LoRa 433 MHz APRS iGate and Tracker Construction
Building a 433 MHz LoRa APRS iGate and Tracker with TTGO T-Beam v1.1 Boards
Description
The resource details the construction of a 433 MHz LoRa APRS iGate and a tracker, both built around TTGO T-Beam v1.1 microcontroller boards. Each board integrates an OLED screen, WiFi, GPS, and an SMA antenna connector, powered by an 18650 3.7 V lithium-ion battery or microUSB. The iGate operates on 433.775 MHz, with its status verifiable on aprs.fi, demonstrating practical implementation of LoRa-based APRS solutions.
The methodology involves programming the modules using Visual Studio Code with the PlatformIO plugin. This process loads the necessary firmware and a JSON configuration file, which includes the operator's callsign and WiFi credentials for the iGate. The guide emphasizes the ease of programming and provides specific steps for configuration.
Initial testing of the iGate and tracker, including smart beaconing configuration, is documented. The low power output of approximately 200 mW from the LoRa board's transmitter is noted, with suggestions for range extension through improved antennas or RF amplification. The author, N4MI, plans to deploy a higher-gain 70cm antenna for the iGate.