Kenwood TK-7180 and APRS

[searchrescueff]

If this is the wrong forum for this question, I apologize in advance. However, since it involved APRS, I figured it was the more likely place to post this.


I just purchased a Kenwood TK-7180 "with SMA connector in the back" that quite possibly has a GPS unit inside. My question here is this:

Is there a way to setup the 7180 for APRS use? I know that I would have to get a GPS receiver for the unit if there is indeed a GPS unit inside. I just need to know what options to setup on the radio. I seen the key assignment option for send GPS data.

 

[AK9R]

Even if the radio has a GPS receiver built-in, my guess is that the radio's firmware knows nothing about APRS. You'll need a TNC to construct the packets, modulate the audio tones, and key the radio to transmit. And, since most TNCs intended for use with APRS have a GPS data input port, the internal GPS in the radio wouldn't be all that useful.

 

[mmckenna]

The internal GPS board on these radios is used with FleetSync.
I'm running a few of the NX-900's with the GPS installed, and while it's not the same radio, it's the same chassis and there are a lot of similarities.
Short answer is: No.
Longer answer is still no, but I'm sure someone would suggest that you could hack the firmware, write your own code, reverse engineer, ouija board, etc. and maybe figure out a way to make it all go.

But, take a look. These are pretty standard GPS modules. They pull voltage off the radio and have a ground/TX data connection to a point inside the radio.
There isn't much room in there, but you could probably disconnect the TX Data lead and use it to feed an outboard TNC and route it back into the radio using the rear connector.
Unless you plan on using FleetSync, you could just salvage the GPS module and find a small TNC (TinyTrak) and go from there.