VK2XB- Indy - truck mobile missing from APRS

 When I occasionally  look around on APRS, I often spot Indy VK2XB mobile somewhere in his big rig (semi-trailer truck), but I havent had time to look around for past 6months, except for my own travelling between new home  in Yass Valley and back to Sydney and have been doing that each week for a few months.

Anyway, back to VK2XB,  I had a look on APRS to see where he travelling and I noticed he hasnt been on APRS since January. I thought, oh I hope nothing bad happened. I did some searches and spotted an article in March on Brisbane Radio Society but not much else. 

Indy's Home Page  
VK2XB Amateur Radio

Mudgee trip 10-14 April, 2025

 APRS coverage on 30metres (10.147600 ) for VK2KFJ-15,
accidentally switched off HF APRS for a section, when going up and back.
30metre coverage works very well day and night, most packets  received via VK2MB-6

APRS coverage via phone for VK2KFJ

APRS coverage via 2metres (145.175 MHz)  for VK2KFJ-9,
we can see coverage on 2metres is lacking  from Lithgow to Gulgong

Raw packets from VK2KFJ-15 on 30metres

2025-04-14 13:53:39 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S3Y5,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N0dp{DR/'">?}!w@*!|3
2025-04-14 13:54:46 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S4S0,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N1PpHaR/'">/}!w<U!|3
2025-04-14 13:56:48 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S3R9,qAO,VK2MB-6:`N2Xo>jR/'">$}!w1-!|3
2025-04-14 13:57:01 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S3R5,qAO,VK2OL-10:`N2eo\DR/'">$}TT3 on 30m!wp:!|3
2025-04-14 13:57:34 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2Y6,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N2~p*"R/'"=P}!wDo!|3
2025-04-14 13:58:07 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2V7,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N33p hR/'"=J}!wJ,!|3
2025-04-14 13:58:48 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2X3,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N3]pg:R/'"=m}!wm[!|3
2025-04-14 13:59:13 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S3P1,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N3yoRxR/'"=P}!w`F!|3
2025-04-14 13:59:18 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2Y9,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N3~o CR/'"=W}TT3 on 30m!wBt!|3
2025-04-14 14:00:04 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2W6,qAO,VK2MB-6:`N4=oHhR/'"=a}!wd\!|3
2025-04-14 14:00:12 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2W6,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N4Eo]*R/'"=U}!wi`!|3
2025-04-14 14:01:19 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2Y8,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N5!nI)R/'">(}TT3 on 30m!w,)!|3
2025-04-14 14:01:24 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2Y7,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N5%nHKR/'">0}!w-A!|3
2025-04-14 14:01:38 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2Y1,qAO,VK2MB-6:`N5.nfqR/'">@}!wDj!|3
2025-04-14 14:02:00 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2Y0,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N5Ao :R/'">Z}!wk=!|3
2025-04-14 14:03:24 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2R5,qAO,VK2MB-6:`N5,op:R/'">*}!wjd!|3
2025-04-14 14:04:07 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2Q8,qAO,VK2OL-10:`N5Sp?$R/'"=E}!wz'!|3
2025-04-14 14:04:42 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2R7,qAO,VK2OL-10:`N6&ppgR/'"<j}!w#8!|3
2025-04-14 14:05:20 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2Q6,qAO,VK2OL-10:`N6Xp ER/'"<S}!wmq!|3
2025-04-14 14:06:33 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S1V8,qAO,VK2MB-6:`N7Cp>IR/'";m}!wXI!|3
2025-04-14 14:08:02 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S0Y4,qAO,VK2OL-10:`N8?p*pR/'";G}TT3 on 30m!wm5!|3
2025-04-14 14:10:04 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S0U2,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N9`p4NR/'";(}!w#]!|3
2025-04-14 14:12:55 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3R9Y3,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N;Jo+2R/'":m}!wXL!|3
2025-04-14 14:13:59 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S0Q9,qAO,VK2OL-10:`N;klRbR/'":O}!w>4!|3
2025-04-14 14:19:01 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S0Q9,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N;kl <0x1c>R/'":Q}TT3 on 30m!w<c!|3
2025-04-14 14:20:00 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S0Q9,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N;jlTwR/'":S}!w<n!|3
2025-04-14 14:20:16 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S0Q8,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N;ilf!R/'":N}!w8E!|3
2025-04-14 14:20:27 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S0Q6,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N;jlzzR/'":N}!w)L!|3
2025-04-14 14:21:23 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S0Q7,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N<Mpg8R/'":7}!w_$!|3
2025-04-14 14:21:42 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S0S2,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N<gpz{R/'":#}!wib!|3
2025-04-14 14:24:22 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S0Y2,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N>sp>xR/'"9Z}!wLm!|3
2025-04-14 14:26:22 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S0Y6,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`N@epS8R/'"94}!w*d!|3
2025-04-14 14:26:48 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S1Q7,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`NA<0x1f>p\zR/'"97}!w.0!|3
2025-04-14 14:27:01 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S1Q5,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`NA/opYR/'"9I}!wPV!|3
2025-04-14 14:27:53 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S1Q9,qAO,VK2MB-6:`NA_oqdR/'":0}!w[L!|3
2025-04-14 14:28:58 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S1X6,qAO,VK2MB-6:`NAqogCR/'"9B}TT3 on 30m!w"^!|3
2025-04-14 14:34:36 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2R6,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`NA<0x7f>l <0x1c>R/'"8u}!wA$!|3
2025-04-14 14:39:35 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2R6,qAO,VK2MB-6:`NA<0x7f>l <0x1c>R/'"8r}!wJ&!|3
2025-04-14 14:41:01 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2R6,qAO,VK2OL-10:`NA~lU5R/'"8q}!w?H!|3
2025-04-14 14:41:36 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2S9,qAO,VK2MB-6:`NA}ogUR/'"8^}!w:j!|3
2025-04-14 14:41:54 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2U2,qAO,VK2OL-10:`NB<0x1d>m{'R/'"88}!wD*!|3
2025-04-14 14:42:00 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2U0,qAO,VK2MB-6:`NB!nfHR/'"8*}TT3 on 30m!wVM!|3
2025-04-14 14:42:13 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2T5,qAO,VK2OL-10:`NB(miWR/'"7p}!w__!|3
2025-04-14 14:42:19 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2T1,qAO,VK2MB-6:`NB)nfCR/'"7n}!wZI!|3
2025-04-14 14:42:43 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2T0,qAO,VK2MB-6:`NB8n40R/'"7M}!wS&!|3
2025-04-14 14:42:49 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2S8,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`NB:mq<0x1d>R/'"7J}!wcm!|3
2025-04-14 14:42:54 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2T1,qAO,VK2OL-10:`NB<nIcR/'"7K}TT3 on 30m!w*c!|3
2025-04-14 14:43:06 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2T9,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`NBAn]8R/'"79}!wY.!|3
2025-04-14 14:43:12 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2T9,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`NBEnfYR/'"7+}!w:f!|3
2025-04-14 14:43:39 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2U5,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`NBdo{@R/'"6Y}!w)m!|3
2025-04-14 14:46:20 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S2Y0,qAO,VK2OL-10:`ND^o]!R/'"5S}!wM4!|3
2025-04-14 14:50:26 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S4S0,qAO,VK2MB-6:`NFMnq<0x1d>R/'"4O}!wmy!|3
2025-04-14 14:53:52 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S5R8,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`NGcoI.R/'"4*}!wW&!|3
2025-04-14 14:56:30 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S5Y4,qAO,VK2OL-10:`NI'm*NR/'"4+}!w>p!|3
2025-04-14 14:57:01 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S5X6,qAO,VK2MB-6:`NI.m+&R/'"40}!wmB!|3
2025-04-14 14:59:49 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S6R9,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`NJUo]"R/'"42}!w,C!|3
2025-04-14 15:02:52 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S6V7,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`NL^o5 R/'"41}!wVg!|3
2025-04-14 15:05:21 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S7P3,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`NMMo]DR/'"4/}TT3 on 30m!wts!|3
2025-04-14 15:06:43 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S7V8,qAO,VK2MB-6:`NN mpuR/'"4.}!w06!|3
2025-04-14 15:07:25 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S7U5,qAO,VK2OL-10:`NN=mg>R/'"4+}!w=[!|3
2025-04-14 15:10:18 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S8X8,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`NO]oS8R/'"44}!w18!|3
2025-04-14 15:12:29 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S9U9,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`NP]p]'R/'"45}!w@X!|3
2025-04-14 15:15:23 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3S9W8,qAO,VK2MB-6:`NQboI2R/'"4K}!w_:!|3
2025-04-14 15:17:21 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T0V2,qAO,VK2OL-10:`NRgoIVR/'"4I}!wfn!|3
2025-04-14 15:21:59 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T1T1,qAO,VK2OL-10:`NS=n?HR/'"4R}!wRc!|3
2025-04-14 15:28:53 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T2Y1,qAO,VK2MB-6:`NT'pIUR/'"4T}!wbX!|3
2025-04-14 15:31:47 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T3Y8,qAO,VK2MB-6:`NTYoIWR/'"4f}!wl&!|3
2025-04-14 15:35:31 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T6S3,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`NV:q]!R/'"4X}!w{@!|3
2025-04-14 15:36:36 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T6Q9,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`NWCpzcR/'"4n}!wXz!|3
2025-04-14 15:38:24 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T5W6,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`OY)qRjR/'"5$}!w[p!|3
2025-04-14 15:39:01 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T5X6,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`OYmqRiR/'"4p}TT3 on 30m!wPB!|3
2025-04-14 15:42:34 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T5X3,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`O]Jn *R/'"4b}!wwA!|3
2025-04-14 15:46:28 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T6X3,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`O_}m\UR/'"4T}!wna!|3
2025-04-14 15:47:11 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T6V9,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`O`&p*2R/'"4S}TT3 on 30m!w_0!|3
2025-04-14 15:50:10 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T5S7,qAO,VK2MB-6:`O`6oR5R/'"4o}!wyw!|3
2025-04-14 15:50:18 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T5S2,qAO,VK2OL-10:`O`=ofVR/'"4i}!w@C!|3
2025-04-14 15:51:19 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T4Y9,qAO,VK2OL-10:`O`to\2R/'"50}!wsl!|3
2025-04-14 15:54:20 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T3Y6,qAO,VK2MB-6:`Oa=o>GR/'"5h}!wOd!|3
2025-04-14 15:54:42 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T3X3,qAO,VK2OL-10:`OaLnpnR/'"5e}!w0{!|3
2025-04-14 15:56:39 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T3U7,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`O&<0x1f>o KR/'"5_}!w["!|3
2025-04-14 15:58:19 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T3Q4,qAO,VK2MB-6:`O&>nf%R/'"5j}TT3 on 30m!w-J!|3
2025-04-14 15:59:41 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T2U5,qAO,VK2MB-6:`O&OofIR/'"5d}!w#X!|3
2025-04-14 16:00:15 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T2T2,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`O'<0x1c>pzjR/'"5V}!wBj!|3
2025-04-14 16:01:02 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T2U7,qAO,VK2MB-6:`O'`p\jR/'"5w}!wp"!|3
2025-04-14 16:01:36 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T2T3,qAO,VK2MB-6:`O(+pHGR/'"5v}!wDV!|3
2025-04-14 16:03:33 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T2P4,qAO,VK2MB-6:`O(gmHxR/'"6*}!wcJ!|3
2025-04-14 16:03:39 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T2P7,qAO,VK5ARG-3:`O(inSSR/'"6)}!w@N!|3
2025-04-14 16:06:44 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T3X1,qAO,VK2MB-6:`O)7o5_R/'"5l}TT3 on 30m!wvr!|3
2025-04-14 16:08:50 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T4R7,qAO,VK2MB-6:`O)2m5#R/'"5p}!wx_!|3
2025-04-14 16:10:43 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T4S7,qAO,VK2OL-10:`O)um AR/'"5F}!wMr!|3
2025-04-14 16:11:03 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T4R6,qAO,VK2MB-6:`O)|nRiR/'"5A}!w;<!|3
2025-04-14 16:11:35 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T4R1,qAO,VK2OL-10:`O*,l{ER/'"5E}!wFE!|3
2025-04-14 16:11:53 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T4R8,qAO,VK2MB-6:`O*-mIsR/'"5J}!wc7!|3
2025-04-14 16:16:54 AEST: VK2KFJ-15>S3T4S2,qAO,VK2MB-6:`O*+l <0x1c>R/'"5K}!w&H!|3

VK0DS APRS reports as of 12th September, 2024

 last APRS reports of VK0DS APRS reports as of 12th September, 2024

VK2LPC-14 truck mobile missing from APRS

 I noticed I haven't seen VK2LPC-14 on APRS since October 2023 when Vince arrived at location in Newcastle port area.

aprs.fi – live APRS map

I checked his QRZ.com page but nothing mentioned,  I hope he is ok.

VK2LPC - Callsign Lookup by QRZ Ham Radio

VK2XB truck mobile aprs

 

I mentioned some time ago about two truckers I see on APRS, one of them is Ian "Indy" VK2XB ,

here is a video from VK2XB and a magazine article

Radios in "new" (to me) Truck! New job - new truck! (youtube.com)

Meet the truckie who 'yabbers' to cosmonauts (bigrigs.com.au)

Direwolf APRS/Packet radio software "soundcard" application - v1.7 released October, 2023

 Releases · wb2osz/direwolf (github.com)

available for Windows, Linux, MacOS

For me I am interested in it for APRS usage applications.

Road Trip 19th to 21st May 2023

 road trip to Wangi Wangi and surrounds of Lake Macquarie. I took 23cm all-mode, but no luck working VK2RAG  or VK2RTZ 23cm rptrs. 
 I did go up to top of Mt. Sugarloaf to check out possibility of doing some portable microwave activity from here in the future.  I gave some CQ calls on 1296.100 and 1296.150 from Sugarloaf carpark aiming up the coast.

VK2KFJ-9 APRS track 

VK2KFJ APRS track

Mt.Sugarloaf, QF57sc,  436m ASL at the lookout, need to carry gear up about 100m from caarpark to the lookout, to be above trees.

Road Trip 12th - 14th May 2023

 Sydney - Orange - Gowan - Sydney

return trip late Sunday night, with low temperatures 6 to 10deg C yielded fuel consumption of 9L/100km from my Jackaroo. Only used a tank of 95 octane, usually it consumes 3/4 of a tank in warm weather.

3.5Hrs via Katoomba  return trip, compared to 4hrs via Bells Line Rd for previous similiar late night returns

APRS VK2KFJ-9 is RF  145.175 MHz  and VK2KFJ is TCPIP

Whilst at Gowan QF46pu, did some RF testing, accessing VK2RYL 147.225 MHz requiring 91.5Hz ctcss, VK2RCD 146.725 at Dubbo, VK2RYG 146.875 MHz requiring 91.5Hz ctcss at Young, VK2RKG 146.900 MHz Bathurst, VK2RCW 146.900 MHz at Gowan, VK2RCC 146.800 MHz at Coonabarabran, VK1RGI 146.950 MHz Mt. Ginini, plus contacts on 146.500 FM simplex.  I could hear WIA broadcast  via VK2RAG 146.725 MHz, VK2RMP 146.850 MHz Maddens Plains, VK2RWI 147.000 at Dural.

Also heard on Sunday morning at 7.30am, two U.S. stations talking on their local 29.680 MHz 10m repeater for 30mins.  Later that day could hear the WIA broadcast on a 29.680 repeater.either in vk7 or vk6, plus activity on 29.600 MHz including Murray ZL3MH,  plus Indonesians on 29.120 MHz

APRS and some big trucks

 I often looking at APRS map to see what vehicles or balloon experiments are active on APRS, or following friends who are travelling and using APRS, but also spotting a few regulars, these are truck drivers who I see traversing big distances for their daily work. These are VK2XB and VK2LPC. 

Both use DMR and other modes. I have heard Ian VK2XB call on DMR, but not for a while now. At the times when I did hear Ian calling, I was too busy doing work at my desk to answer him.  I used to work Ian occasionally on our local 2metre rptr when he driving petrol tankers in Sydney many years ago. I think from seeing his APRS path, he might be doing grain haulage and other freight. In recent months I been trying to pay more attention to checking where he is on APRS and listen for him on DMR.

I passed Ian a few months back near Goulburn when I was mobile from Sydney to Albury, I wasn't paying attention to the APRS heard list at time I passed him, I didnt realise until an hour or so later, otherwise I would have flagged him down, or got his attention somehow. 

Similar thing happened earlier last year, we had stopped in at Young, then headed south to Junee and  VK2LPC-14 was returning home, again I wasn't regularly checking APRS Heard list and I think I passed him as he heading home.

Google Maps APRS for VK2XB mobile

Google Maps APRS for VK2LPC-14 mobile

Mobile trek to VK3 and VK5 - November 2022

 We did a recent mobile trip to VK3 and VK5, Sydney > Albury > Benalla > Shepparton > Bendigo > Daylesford  > Ballarat. Did some gold mining history research at Haddon, Smythesdale, Scarsdale and Gordon, including visiting some historic cemeteries.

Then onto Geelong > Portarlington > St.Leonards >  Queenscliff >Point Lonsdale , along ocean road to Barwon Heads > Torquay > Jan Juc > Bells Beach > Anglesea > Aireys Inlet  > Lorne >

Then from Lorne > along Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay > Cape Otway lighthouse > Glenaire > Lavers Hill > Yuulong > Princetown > Tweleve Apostles > Loch Ard Gorge and other cliff spots > Port Campbell.

Then to London Bridge > Peterborough > Bay of Islands > Allansford > Warrnambool > Port Fairy >Portland > Cape Nelson Lighthouse > Nelson > Mount Gambier > Millicent > Robe.

Then from Robe > Kingston > Meningie > Tailem Bend > Murray Bridge > Hahndorf.

From Handorf to Port Elliot > Victor Harbour > Capre Jervis > Normanville > Glenelg > Tanaunda.

Then from Tanunda > Kapunda > Hamilton > Waterloo > Black Springs > Burra > Hallet > Oodle Wirra and through to Broken Hill.

From Broken Hill onto Wilcania > Cobar > Nyngan > Narromine > Dubbo.

Last Day, was Dubbo > Dunedoo > Merriwa > Denman > Jerrys Plains > Warkworth > Mount Thorley and back onto the motorway to Sydney.

All up about 5100km

Note:  big gaps of no Optus mobile coverage  either side of Broken Hill.  Telstra mobile coverage MUCH better out there.

Big gaps of 2metre APRS found in VK3 and VK5, plus my HF APRS stopped near Shepparton, HF antenna base failure. Then moved HF antenna to different base, but then TT3 didnt want to TX anymore for rest of the trip. TT3 for HF  worked when I arrived home. Didnt hear much 2m or 70cm FM traffic whilst travelling, when arrived home I investigated to find both Diamond SG-M507  antennas are stuffed, with high VSWR.  Replaced them with the more expensive Diamond SG-7500, now I hear distant repeaters again.  Then I checked my 2metre APRS antenna, high vswr,  it is also stuffed, it was just a 1/4 wave, I fitted new 1/4 wave, now APRS working better.

Lessons learnt: check your antennas are actually working before heading to outback or major road trips.

The screenshot is my VK2KFJ APRS last 7 days tracking, the pink lines are where there is nil Optus coverage