Turn a Cheap Ham Radio Into An APRS & WinLink Transceiver - Mobilinkd tnc3
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- čas přidán 7. 08. 2024
- Today we review Mobilinkd TNC3. The TNC3 uses the KISS protocol to feed packet data to your phone or computer over bluetooth. Its a handy device that works with both Android and iOS. store.mobilinkd.com/products/...
Mobilinkd also sells cables needed to connect MOST handhelds to the TNC. store.mobilinkd.com/collectio...
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Clarification on my use of term "audio interface". All the Mobilinkds are modems in that they modulate and demodulate signals for transmission over another medium. They are not audio interfaces.
I was just about to comment that I really appreciate that you used the phrase "basically a glorified audio interface." I've always laughed at the double-speak that has occurred in the Ham community for things that have "plain speak" names. Now... that is not to say that the "plain speak" term came first. Usually the Amateur Radio term came first... because... well... a bunch of amateurs came up the thing before it became a commercial product. Yes... a TNC is basically just a fancy audio interface. Is it a modem? Yes... and is a modem basically just an audio interface? Yes. Just like a modem is also basically a telegraph key... sped up really fast.
Hmm... I suppose it depends what is actually making the signals for the clicks and whistles and what is conveying them between electrical and sound mediums. 🤔
With a near-total lack of technical skills, and the help of this video, I was able to successfully send and receive emails over 2m from my dining room table via a local repeater. Thanks, Josh!
Congrats!! Glad it helped!
Yet another thing I now immediately need! Being subscribed to HRCC is expensive lol
Can you do a video on mesh ham like AREDN? Turning wifi router to ham frequencies and using them to make mesh wifi? I love your explanations and would love to learn more about the power of digital like AREDN
I use my TNC 2 on a regular basis. Great video!
I just got the tnc3 do you have to purchase the extra features
for all us linux geeks yes there are winlink packages but did not check id there are arm pkgs so us pi users experiment my goal is to be able to thow a SBC and a radio in my truck and go this will help
A couple of years ago I used a (then $40) Baofeng UV-5R+ as an APRS digipeater - with a simple TNC, an ancient PC running XP (also serving as an iGate) and an outside antenna - 24/7 for about 6 months. Then I decided that there was no shortage of digipeaters in the area and that I was just adding to congestion - so took it off the air. It worked well. The 6-year-old Baofeng is still hanging in as a back-up HT.
As a side note, even if you sprung for a FT3DR, the Mobilinkd still comes in handy if you want to send packets to the radio from another device because the TNC in the FT3DR (and other Yaesu radios like the FTM-400) only outputs to an external device for monitoring, and will not accept incoming packets for transmission. Also, other packet modes like Winlink can be used with those APRS only radios.
I've had a MobiLinkd for forever, it's a great little utility device to have on hand.
Just bought the Mobilink 2.... you have given me a LOT of HELP!!! thanks
I love your channel. I grew up spending year, after year at the Dayton Hamvention. My grandfather was the General Chairman several times, and I volunteered there for years.
Anyway, as I said, I love your channel, and what you do. Please create an alternate channel on Rumble. CZcams can no longer be trusted due to their biased censorship. Thank you.
Using Rumble more and more. Good alternative in some areas. Would love to see ham vids there! CZcams is abusive to many, due to their political prejudice and intolerance of diverse views, and needs to be powered down.
The TH-F6A was the first radio I bought 19 years ago. It's still my go to HT. I need to look into this. Thanks for the video.
How is there a thumbs down on this?!? Great presenter, great attitude, great information! 👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you for the variety of "what is new or what is different" like your EMP can review.
Thank you for watching!
I love the mobilinkd 3! Easy to set up... I’m running one with an old Motorola maxtrac 300 @ about 20 watts on a 5/8 jpole. I had to build the interface to go to the 16 pin connector on the back of the maxtrac. These old public safety radios work well for things like this and they were built like tanks
I have that Kenwood TH-F6A HT. It's fantastic. I was lucky enough to snag the AA battery pack for it a few months ago. Great radio for emergencies. I'll definitely check out the Mobilinkd.
I'm a new ham in rural Michigan just getting familiar with packet radio. Bought a KPC3Plus USB port TNC and cables to connect to Yaseu FT-60 HT and FT-2980 base station. Works well w/ both units BUT portability is problematic. I may buy the Mobillinkds to go mobile w/ the HT. Seems like an effective, simple solution. Great video, thanks
Thanks for this. This is one area I specifically wanted to learn about! :)
Thank you for the videos, Josh. For APRS, I have been lucky with an "8w" Baofeng, a BTECH APRS-K1 cable and an old android phone running APRSdroid, it's been relatively simple to setup and very reliable.. Your video on the subject helped by the way. As a matter of fact, this has been a much better setup for me than my FT-3DR. This has been true both with stock and improved antennas on both HTs. Go figure.
Even better, somebody passed a Kenwood TH-D7A on to me. It has a built-in TNC. It can do APRS, but it needs an external GPS receiver. The radio usually stays home, so I can play with packet data with it.
Mine has a GPS receiver built in but maybe it’s newer version?
I used my Moibillinkd TNC3 connected to my Yaesu FT-2500M and a Raspberry Pi running Xastir for quite a while before upgrading. Worked awesome! Battery would last about 2 days before having to charge it. I've used it connected to my Yaesu 530 HT also. Great little device!
I got one, it works better than the mentioned USB sound card. Thanks for the video, Josh.
I was able to get APRSDroid on an old Android cell phone and a Baofeng though my daily Android as a hotspot thanks to your previous video on APRS. It works very well when I am driving and my family can keep track of my location giving them piece of mind when I am away from home.
Yesssss. Thank you for making this vid. Was looking for a good cheap device like this, to work with my baofeng.
Thanks for making this video. Its concise and informative. I like your other videos but hard to find the time to see them through. Thanks again.
I post a “short” video once a week. 👍
I just purchased the Mobilinkd TNC4. I am going to investigate using this with an iPad instead of a small laptop. Thanks again for the excellent content.
I have the Mobilinkd TNC 2 and I think it is excellent. As I recall it was only about $70 when I got it, and combining it with my TH-F6A and my Android tablet I have a fully capable digital station for VHF/UHF. Great piece of gear and highly recommended.
Great video! Getting back into the hobby after years away & letting my license lapse. AX.25 & packet TCP fascinate me so it’s really nice to hear there’s an inexpensive & convenient way to get started!
Same here and I've got the latest version on order.
Came back to refamiliarize because I found a TNC2 on QRZ for $50. Comes with a Kenwood cable which I think will work with my 'feng. If not I'll be ordering a cable for my FT-65 anyway. Thanks for the breakdown.
The Mobilinkd is what got me into APRS. Even though I am an iPhone user, I opted for the Mobilinkd version 2.2 as it's half the price. I simply picked up an inexpensive Android phone to use as my "radio" phone in the field. I primarily use this setup to spot myself for SOTA activations using APRS2SOTA. My only complaint is the button. It gets bumped too easily in the field and turns itself on and off. I wish they would update the device with a mechanical slider switch.
Hoping to get into ham soon.. I should be getting a handheld for Christmas.. Thanks for doing these videos.. Just subbed.. Take care, hope you have a great holiday season !
Thanks for watching. I hope they helped!
I just got the TNC3 and got a GT-5R to use. I have not set it up yet but will do that soon. Out local ARES uses Winlink and we have weekly Winlink check ins. This is open to anyone that wants to check-in. We will people from many other states check-in each week. In Southeastern Florida, we put people at the shelters and the local EOC-911, center is maned and that is where the internet connection is also. So when we have a storm the EOC can get our Winlink and should be able to get emails out. If anyone will have internet the EOC should. Thank You for the information!
Bill-N6EF-I used to use a TinyTrak4 for APRS with a spare mobile 2 meter rig or my old Kenwood TR-2400 HT. I don't know if the TinyTrak4 is still around or not. It required an external GPS which I had in my car at the time. I don't do APRS anymore but that's how I did it a few years ago.
@12:55 our whole hobby is "a different kinda cool" Love it.
The mobilinkd tnc is a great tool to have!
I had the first version and tried to run winlink...no love. Great to see that they have worked the bugs out and made a more full featured TNC. Next they need to add BBS.
Oh man. That would be sweet.
Very cool. Thanks for this !
Awesome vid!!! More vids in this style sharing cool fun things to do please 😁 I loved this.
Thank you for watching.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Subscribed 🙂 PS the most exciting moment for me was when you reached Japan!! In your vlog. Would love seeing how you play radio achieving something like that too. Very cool.
Thanks for the great video Josh. Like you I have the similar (UK version), the Kenwood THF7E and I love it for its wide-band receive capabilities to 23cm. I'm actually using a Baofeng UV9R+ for my new APRS node with an old Signallink USB. Winlink is the next project. I'm just working out if I should establish a permanent APRS node or a WInlink node and which will be the most useful hers in SE London.
I use the Byonics TinyTrak 4 with an old Icom T7H. What I don't like about this set up is all of the wires. The trade off with the Mobilinkd TNC is recharging the batteries in all of the devices.
I used to use the Baofeng cable straight into my old Nexus phone with APRSdroid. It worked pretty well but my new iPhone doesn't have an input, this solves that problem and I might look into picking one up.
I also can't help but chuckle every time I see .435 on your Baofeng.
I really like the mobilnkd. I have several for go kits. Really easy to send text using APRSdroid. No ground loop issues and less "spaghetti" using bluetooth. In addition to Winlink, also use it with Andflmsg on Android. For example, can have radio in pack and cell phone (in airplane mode for battery savings) in chest pocket so easy to text other aprs users and home using smsgte when hiking, or to a go kit with radio in nearby room and laptop/tablet at a table to tx/rx messages for special events and ARES. I have had problems with some radios that can't switch fast enough between tx/rx. The Kenwood THF6A is the perfect radio, but as you said, hard to find.
Good points!
Looks cool! Thanks for sharing! 73
Josh, the Kenwood can be configured for Transmit without VOX by changing the PTT Style from Simplex to Multiplex in the Mobilinkd Config utility.
Thanks for the tip. I believe my issue is the cable I am using. I have a Mobilinkd cable on order.
Love your channel. Is like going to tech school.
Thanks Mario!!
I have Mobilinkd 2. I like this TNC.
Me too!
I have several of the builders version "Nucleo TNC" which is essentially a version minus the battery and bluethooth.
I use it with a Pi zero running PAT for winlink and YAAC for APRS in my mobiles. I interface with it via Tablet VNC. I use this TNC to take the encode/decode off the pi otherwise the pi would have to process that via direwolf.
As an added bonus the tnc kit costs $30 and I just make my own.
For man mobile I would opt for the TNC3 due to portability.
I watch and love your channel! I'll tickle the algorithm for you.
Thank you for that!!!
Ordered one today
Just got my TNC3 yesterday. I didn't have a charger near so I plugged it in to my laptop to charge it. Soon after I plugged it in windows loaded a driver for it. I hope it is the right driver..I have had where the wrong driver loaded. I have an old laptop without Bluetooth so it is good that the TNC3 will work with USB port. I have a Raspberry Pi 4 that I will use with KM4ACK 's build A Pi. It will Bluetooth to the TNC3 when I get that setup. Thank You for the information.
Another comment here, if you want to save money and are NOT an iPhone user, go with the Mobilinkd version 2 model with an Android device. That's what I did personally to save quite a few bucks.
It's the KISS the keep it simple system ;) I learned that in the army a guy kept calling it that to be nice and not call people stupid. It's a kiss tnc a keep it simple system tnc 😊
good video Josh, I am thinking about an ID-52. Pricey but I love my ID 4100.
Josh, Byonics is probably the oldest and most experienced of "plug in" APRS add-ons for radios, as well as all-in-one inexpensive APRS transmitters. Cheaper and simpler, no man in the middle cell phone needed. You really should do a follow up on their line.
But bionic has to have 12v
@@toddbaker8159 Nope. The TinyTrak4 conttoller is spec'd for 6-15vdc. Other pieces of equipment will vary, but this is all you need to send gps data into a transceiver.
Informative video.
Sweet! Bout time some higher tech is creeping into the hobby. Can't wait to see what the next round of HTs and mobile rigs will bring. OLED? more sensible menu navigation?
I was looking at my flat, A4 paper sized TV antenna and wondered: what happens if I used it as an antenna like your lawn chair dipole? What happens if you put 5, 10, ..., 50, 100, or 200W through it? I set to searching and it seems nobody has videos of what happens if an antenna is overloaded. All we hear is, "don't do it!" Ok, but what happens? Is it like putting a mylar snack bag in the microwave?
Good Job OM, very nice explanation on how to interface the HT and Mobilinkd TNC! 73 de NF4J
Thanks Danny!
I used baofeng and the cable for with my phone when I 1st got started in aprs
That's what I've been doing as I'm working on a shoestring budget, but dang, I like the idea of WinLink so I could send better email than the emails I can send on APRS
@@natep121 I have a cord that goes from the baofeng 2 pin into a 3.5mm aux cord end.
I plug that directly into my phone, and the 2 pin end into my baofeng. I run APRSDROID ($5.99) This cheap set up works well for APRS here, then again here there are a lot of digipesters and igates. It's a btech branded cord, roughly $25.
So all together around $70 for radio, cord, and app. Plus phone, but I already had the phone and radio
@@williambetzelberger6128 very cool! What distances are you able to cover with that setup?
@@rhameenkolyani3202 For normal APRS use usually 100 miles (we have a good amount of infrastructure here) for text messages from Michigan to Georgia
Thanks for the great videos. After watching I’m interested in using APRS for WinLink etc. and was wondering if you would recommend the TNC3 with any of my existing HTs or spend the extra and get the AnyTone D878UV so I can explore DMR as well. Not sure if it’s as easy to use BT and I’m not sure if I would be regretting not getting it later... thanks again for they great content. Your videos get my wife watching HRCC with me so it’s great to get her to enjoy the hobby with me. 73’s
Another computer app I like using is called Pinpoint APRS
A great Wireless option would be to use the IC-705 Bluetooth to connect to the modem and use the WiFi (from the 705) to connect to a laptop or tablet. That would be cool!!!
As I looked over your vast collection of gear in the background, I wondered how many Amazon boxes it took to get there. XD
Good useful info
Glad it was helpful!
What a cool idea!
🤜🏻👍🤛🏻♡♡♡
The cable photo that flashed on the screen looked like the BTech cable that connects Baofeng or Kenwood radio to smartphone. Using that cable, you don't need a TNC, but have to use VOX on the radio, which has limitations. Also, I experienced RFI into my iphone so bad that the touch screen quit working. The Mobilinkd TNC gives you true PTT, as noted in the video.
So I was watching your videos on APRS and Winlink and bought a TNC 4. Yet another of your videos that cost me a fortune. 😂 love your work. 73 VK2ZRK
Just subscribed. Starting a prepper wing of the LP, MAT 2024. More parties, more democracy.
Do I see some empty craft beer bottles to your left behind you? Good video; I have some 35 year old TNC's that have the audio/mic plugs that will connect nicely to some 35 year old hand helds; I will give APRS a try with the ISS. Thanks.
Hi Josh, thanks for the great video. I want to bond all my equipment and watched your video on doing this, but the size wire that you said is very large. I can't find any terminals that are not the size of a house. So is it right that you said stranded 6. I can't even find any small rolls of the stuff. Will have to buy it by the foot. So can you plz let me know. Also I was wondering if I can use stranded 8? It will fit it the grounding bus and can find terminals for that size.
A little late to the party. I would pay money to have you reshoot that intro while wearing a camo trucker cap and saying, “Do you have one of those Baofeng radios sitting around....”. Just saying. I’m out of the loop on a lot of stuff and didn’t know this was a thing. Very cool. Thanks.
I have two TNC3s, bought with the intent of making a pair of APRS-capable radios for family comms. For me neither unit will stay connected via Bluetooth, and sometimes never connect at all. This is even after resetting and updating the firmware. I’d love to be able to make it work, it would be a great solution for a number of use cases.
Wow. I haven’t had any issue with mine. Arguably, it’s only a month old, but still.
I really wish it was possible as an additional feature to also program this as a fox transmitter like the byonics PiCon. This would be a great small package to setup a fox hunt. - KD5QZG
Leave a raspberry pi with it. 👍
👍👍from sweden 👍👍
Your lighting is on point.
It’s taken me a while to dial it in, but I’m getting happy with it now.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse I believe you said you're using a Sony 6400 or 6600, but you're doing great with it. Which reminds me, I need to go leave a review...
Josh, great video. In the past I didn't subscribe because your vids were unbearably long. I actually avoided your vids because of that. Shorter, more informative vids like this one make me want to reach my cursor up there to the subscribe button... 😁. Thanks for this vid; I think I'll invest in the Mobilinkd device.
I put up at least one short video a week. 👍
Mr. Rodgers is back!!!
Thanks for coming back to the neighborhood!
Can you share your settings for your Kenwood? I have the same HT.
Great video! The Mobilinkd is great for enabling high end features on radios that otherwise lack these features. I have two of the version 2 models. What laptop is that, Josh? 73 de KT1RUN.
GPD Pocket 2... I should have waited until the end of the video. Cheers!
Good video 👍
Chud M1PUP QTH London
Hi Josh, this was another interesting info-laced video. This tiny device justifies its price following your clarification that it is a modem and not just a enhanced Bluetooth sound card. Just wanted to know if the Winlink and RMS is a paid or free software. Thank you again for the hardwork which you have been putting in creating such videos.
Greetings from Bangalore, India
73's
VU3TQT
Winlink express is free. But you can donate. I have donated as I support it’s development.
I had one for 8 months and I was blind going into it. 8 months latter some went wrong . so I bit the bullet and bought a new one and then I contacted mobilinkd to see what went wrong we both did not know .Then he said to reset the device and it started to work again. So now I own two of them . Would I do it all over again? .. Yes . The mobilinkd person is willing to help. This video describes it pretty well what it does. The TNC2 does 1200 baud With android and the TNC3 does android and Apple devices and it does 1200 and 9600 baud.
Many thanks for demonstrating that my marvelous Kenwood TH-F6A still has some state-of-the-art life left in it. Are there any other uses for this device, particularly given that the TH-F6A has a wide band receiver. Are there apps that could use it to display HF weatherfax images, for instance. Is it a general purpose transceiver-to-laptop/smartphone device or is it just restricted to a APRS and WinLink?
I might get one I wish they could get the price down some
Yes I have 2 of them. Will that work with the aprs pro se app?
That little laptop is cool. Which model and brand is it?
You have to wonder with the "sound card" build into the IC-9700 and IC-7300 will it be very long before a $12 sound card will be added to a handy talky? I have the mobilink 1(?). It's slick and works well for APRS, problem is there isn't any APRS digipeaters near by. Worked fine with my el-cheapo baofeng, and Yaesu during testing.
Is there any packet radio or winlink stations?
@@HamRadioCrashCourse It's been so long since I messed with it, might be time to check again. This is Jeep Talk Show btw.
Does the TNC3 allow you transmit on a radio with
No gps built in. Like a uv5R? I know you can receive even without the tnc3 and just the cable to iPhone/ipad
Would this be useful with a pi setup?
Neat idea, but adding up cost of separate items and extra bulk of mobile device.. I'd just save up and get aprs ht
Only the Kenwood hts will pass the tnc data off the the radio though.
how does the TNC3 compare to the HG-UV98 for use as a Bluetooth TNC? I ordered an HG-UV98 for less than the cost of the TNC3, but it's still on its way from China.
What about aprs is32. I would love to see you connect that to beofeng
#MNHR
Cool concept.
Dude, what antenna is that to your right?
How about a yaesu vx6? I’m a noob. KI5MGC. In San Antonio.
Ok got my Mobilink setting it up using my baofeng what number vox setting should I set it at is 10 good
I didn't get the make of the laptop you are using?
I own a similar Kenwood T-F7, and I would like to ask you: Is it possible, through technical modification or technical programming, to be able to transmit on the HF frequency?!
Do you need a TNC for the anytone 878?
Updating this for the TNC4 and newer versions of Winlink:
Pair the TNC4 with Windows:
. Make sure your computer's Bluetooth is turned on
. Turn on the TNC4
. Go to Windows Bluetooth settings and click "Add Bluetooth or Other Device"
. Select Bluetooth - Mice, keyboards, pens..."
. Choose the TNC4 in the list.
Setup Winlink:
. In the main Winlink window, select the "Packet Winlink" from the pull down list, then click "Open Session".
. In the Winlink session that opens, click Settings.
. Choose the following:
. Packet TNC Type: TNC-X
. Serial Port: The lower numbered "Standard Serial over Bluetooth link" port of the two COM ports shown in Device Manager (in Ports (COM & LPT))
. Serial Port Baud: 9600
. Under TNC Parameters, make sure 1200 Baud is selected and leave everything else as is.
. Everything else is left at its default value.
. Click the Update button.
The window will close and reopen. Enter the Winlink station you want to connect to, and click Start.
I love my Mobilinkd TNC3. I've used it with my Baofeng, and sending messages from the Android app rather than a radio's front panel is way easier. I also acquired a DIN cable that interfaces the TNC3 with my Yaesu 7800R mobile. Running a good mobile radio in the car and being able to leave it where it has a better signal path to the packet node, I'm able to sit with my laptop at a window inside and send messages over RF. This is very helpful, say if my emcom team is assisting a Red Cross shelter and we can't get an antenna on the roof of the building. I have heard that KISS can also mean "Keep It Simple and Sustainable", a nicer and more concise way of saying it. ;)
If you're ever in Maine, check out the Maine Packet Network of BPQ nodes with BBS, CHAT and RMS (Winlink). AGWPE (Packet Engine) ties nicely to the TNC3 for BPQ BBS and CHAT, but make sure it's shut down before firing up Winlink or vice versa because they'll fight over COM ports.
73 de KC1JMH
Hi awesome vid! What model of computer is the one you used? Thanks!
GPD Pocket 2. Link in the video description to my Amazon Store for more information.