Delormes' EARTHMATE GPS will NOT work straight out of the box for APRS use, as it does not output standard NMEA sentences. (If you really want a used Tripmate try EBay!).
HOWEVER you can use a Earthmate for APRs by converting it's serial data output format to standard NMEA data. Sound like a involved and expensive job... WRONG!
All you need is GST-1 (GPs Sentence Translator) from Byon Garrabrant, N6BG of Las Vegas, NV. It's a small, microcontroller based serial device designed to translate Rockwell Binary format, as used in the DeLorme Earthmate™ and Sony SkyMap™ serial GPs receivers, to NMEA-0183 version 2.0 sentences.
I have not played with an Earthmate. But I have heard that it works very well with the GST-1, and you can then interface the GST-1 output to any APRs TNC using the normal and standard wiring diagrams found on my site and many others. The best idea is to get a TinyTrakII TNC from Byon as well.
Delorme also offers a low cost, quite high detail map package on CD ROM called Street Atlas USA. It covers the entire US. It also has provision for marking (drawing) directly on the map screen to show your particular spots or routes of interest. I have used it may times to draw and print route maps for various events. I use them as a Net control station, and to hand out to other HAMS participating in the event. Our maps routinely exceed the quality of the event organizers (Do you have any more copies???...)
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OLD Tripmate related Stuff
The Tripmate works directly with Delorme's software mapping program. It comes with a DB9 connector that connects directly to your laptop so you can see yourself drive across the map. Very cool, however, the unit runs on 6 volts, it has space inside for 4 AA batteries, and it eats them up very quickly. So I built a regulator directly inside the GPs, and feed it 12 volts from the car, no more batteries!
Mod for the tripmate to run off 12 volts DC.
At this point I had a very nice tracker unit, Tripmate - KPC3 - ADI HT. But the mess of wires to interconnect it all was bothering me. I then found a very small TNC made by Clement Engineering, and decided to try to built it directly into the Tripmate as well.
Installing an APRs TNC directly inside of a Tripmate.
This has worked out VERY WELL, and is now my tracker setup of choice for events, and when I am assigned to someone's car or van. When I am in my own car, I still prefer my Garmin GPSIII on the dashboard. I like to see a display, and see the waypoints go by.
If you would rather not "Hack" into your Tripmate at all... Jerry, KD5OM has made a totally external device to convert your Tripmate for APRs use. He has posted the plans on his site, or can sell you the parts, or the completed adapter!
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Jan. 21, 2002