Setup for APRSDroid -> HT without vox (Yauesu vx5r)?

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Hello
I’m looking for help in which gear to buy.

My use-case is to support Android (APRSDroid and WOAD) connecting to a Yaesu vx-5r, and/or a Baofeng.

The key issue is the Yaesu doesn’t have VOX, and it seems like there is no option for APRSDroid on a HT that lacks vox, aside from a real TNC? Seems like that is the conclusion reached on this thread

  1. Digirig Mobile lacks vox, so only possible if/when APRSDroid adds digital PTT.

    • Mobile was my original intent, since one day I might also want to use it with a rig that has CAT control.

  2. Digirig Lite could work IF APRSDroid sends the AFSK on both audio channels, and the right channel has enough signal to trip the Lite’s vox circuit. However, APRSDroid says it only sends the AFSK on the left channel - is that right?

  3. VOX PTT Cable - same issue as Digirig Lite regarding needing audio on the right channel to trigger the vox.

    • Could potentially modify this cable to disconnects the phone’s R channel and split the phone’s L channel to both the L and R input of the circuit board on this cable.
    • Limitation of this cable is I need either phone with built in DAC and an analog USB-C audio adapter, or a USB-C DAC audio adapter. Presumably using either of those options has less RFI mitigation compared to the Digirig Lite (?)

** WoAD** it seems it has all the options to make any of the 3 above work - it can put a vox tone on the right channel, use RTS, or use the GPIO PTT control.

So it seems like I could buy Digirig Mobile and still enable:

  • APRSDroid → Baofeng (VOX)
  • WoAD → Baofeng
  • WoAD → vx5r

Thanks in advance!
Adam

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Considering your primary use case is with the mobile device, Digirig Lite is the best option.
See decision map in second half of the article: