How I use Windows CE devices in Amateur Radio

If you have ever wanted to be able to operate in APRS or packet mode but didn't want to tie up a fullsize PC or laptop, you should investigate using an older HP/C running the Windows CE (WinCE) operating system. Read on to see how I use these remarkable little PC devices for amateur radio.............
I have a couple of old Hewlett Packard HP6xxLX series (620LX and 660LX) handheld PC (H/PC) devices that I have found work excellent for packet and APRS use. They use Windows CE 2.0 as the operating system, have a familar Windows GUI interface, small in physical size, powered by 12VDC and include a standard RS-232 serial interface (although via a custom cable port). There are a few nice programs for Windows CE that allow a very nice compact PC system to be developed for ulimate portability. If you are indeed interested in this sort of computer for amateur radio use, I would suggest you visit eBAY and search for 'HP 660LX' or 'Jornada' (which is the later version starting with the 680 model). The 660LX model is my preferred unit and they can be found for $50-100 depending on extras included. Make sure you get an AC adapter and a serial cable is a MUST!

The HP 660LX Handheld PC

I have setup a HP660LX with a 128Mb CompactFlash memory card for a portable packet and APRS station use when our RACES/ARES group need to be remote from the local area. The CF card allows me to load APRS maps and other data files seperate from the internal memory. I have built an interface cable to connect the HP660LX serial port to the PC socket on my Kenwood TH-D7A Dualband Handheld which has a hardware-based TNC incorporated into it. Throw in a couple of 7AH gelcell batteries, a small solar panel to recharge them with, a small 25W amplifier and you can see how this can make for an extremely compact full featured APRS/packet portable station for emergency use.
Here is a photo of my fixed APRS home station KI6LO-10 consisting of a HP660LX running APRS/CE v1.02, a Kantronics KAM and a Yaesu FT-1500 2M transceiver. A full up APRS station with digipeater capabilities and mapping display for a little over a $100 excluding the transceiver. For a while, I added a Socket Low Power Ethernet PC card in the PC card slot on the HP660LX and enabled the NET interface on the APRS/CE software package. Now my setup had an IGATE capability. Since then I had another use for the Socket LPE card so I have recycled it to that task for the time being.



Here is an interesting link to KC7GNM's website detailing how to setup a WinCE-based HP/C to access a hardware-based packet TNC to do packet radio networking. This method can be used to monitor active APRS packets using a HP/C and TNC while troubleshooting an APRS system setup.
Although there are many WinCE-based software packages available on the internet, I have found very few of them are actually useful for any real work, let alone useful enough to actual pay for registering. The following entries shows the CE software I have found very useful for my amateur radio needs and I have personally registered and recommend you investigate for your needs.
Windows CE-based Amateur Radio software
  • APRS/CE - WinCE APRS software
    • a very nice inexpensive APRS package that uses the standard APRS maps, interfaces with many different TNCs and WinCE devices and has the ability to send and receive APRS messages quickly and easily when used with a H/PC with a QWERTY keyboard.

KI6LO-10 located in NE corner of KERN County, CA.
Sorry for the quality of the photo - hard to shoot the small screen
  • XT/CE - DOS emulator
    • every have an old DOS program that you would like to use but your new PC won't or can't support it. Relax. XT/CE is a DOS emulator for the Windows CE operating system that will fill the bill very nicely and for a low registration fee. Although when running on a slow WinCE device, it is painfully slow compare to the latest generation, it does work and does exactly what it is suppose to without any hoopla. Basic and simple, the way I like software to work. I use this to allow me to run a DOS based terminal program I have used for years to control my KAM TNC. With this software and my KAM and a capable tranceiver, I can operate packet, RTTY, CW, AMTOR and ASCII with a PC system that will fit in my hand. Not bad, eh!!!!
  • TrackSat/CE - Satellite Tracking program
    • This program allows you to see the current pass information for any object included in the loaded list of satellites. Using the standard 2-line Keplerian datafiles (as available from ARRL or AMSAT), you can keep satellite data current for accurate tracking. Using a HT, a Arrow antenna and an compatible WinCE device with TrackSat/CE for tracking, you can have a very compact, fully capable amateur satallite station. (Note: This software will not run on H/PC devices, only P/PC type like my Compaq AERO 2180 PPC.)
H/PC BatteryA source for H/PC batteries can be found at "Laptops for Less". As of Feb 2006, they were listed at $15 each. Click on photo to link to LPL webpage. Thanks to Ron, N1ZSW for the info.
If you do find an amateur radio WinCE package that you like and is not listed here, please drop me an email and let me know. I am always trying new Windows and WinCE software and modes as I find out about them from the internet or other users. I would appreciate hearing about good and bad experiences.