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!

The post Convert Your 433 MHz Heltec Wireless Tracker into a 433 MHz LoRa APRS Tracker appeared on Hamradio.my - Amateur Radio, Tech Insights and Product Reviews by 9M2PJU.