The £99 APRS Handheld You Might Have Overlooked
Meet the VERO VR-N76, a compact dual band handheld packed with GPS, APRS, Bluetooth, packet radio capability and smartphone integration.
Shop the VERO VR-N76There are plenty of affordable VHF and UHF handhelds available, but the VERO VR-N76 is a little different.
For around £99.95, you get a dual band handheld with built-in GPS, Bluetooth, APRS, an AX.25 KISS TNC, smartphone integration and support for some very interesting third party applications, including ATAK.
If you are interested in APRS, packet radio or combining amateur radio with modern mapping applications, there is a surprising amount packed into this little radio.
More Than Just a Dual Band Handheld
The VR-N76 operates on 2 m and 70 cm with up to 5 watts output, making it perfectly capable of normal simplex and repeater operation.
APRS Without an External TNC
One of the biggest attractions of the VR-N76 is its built-in APRS capability.
APRS allows radio amateurs to exchange position information, short messages and other data over radio. The VR-N76 includes both GPS and an AX.25 compatible KISS TNC, so there is no need to add a separate external TNC just to start experimenting with packet radio.
Using Bluetooth, the radio can connect to compatible software on a phone or computer for APRS mapping, messaging and other data applications.
It also supports Smart Beaconing, allowing position updates to change depending on your movement rather than simply transmitting at a fixed interval.
Use It With ATAK
One of the more unusual things you can do with the VR-N76 is use it alongside ATAK, the Android Team Awareness Kit.
ATAK is a powerful mapping and situational awareness application capable of displaying users, routes, waypoints and other information on a shared map.
With compatible third party ATAK plugins, the VR-N76 can connect over Bluetooth and become part of an ATAK based setup, opening up some fascinating possibilities for amateur radio operators interested in portable communications, group activities, events and off-grid position sharing.
ATAK integration is provided through compatible third party software and plugins rather than being a standard function built directly into the VR-N76.
Control It From Your Smartphone
The VR-N76 is designed to work closely with its companion smartphone application, giving you a much easier way to configure and interact with the radio.
Your phone can be used for channel management, mapping, location information and messaging, while Bluetooth provides the link between the phone and radio.
This is particularly useful when operating portable, where your phone can become the main interface while the VR-N76 handles the RF side of the system.
Built-In GPS
The integrated GPS receiver provides position information for APRS without requiring a separate GPS device.
That makes the VR-N76 particularly well suited to portable operation, events, walking, vehicle use and experimenting with location based amateur radio applications.
Airband Reception
The VR-N76 can also receive AM civil airband transmissions from approximately 108 to 136 MHz.
It is not intended to replace a dedicated communications receiver, but it is a useful extra feature to have when travelling or operating portable.
Who Is the VR-N76 For?
If all you need is a basic handheld for accessing your local repeater, there are simpler radios available.
The VR-N76 becomes much more interesting if you want to experiment with:
- APRS and position reporting
- Packet radio
- Bluetooth connectivity
- GPS
- Smartphone control
- ATAK
- Portable communications
- Off-grid mapping
Seven Colours Available
The VERO VR-N76 is available from ML&S in a wide choice of colours, including Olive Green, Black, Green, Yellow, Orange, Blue and Red.
A Lot of Radio for £99.95
Whether you simply want an affordable dual band handheld or you want to explore APRS, packet radio, GPS, Bluetooth and ATAK integration, the VR-N76 offers an impressive amount of capability for the money.
View the VERO VR-N76 Range