,
I'm sure we'll find out at the borders. I'll be going with 4 other
people and we are taking a dually double cab pickup with a camper,
diesel and 4x4.
Ideally I'd like to take a vhf "tracker" with built in APRS, and be
able to have that data read and uploaded to websites along the
way..I'm thinking that is probably easy to do in the states but I
don't know about where we are going - there might not be too many hams
around. That's why I was curious about satellites. The other option
might be HF or cellular phone APRS but I'm concerned about cost and
complexity - I don't know what equipment I need or how to do it. I
have some old VHF radio shack HTs and a Garmin II+ GPS. I'm thinking
about bringing a GSM cel phone like T-mobile (USA) or TIM (from
Brazil) mainly for emergencies and SMS messaging.
Dave

Hi Dave

My first though (if your license covers it) would be to use HF to send a
slow data rate stream back to your home QTH. Use PSK31 or Q15X25 maybe?
40M is probably good for 500 miles or so.

You may even get away with one of the meteor scatter modes on VHF (eg
FSK441) depending on how much data you want to send.

There would be a few problems to solve of course!

My 2c worth

Cheers Bob VK2YQA

David Auletta wrote:
It's a personal recreation adventure! I don't think it will be safe or
easy but definitely fun. I'm not even sure exactly what I need yet,
I'm sure we'll find out at the borders. I'll be going with 4 other
people and we are taking a dually double cab pickup with a camper,
diesel and 4x4.
Ideally I'd like to take a vhf "tracker" with built in APRS, and be
able to have that data read and uploaded to websites along the
way..I'm thinking that is probably easy to do in the states but I
don't know about where we are going - there might not be too many hams
around. That's why I was curious about satellites. The other option
might be HF or cellular phone APRS but I'm concerned about cost and
complexity - I don't know what equipment I need or how to do it. I
have some old VHF radio shack HTs and a Garmin II+ GPS. I'm thinking
about bringing a GSM cel phone like T-mobile (USA) or TIM (from
Brazil) mainly for emergencies and SMS messaging.
Dave

David Auletta wrote:
It's a personal recreation adventure! I don't think it will be safe or
easy but definitely fun. I'm not even sure exactly what I need yet,
I'm sure we'll find out at the borders. [snip]

If you are a US citizen then at least in Brazil you need a valid visa.
Europeans and Canadians generally have less problems. Unless you
are Portuguese and want to enter Paraguay 8-]
A visit to the embassy of the countries you like to travel is a good
idea, otherwise you will run into serious trouble. Many embassies have
web-sites with good info while the prisons are crude and unpleasant.
You will also need a carnet-de-passage for each vehicle.
As for digital modes: South America has fewer resources and so
repeaters of any kind are a lot scarcer than in North-America.
Here in Paraguay e.g. packet radio net is nonexistent.
APRS? About what are you dreaming at night?

Good luck and kind regards, Eike

David Auletta wrote:
It's a personal recreation adventure! I don't think it will be safe or
easy but definitely fun. I'm not even sure exactly what I need yet,
I'm sure we'll find out at the borders. [snip]

If you are a US citizen then at least in Brazil you need a valid visa.
Europeans and Canadians generally have less problems. Unless you
are Portuguese and want to enter Paraguay 8-]
A visit to the embassy of the countries you like to travel is a good
idea, otherwise you will run into serious trouble. Many embassies have
web-sites with good info while the prisons are crude and unpleasant.
You will also need a carnet-de-passage for each vehicle.
As for digital modes: South America has fewer resources and so
repeaters of any kind are a lot scarcer than in North-America.
Here in Paraguay e.g. packet radio net is nonexistent.
APRS? About what are you dreaming at night?

Good luck and kind regards, Eike

slices of smoked ham, and Gruyere cheese
Flour
eggwash (milk and eggs)
seasoned bread crumbs
1 onion
minced
salt
pepper
butter
olive oil

Pound the breasts flat (parboil first if using umbilical
cords so they won?t be tough).
Place a slice of ham and cheese on each, along with some minced onion
then fold in half, trimming neatly.
Dredge in flour, eggwash, then seasoned breadcrumbs;
allow to sit for a few minutes.
Sauté in butter and olive oil until golden brown,
about 6 minutes on each side.



Shish Kababes

As old as the hills, this technique has employed seafood, beef, pork, lamb,
poultry, and vegetables; just about anything can be grilled, and young humans
are no exception!

High quality marinade (Teriyaki and garlic perhaps)
1 inch cubes of tender meat, preferably from the nursery
Onions
bell peppers
Wooden or metal skewers

Marinate the meat overnight.
Get the grill good and hot while placing meat, vegetables, and
fruit such as pineapples or cherries on the skewers.
Don?t be afraid to use a variety of meats.
Grill to medium rare,
serve with garlic cous-cous and sautéed asparagus.
Coffee and sherbet for desert then walnuts, cheese, and port.
Cigars for the gentlemen (and ladies if they so desire)!



Crock-Pot Crack Baby

When the quivering, hopelessly addicted crack baby succumbs to death,
get him immediately butchered and into the crock-pot, so that any
remaining toxins will not be fatal. But don?t cook it too long,
because like Blowfish, there is a perfect medium between the poisonous
and the stimulating. Though it may not have the same effect on your
guests, a whole chicken cooked in this fashion is also mighty tasty.

1 newborn - cocaine addicted, freshly expired, cleaned and butchered
Carrots
onions
leeks
celery
bell pepper
potatoes
Salt
pepper
garlic, etc
4 cups wa