Welcome!
I hope you're here because you're interested in tracking something at a rally in the US. I set this website up to be as friendly and as EASY as possible for YOU to get into Amateur Radio Automatic Position Reporting System Tracking! Wow - that was a complicated mouthful.. Please keep reading and I'll walk you through it.

TrackerBox is a case containing several pieces of integrated hardware for sending APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System) packet data over 144.390Mhz. It was designed for use in rally cars, sweep vehicles, and general stage rally use and abuse. The TrackerBox system itself is NOT COMMERCIAL and you MUST have an amateur radio licence to purchase and use it.

Step One: Discover what APRS is.
I'm excited to tell you about it, because I think it's a cool piece of technology that lets everyone in on the action. I'm sure it may seem complicated at first, but it's easy to setup and use - even in a rallycar! Plus it's cheap! (One time cost of 2-3 rally tires) Please continue reading the Frequently Asked Questions section if you don't know what APRS is.

Step Two: Get you amateur (ham) radio licence.
(or convince your co-driver to - or better yet BOTH of you get it)
No morse code needed. Start taking the practice test and study on-line. Click here for the eHam practice tests. Click on "Technician - (July 1, 2006 question pool)" and take this until you can get at least a 90% three times in a row. Any questions on the questions, just copy it into Google and you'll find it! Maybe you're more of a book person? Check out this book and more at ARRL.com.

Get your FCC FRN Number here. Then find a local test center by clicking - find me a local test center. Take the test - good luck - congratulations you're a ham! Look online for your callsign.

Step Three: Put together the hardware.
eBay is a SELLERS market. If you want good cheap gear I suggest you hit a swap meet or buy new. You might be able to pickup a used HT for $50 for your tracker box. I have included the best radio IMO to stuff in a box and possibly use for emergencies. It will save you $60, but it may take a month to find one...

Keep in mind - if you have a radio other then a Yaesu, you will need to find your own power, tracker, and antenna adapters. Check out the parts list for links to where you can find these items. Let me know if you want to use another radio and I will subtract these items from your TrackerBox. The Yaesu radio takes 12v power, has a SMA antenna connector and a 4 contact 1/8" stereo cable for its connection to the tracker.

The TrackerBox in action.

10 TrackerBoxes ready to go!

TRACKERBOX Contents
1. OpenTracker+ TNC Assembled and Tested
2. ADS-GM1 GPS Receiver
3. Yaesu VX-170 2M Handheld Transceiver
4. VX-170 CT-91 Mic adapter
4. 2M Magnet Mount Antenna
5. Tracker TO Radio cable (Powerpole)
6. SMA male to UHF female cable
7. Power cable (fused) cig-lighter 6ft (Powerpole)
8. Power adapter for Yaesu HT (Powerpole)
9. Power splitter for HT and TNC (Powerpole)
10. DB9 serial cable
11. Power switch
12. Enclosure (Seahorse Case)

PRICE
$46.00
$53.00
$130.00
$15.00
$20.00
$20.00
$15.00
$15.00
$12.00
$10.00
$6.00
$3.00
$25.00

Here's what it's all about:
I'm basically doing this so that a lot more people have the ability to take advantage of APRS. I have been asked by several people to provide a turn-key kit for rally. This will get more rally people into amateur radio and more amateur radio people into stage rally. I only want to make enough to cover the cost of my time and shipping. I provided all the links to various items - there are no doubt other ways to build one of these - but I feel this would be your best bet. If you have the ability, I encourage you to go out on your own or modify what I have here. Seeing 10+ cars at a rally with APRS beacons on a big screen in service is my goal. Following the action of a US national level rally from the internet would be cool too.

Programming? YES! Programming.
The OpenTracker+ included with the TrackerBox can easily be programmed with a windows machine that has a serial port, null modem cable, and the OpenTracker+ software.