EYBridge APRS / MQTT Manager: 5 August 2026

The EYBridge project allows you to visualise your EYTraker units in a web-based environment and allows you to expose numerous tracking data endpoints to your MQTT broker that will allow integration into Home Assistant or other applications. Tracking data is obtained from a APRS java server.

It runs on any ESP32 Dev Module with the full .bin install file provided in the download section. A new innovative remote management configuration environment is also included for V11 EYTrakers running firmware 11.16 and higher.

The bridge also has innovative abbreviation cards for a quick tracker summary where the more detail can be hidden, if required.

The EYBridge has comprehensive configuration options that include:

· Home Wi-Fi setup with DHCP/Fixed IP options

· APRS Java server setup

· MQTT broker connection that exposes 17 selectable endpoints for each tracker

· Secure configuration login and password (Default is aprs/aprs)

· Tracker remote management configuration for EYTrakers running firmware v11.16 or higher

· Dashboard colour configuration, card alphabetical sorting, persistent card settings, odometer calibration and NTP time server UTC offset

· Option to display up to 30 EYTraker data cards with odometer setting and MQTT enable option per callsign. There is also an optional numberplate display option.

· Over the air firmware upgrade with the latest firmware upgrade loaded on the download page.

· Configuration export and import in json format for easy offline storage or editing.

· Remote System reboot

The new remote management function, that works on the new ESP32S3 V11 trackers, allow you to change many of the tracker settings remotely routed over a separate LTE socket in the firmware. The GSM data and tracker online time plus all the tracker settings are exposed for real time updating or Wi-Fi radio management, if required.

This best way to experience the EYBridge is to load your own version of the system on a ESP32 Dev Board.

There are 2 options available to flash the ESP32 module:

Option 1: Custom EYTraker Flashing tool:

· The .bin full firmware can be downloaded and flashed with the EYTraker Flashing utility also located in the download section. Both the executable file and the Python source code is available. The executable will be flagged by MS SmartScreen but click on More info and run anyway. The other option is to run the Python code on Visual Studio Code with the correct libraries installed.

· Connect the ESP32 Dev board to the PC with the cable plugged into the USB port. If the CP2102 drivers are not loaded on your PC, you will have installed then. Without the drivers the COM port will not show up and the port will be flagged as unknown in the Device Manager of you Windows machine.

· Refresh the Flash tool Com port and select the ESP32 Com port.

· Browse and load the EYBridge Full.bin file that has been downloaded previously and the flash utility will auto select the ESP32 in the target window, make sure this is the case. Leave the Baud rate at 460800.

· Click on the FLASH FIRMWARE button on the flash utility and confirm the installed progress in the status window.

· When done, reboot the ESP32 by pressing the reset button and look for the APRS-Bridge-Config Wi-Fi Access point (password: aprsbridge) on your phones or laptop Wi-Fi section and connect to IP address 192.168.4.1 via your mobile phone or laptop.

· Scroll down to Bridge Config, click (username aprs and password:aprs) and populate the Home Wi-Fi SSID and password. Leave the unit on DHCP for now. Scroll down to Save Configuration & Restart and let the unit reboot.

· The home W-Fi IP address will be on your home router configuration screen with an IP address issued by your router DHCP. Open the EYBridge on the new IP address issues by your home router and enjoy!

· Once you have the unit up and running it is advisable to load the latest firmware via the Elegant OTA function on the config page. This .bin fil is also available in the download section. Sometimes the initial firmware and the new firmware are not the same revision.

Option 2: Espressif Online tool (Unreliable method):

· The .bin full firmware can be downloaded and flashed with the Espressif online utility.

· Connect the ESP32 Dev board to the PC with the cable plugged into the USB port.

· When the online flash tool website has loaded, select the 115200 baud rate and click on Connect and look for the ESP32 com port that will become available in the dialog window, select it and click connect.

· The online flash tool sometimes respond with defice not found due to noise on the cable. When the ESP32 is not recognised by the online tool, rather use the EYTraker flash utility.

· The Flash address is 0x0000 and select the v3.65 ESP32 Bridge FULL.bin file that you have downloaded and click program. The firmware will be flashed onto the dev board.

· When done, reboot by pressing the reset button and look for the APRS-Bridge-Config Wi-Fi Access point (password: aprsbridge) and connect to IP address 192.168.4.1 via your mobile phone.

· Scroll down to Bridge Config and populate the Home Wi-Fi SSID and password. Leave the unit on DHCP for now. Scroll down to Save Configuration & Restart and let the unit reboot. The home W-Fi IP address will be on your home router configuration screen.

· Open the EYBridge on the new IP address issues by your home router and enjoy!

· Once you have the unit up and running it is advisable to load the latest firmware via the Elegent OTA function on the config page. This .bin fil is also available in the download section. Sometimes the initial firmware and the new firmware are not the same revision.

As a minimum you will have to configure the APRS-IS setup with the APRS server address (use 41.0.5.122 for the aprs-za server), port 14580 can be used, bridge callsign, typically your callsign with SSID of 3. The APRS code is automatically generated. Scroll down to Save Configuration & Restart and let the unit reboot. You can go to www.aprs-za.com:14501 to see if you bridge is connected.

You will have to add callsigns to the Dashboard/APRS Filter callsign section for the bridge to display tracking data. Again, scroll down to Save Configuration & Restart and let the unit reboot.

Clicking on the callsigns in the full cards will take you to aprs.fi and the raw tracking details for that callsign. You might have to login to aprs.fi for this function (registration might be required)

Let me know how the bridge works and if you need more functionality, also let me know. Email is on the EYTraker landing page.