APRS Windows Client - update Nov 1 2025

The only client I could find and use for windows is UI View 32, old as heck but it kinda works with my TH-D72A.

Kinda.

I cannot get it working in KISS mode for whatever reason, that’s my second fail as I had tried using Xastir with the D72A, had it working for a while then somehow messed up the installation and never got it working again. This seems to be a pattern with me.

The “Almost” system configurator.

Well with UI View, I do have normal mode working where I can monitor traffic and graphically display it, can interface with the D72A with the terminal but to send messages, I need to use the D72A keyboard directly. Bummer. No current documentation is out there either.

——

Update I can work this combo in standard APRS mode, since apparently UI-VEW32 does understand enough of the D72A command protocol to actually interact. On APRS Thursday I have been able to make some contacts. Been kind of enjoyable checking in on the net. The downside is its “only” packet. But still good to see all the traffic.

Shack Rebuild

 2022!

I never imagined getting here, especially under the surreal conditions of “work from home” and “Covid” that most in the world are experiencing.

After “operating”, limited as it was, for so long with my “shack” such that it is, I found a creep of cables, radios, computers, Walmarts, and much else that started to cramp my ability to be flexible and really know what I had, what I wanted to do, and change from one mode to the other.

My layout or a while consisted of several radio that really need work, as well as a TNC that needs configuration and cabling to be useful.  Pictured are my Ten-Tec Mighty Mite 3, as well as a Clegg “Two-er” both of which need to be checked out before possibly going on the air.

The TNC is an MFJ multi-controller which operates via putty-connection from an unpictured computer but otherwise was not connected to a current radio setup for use.

In addition to that already pictured, I have a new Ten-Tec century 21 to check out and use, a TH-D72A laying around which I was using for occasional ISS packet and a pi-noelec SDR combo for downloading satellite images.

No mention of the FT-736R which is (shudder) still up in the attic, a vintage National Radio speaker cabinet to pair with the century 21 (or whatever) and cabling for an Elk log periodic 2/70 antenna for satellite use, with corresponding az/el controllers, nor my Butternut 6BTV vertical for HF. Also not pictured was a new Ambient weather console.

All things considered, I decided it was time to “rebuild”, label and organize. Hopefully the end result will be a bit more asthetic, flexible and ergonomic.

One goal was to allow more visibility of the Redone table.

In the process, I am going to label coax and other cables for ease of use down the road:

For my own sanity and to help document this for my own enjoyment, I hope to keep this blog somewhat updated. Been very lax in posting over the years, perhaps this will be a fresh start to blogging as well!

73, KA2CZU

TH-D72A, press [OK] for reset

This week I had a frustrating experience with this otherwise nice "HT" (handi talkie? is that still a thing?)

In trying to hit the current, active, APRS digipeating satellites: PSAT (NO-84), ISS and occasionally FalconSat-3, one has to reconfigure the Path, and BPS.  Using this HT there is a relatively simple menu system, and a few minutes prior to the pass, you can be good to go. Typically, I will set the APRS beacon to manual and use it to send up a first message (ok, I've read this is bad form, 'technically', from the AMSAT-BB reflector threads... so, I'll probably curtail this  going forward.

We send messages to each other through these sky-digipeaters using UI / unproto messages and I have several canned (preprogrammed user) phrases to be used to "complete" a QSO.

Unfortunatly for reasons unknown, the D72A stopped sending out messages. I could beacon but not send out an actual message.

I went over every setting in detail:

300 - call sign - KA2CZU-2
301 - Beacon Type - APRS
302 - APRS Locak - OFF
310 - Data Band - A Band
311 - Speed - 1200
320 - DCD Sense - Ignore DCD (only way for me to even beacon right now)
321 - TX delay - 200 ms
380 - Position Comment - Not Emergency
390 - StatusText - set to stuff
3A0/1/2 - QSY stuff all Off
3B0/1 - Pkt Filter OFF and Type = Weather
3Cx - symbol default Kenwood
3D0 - TX Beacon Method- Manual
3D1 - Init. Interval - .2 min (tried other settings)
3E Algorithm both decal and pathing were ON... just set to OFF... don't know what these do
3F/G Smart Beacon , never have touched these
3H0 - PacketPath - *Others
3H1 - ARISS


and for the most part, everything was correct, with the exception of DCD Sense... I was told to only use "Ignore DCD" when working the full duplex 9600bps FalconSat-3 digipeater.


Fine.


That wasn't the issue.


No change made a difference, tried another ham's MC4 file and still no-workie.


What worked?


A full reset, and then restoring my (previously saved) settings.

Remember, it's [OK] to reset, if you saved your settings like you should 😃

ISS

With my homebrew 2mtr Yagi (picture of me and the yagi on stand below :) ) and the TH-D72A... getting into some nice passes of the ISS.

Note that I worked in the parking lot while at work, in Mr. Laurel, but here's a pic showing the yago in the foreground:

I worked both a 21deg and 61deg pass of the ISS this afternoon:

00:00:05:49 : 9Z4DZ-3]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6::RS0ISS :Hello All. UISS v.5.4.0
00:00:06:00 : 9Z4DZ-3]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:=1008.45N/06132.30W-Greetings frm 9Z4DZ in FK90FD {UISS54}
00:00:06:22 : RS0ISS]CQ,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:]ARISS - International Space Station
00:00:06:23 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:=1008.45NI06132.30W&SatGate Siparia FK90fd
00:00:06:41 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6::RS0ISS :Hello All. UISS v.5.4.0
00:00:06:54 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:Email: s9z4dz@yahoo.com.. 73 via ISS
00:00:06:58 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:=IIBPL]vY9& BSatGate Siparia FK90fd {UISS Ver 5.4.0}
00:00:07:02 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:Software: UISS 5.4.0 / UI-View V2.03
00:00:07:05 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:Hi All! UISS v5.4.0
00:00:07:12 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:=1008.45N/06132.30W-Greetings frm 9Z4DZ in FK90FD {UISS54}
00:00:07:27 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:=1008.45N/06132.30W-
00:00:07:30 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6::Heard :YB0X-1,9Z4DZ-7,PSAT-1{UISS54}
00:00:07:34 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:Email: s9z4dz@yahoo.com.. 73 via ISS
00:00:07:43 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6::ISS :Hello All. UISS v.5.4.0
00:00:08:06 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:Software: UISS 5.4.0 / UI-View V2.03
00:00:08:10 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:=IIBPL]vY9& BSatGate Siparia FK90fd {UISS Ver 5.4.0}
00:00:08:15 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:Email: s9z4dz@yahoo.com.. 73 via ISS
00:00:08:22 : RS0ISS]CQ,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:]ARISS - International Space Station
00:00:08:23 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:=1008.45N/06132.30W-Hello All via ISS ...de 9Z4DZ {UISS54}
00:00:08:27 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:=1008.45N/06132.30W-73' Via Satellite {UISS54}
00:00:08:31 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:Hello All de 9Z4DZ in FK90FD
00:00:08:38 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6::Heard :YB0X-1,9Z4DZ-7,PSAT-1{UISS54}
00:00:08:42 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6::ISS :Hello All. UISS v.5.4.0
00:00:08:47 : 9Z4DZ]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,9Z4DZ-6:Software: UISS 5.4.0 / UI-View V2.03
00:00:10:51 : KA2CZU-2]APK003,RS0ISS*,qAR,VE2GQF-2::K3DQB :TNX/73{36
00:00:10:53 : KA2CZU-2]APK003,RS0ISS*,qAR,KK4NAM::KC4ZPL-2 :FM29 in NJ{35
00:00:10:59 : K1WY]TQTU7T,RS0ISS*,RS0ISS,qAR,KK4NAM:'dGRl -/]
00:00:11:03 : K1WY]TQTU7T,RS0ISS*,RS0ISS,qAR,KK4NAM:'dGRl -/]K1WY FN31ps
00:00:11:28 : W2JV]APRS,RS0ISS*,qAO,W2THC-10:Software: UISS 5.4.1
00:00:12:39 : W2JV]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAO,K3RLD-10::NWS :ac2ku de w2jv fn30
00:00:12:59 : KA2CZU-2]APK003,RS0ISS*,qAO,N2QKV-10::K3DQB :FM29 in NJ{33
00:00:13:12 : AC2KU-1]SYRT7S,RS0ISS*,qAO,N2QKV-10:'f:-l K\]=
00:00:13:33 : K4KDR-6]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,KK4NAM::AC2KU-1 :Heard you via ISS in Montpelier, VA FM17es
00:00:13:41 : K3DQB]SYUY5V,RS0ISS*,ISS,qAO,K3RLD-10:`hC\l!/[/`"5K}_#
00:00:13:43 : K4KDR-6]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,KK4NAM::KA2CZU-2 :Heard you via ISS in Montpelier, VA FM17es
00:00:13:53 : K4KDR-6]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,KK4NAM::NZ4D-6 :Heard you via ISS in Montpelier, VA FM17es
00:00:14:09 : K4KDR-6]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,KK4NAM::K3DQB :Heard you via ISS in Montpelier, VA FM17es
00:00:14:16 : AC2KU-1]SYRT7S,RS0ISS*,qAO,W4TBD-10:'f:-l K\]=
00:00:14:26 : K8II]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAO,W4TBD-10::NZ4D-6 :ur 599 in EM79wh Cinti, OH Op FRed
00:00:14:29 : K3DQB]SYUY5V,RS0ISS*,ISS,qAO,W4TBD-10:`hC\l!/[/`"5K}_#
00:00:14:33 : WB3CSY-7]T0PS7Y,RS0ISS*,qAO,W4TBD-10:`h4Fl#3[/`"56}WB3CSY RICK IN FN10_(
00:00:14:36 : K4KDR-6]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,WA8LMF-SG:=3746.29N/07737.13W`de K4KDR scott23192@gmail.com Virginia FM17es
00:00:14:48 : K8SAR-6]APK004,RS0ISS*,qAR,WA8LMF-SG::WA4SXM-6 :hi from EN80lb in OhiO {0
00:00:14:55 : AC2KU-1]SYRT7S,RS0ISS*,qAR,WA8LMF-SG:'f:-l K\]=
00:00:15:10 : NZ4D-6]APWW10,RS0ISS*,WIDE,qAR,KD8THX-6:@190655h3532.70N/07727.08W`Hello from NC Via ISS - nz4d@arrl.net
00:00:15:15 : K8II]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,VE2GQF-2:=3918.45N\08407.30WS*=3919.18N/8408.24W {UISS54}
00:00:15:19 : KD9HJX-7]T1RULZ,RS0ISS*,qAR,KD8THX-6:'qI)l K\]^
00:00:15:23 : K8SAR-6]T0PS2T,RS0ISS*,qAR,WA8LMF-SG:`o\xl#R[/]"6t}^
00:00:15:38 : KA2CZU-2]APK003,RS0ISS*,qAR,KK4NAM::KD9HJX-7 :FM29 in NJ{29
00:00:15:41 : KA2CZU-2]APK003,RS0ISS*,qAR,KD8THX-6::WA4SXM-6 :FM29 in NJ{28
00:00:15:44 : K1WY]TQTU7T,RS0ISS*,RS0ISS,qAR,WA8LMF-SG:'dGRl -/]
00:00:15:49 : K0KOC-7]3Y2S1Y,RS0ISS*,qAR,WA8LMF-SG:'i4wl #/]=
00:00:15:56 : WA4SXM-6]S5UV0V,RS0ISS*,WIDE,qAR,KD8THX-6:'pZbl -/]Digi Greetings fm Knoxville!
00:00:16:00 : KD9HJX-7]APK004,RS0ISS*,qAR,KK4NAM::KA2CZU-2 :ack27
00:00:16:02 : WA4SXM-6]APK101,RS0ISS*,WIDE,qAR,WA8LMF-SG::K8SAR-6 :rej0
00:00:16:02 : KA2CZU-2]APK003,RS0ISS*,qAR,KK4NAM::KD9HJX-7 :FM29 in NJ{27


Still didn't complete a QSO, but I'm learning the TH-D72 display and quirks

Fun times.

This is a MUCH better radio than the UV-5R. More money, of course, but performance to match!