Re: digital packet in the car

[Jed Parsons <jedp@ilm.com>]

Chuck writes:

> Hi Jed, and welcome to the ranks of hamdom!

Thanks, Chuck!  And thanks again to the many people who have been
responding with so much good advice.

> One thing, first: Please don't try to operate AX.25 while you're
> mobile!  Be stationary.  I see all too many idiots on the road,
> reading books, working with their Palm, trying to work a computer,
> talking on the cellphone, etc.

Yes - I agree.  Actually, the idea is to use voice recognition and
speech synthesis to operate the computer while moving.  I certainly
won't be touch-typing while I drive, or squinting at a monitor! :-)

FWIW, there are three phases to my car-computer plan:

 1. Get it working as a voice-operated MP3 jukebox
 2. Add GPS system (w/ speech synthesis)
 3. Add wireless IP (this is where AX25 comes in) for xml newsfeeds
    and other stuff the machine could read to me while I drive.
    (Saving this for last to give myself time to get licensed, etc.)

I would of course look forward to working the repeaters and meeting
people; but that's a component the separate, broader goal of enjoying
ham radio for human interaction :-)

> Pull the power for your equipment directly from the battery and fuse
> both sides close to the battery.  Then fuse again between the relay
> and the equipment.  Don't forget to secure the wiring well so that
> vibration cannot wear through the insulation and cause a short.

Yes - thanks for pointing this out.  The hydraulic front mount on my
engine needs to be replaced for just this reason...

> Personally, I've converted all of my equipment to use Anderson 
> PowerPoles for my DC connectors.  That way, all of my equipment 
> is compatible, wherever I move it.

Nifty.

Thanks for the advice, and thanks again to everybody on this list who
has responded.  Cheers!

Jed

-- 
Jed Parsons                        : Industrial Light + Magic   (415) 448.2974
			    
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