[amsat-bb] Open source APRS tracker Kickstarter

[Wouter Weggelaar]

Thanks Stefan,

That was not at all clear from a glance through the page.
Normally I expect a section what the money is for and this page does not
have that at all.

I was just wondering why it needs 22000 instead of, say, 1000 for two
prototypes.
But if they need a pick and place machine set up, I guess this number is
needed to pay for the machines minimum batch.


Wouter


On Thu, Nov 5, 2015 at 3:06 PM, Stefan Wagener <wageners at gmail.com> wrote:

> Agree,
>
> He also wants to have the boards populated automatically to get away from
> hand-soldering all the SMDs. Yes, the board layout and files are available
> for free (open source) on his website including the source code (open
> source) for the Arduino he is using. Actually very transparent operation
> and yes, a simple email to Mike about his project will result in a very
> quick response back.
>
> 73, Stefan, VE4NSA
>
> On Thu, Nov 5, 2015 at 7:54 AM, <skristof at etczone.com> wrote:
>
>> I don't think that $22,000 dollars is that much money for a start up
>> company/project. If they want to produce these things in large quantities
>> then they will need to invest in equipment or hire someone to do that for
>> them.
>>
>> I'm sure that the hardware is already available if you want to build one
>> of these on  your own. But I'm not that smart. I'd need to spend a year
>> learning more stuff about computers and APRS protocol before I could even
>> think about putting one of these things together.
>>
>> This will also be good for science teachers (like me) and radio clubs
>> that want to help science teachers introduce students to technology without
>> a lot of hassle and expense.
>>
>> This seems like a worthwhile project to me.
>>
>> Steve AI9IN
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 2015-11-05 07:32, Wouter Weggelaar wrote:
>>
>> Can someone tell me why this needs 22000 dollars when most of this project
>> is already available?
>> What am I missing here? I can for the life of me not see why this would
>> take this huge amount of money.
>>
>> Wouter PA3WEG
>>
>> On Thu, Nov 5, 2015 at 4:24 AM, Stefan Wagener <wageners at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks! Yes, supported it already. It is a great project especially for
>> schools and groups. Please support it and make it happen :-) Stefan, VE4NSA
>> On Wed, Nov 4, 2015 at 8:45 PM, Steve Kristoff <skristof at etczone.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Please consider backing this Kickstarter project. It's an open source
>>
>> APRS
>>
>> tracker for weather balloons. I have no stake in the project other than a
>> pledge and I'd really like to see the project go. Check it out:
>>
>>
>> https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1250163085/tracksoar-aprs/posts/1397521?ref=backer_project_update
>>
>> Steve Kristoff AI9IN skristof at etczone.com
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>