This $15 Pi Zero Just Bridged Meshtastic to APRS! Full Setup + Demo

In this step-by-step tutorial, we explore APRStastic — an open-source project that bridges the world of Meshtastic and APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) using a lightweight setup based on the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W and a Heltec V3 Meshtastic Node.
Whether you're a ham radio enthusiast, off-grid communicator, or just curious about APRS-Meshtastic integration, this guide shows you exactly how to get APRStastic up and running. We cover everything from initial setup and configuration to a live demo of APRS packets being sent and received via Meshtastic.
📦 What You’ll Learn:
• What is APRStastic and how it works
• How to install APRStastic on a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W
• Connecting APRStastic with your Heltec V3 Meshtastic node via USB
• Real-time APRS data transmission and demo
🔧 Tools & Tech Used:
• Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W (headless setup)
• Heltec V3 Meshtastic Node (LoRa communication)
• APRStastic (by @afourney on GitHub)
• Meshtastic firmware
• APRS-IS gateway integration
📡 APRStastic is ideal for portable APRS gateways, tactical communication setups, and integrating LoRa mesh networks with global APRS tracking.
📎 Links & Resources:
🔗 GitHub APRStastic: https://github.com/afourney/aprstastic
🔗 Meshtastic Project: https://meshtastic.org
🔗My Build Notes - http://simp.ly/publish/hVfbsh

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🔹Did you just get a raspberry pi and want to hook it up to your radio? Start here    • Where to start? Raspberry pi for ham radio  

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