Convert Your 433 MHz Heltec Wireless Tracker into a 433 MHz LoRa APRS Tracker

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to convert a 433 MHz Heltec Wireless Tracker into a 433 MHz LoRa APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) tracker. All you need is a Heltec Wireless Tracker, a Windows computer, Visual Studio Code, and a few additional tools. Let’s get started!

🛠 Prerequisites

• Heltec Wireless Tracker: Comes with a plastic case and an antenna.
• Computer: A Windows machine is needed.
• USB Type-C Cable: To connect the Heltec Wireless Tracker to your computer.

💻 Step 1: Set Up Your Computer

1. Download and Install Visual Studio Code:
   Visit the Visual Studio Code website, download the installer for Windows, and follow the instructions to install it.
2. Install PlatformIO Extension for Visual Studio Code:
   Open Visual Studio Code, click on the square icon in the sidebar (or press Ctrl+Shift+X), search for “PlatformIO IDE,” and install the extension.

🔧 Step 2: Install the Heltec Wireless Tracker Driver

• Head over to the Heltec website and navigate to the Support section under “Resources Download.”
• Download the CP210x Universal Driver for your Heltec Wireless Tracker.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver on your computer.

📦 Step 3: Download and Prepare the LoRa APRS Tracker Code

• Go to the LoRa APRS Tracker GitHub repository and download the code as a ZIP file.
• Extract the contents of the ZIP file to a folder on your computer.
• Open Visual Studio Code, navigate to File > Open Folder…, and select the folder where you extracted the LoRa APRS Tracker code.

📝 Step 4: Configure the Tracker

• In Visual Studio Code, open the data folder within the LoRa APRS Tracker project.
• Find and open the tracker_config.json file.
• Edit the file to include your specific details, such as callsign, SSID, and other necessary parameters.

⚙️ Step 5: Update the PlatformIO Environment

• Open the platformio.ini file located in the root directory of the LoRa APRS Tracker project.
• Make sure it contains the following line to set the correct environment for the Heltec Wireless Tracker:

  [platformio]
  default_envs = heltec_wireless_tracker

🛠️ Step 6: Build and Upload the Firmware

1. Build the Firmware:
   Press Ctrl+Alt+B in Visual Studio Code to compile the firmware for your Heltec Wireless Tracker.
2. Connect the Heltec Wireless Tracker:
   Use a USB Type-C cable to connect your Heltec Wireless Tracker to the computer. While connecting, hold down the USER button on the device to enter upload mode.
3. Upload the Firmware:
   Press Ctrl+Alt+U in Visual Studio Code to upload the firmware to your device.

📂 Step 7: Upload the Filesystem Image

• Once the firmware upload is successful, click on the PlatformIO icon in the Visual Studio Code sidebar.
• In the PlatformIO tab, locate “Heltec Wireless Tracker.”
• Click on Platform -> Upload Filesystem Image to upload the required files to the device.

🎉 Step 8: Complete the Setup

Congratulations! 🎊 Your 433 MHz Heltec Wireless Tracker is now a fully functioning 433 MHz LoRa APRS tracker. You’re all set to start using it!

Enjoy your new LoRa APRS tracker and happy tracking! 📡