How to Build an APRS iGate with RTL-SDR, SDR#, Direwolf and PinPoint APRS for Windows

If you’ve been researching how to build an APRS iGate, surely you’ve seen quite a few articles on setting up a Raspberry PI or other Linux-based solution.  But what if you don’t have a Raspberry PI laying around?  What if you’re not a Linux geek?  Well, this is your simple Windows-based solution.  I’ll first provide the parts list and then get into the details.

Item Needed Description Source
Base Station Antenna and Cabling For receiving APRS audio Local HAM shop, Home Depot, Internet
RTL-SDR USB Dongle For connecting the antenna to the computer Internet (Amazon)
AIRSPY SDR# Your software defined

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Fully Mobile Digital Ham Radio with Wires X

Below is a video demonstration of a fully mobile digital ham radio setup that can be operated anywhere within range of Wi-Fi or cellular networks.  With this setup I can connect to any Wires-X room in the entire world.  I can be indoors working plugged into AC and WiFi or fully portable using battery power and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The laptop is handy for quickly finding and switching to rooms, but so long as you have a nearby Wires-X or System Fusion repeater connected to the Internet you could work with just the handheld radio.

Parts to buy:

  • A radio

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