MB7UMS is an experimental LoRa APRS Gateway which is intended to cover central Gateshead and Newcastle
- Call Sign: MB7UMS
- Location: Newcastle/Gateshead (IO94EX) [coverage map]
- Mode: Lora
- Band: 70CM
- Output Frequency: 439.9125 MHz
- Output Power: -10 dbW (100mW)
- Input Frequency: 439.9125 MHz
- Spreading Factor: 12
- Bandwidth 120KHz
- Network: APRS-IS
The gateway supports both APRS-IS tunnelling and native AX25 payloads and is provided by the Northern Quarter
About LoRa
LoRa is a wideband low power protocol often used in the 868 ISM band which uses a relatively slow scanning carrier frequency termed “chirp spread spectrum” though I have also heard it called “sliding FM”.
Client hardware is cheap and readily available with the LillyGo T-Beam units being particularly popular. If you want to try it then make sure you order a 433MHz unit ideally with GPS and OLED screen, current versions have 3 push buttons along the bottom edge of the pcb and can be found on sites such as AliExpress or Ebay and enclosure designs are available on thingiverse
The firmware currently being tried by Makerspace members on T-Beams can be found at: .
https://github.com/SQ9MDD/TTGO-T-Beam-LoRa-APRS
MB7UMS is built and managed by Maker Space members.
