I would like to get into the digital sats and would like some ideas on TNC to consider. I looked at the MFJ web site but it appears they have discontinued many of their models. Also looking KAM but have no idea which one to pick. Appears major deltas are baud rates 1200 vs 9600.
Thanks for any ideas or things to consider.
John
John Henderson N4NAB
212 Bayside Drive
Cape Carteret, NC 28584
252-725-2744
mailto:n4nab@amsat.org n4nab@amsat.org
On Nov 12, 2007, at 5:07 PM, John Henderson wrote:
I would like to get into the digital sats and would like some ideas on TNC to consider. I looked at the MFJ web site but it appears they have discontinued many of their models. Also looking KAM but have no idea which one to pick. Appears major deltas are baud rates 1200 vs 9600.
Thanks for any ideas or things to consider.
The first question you need to ask is "Why a hardware TNC?" This will lead to some eye-opening research for you.
Is there a specific application or mode you're wanting to work that is available on any of the existing satellites on-orbit that requires a feature or mode only available in a (relatively expensive) hardware TNC that can't be done with a soundcard interface and software? (Big breath... wow that was a long sentence!)
That's probably the first "homework assignment" to start with... and there may be no "correct" answer, but you should be aware that hardware TNC's have largely been supplanted by software and sound card to rig interfaces in many instances. However, that may not be true in what you want to accomplish.
It's easier to engineer the system to do what is desired than to recommend gear that will "do everything", really. Which birds and modes are you most interested in? Other things might be pointed out, like some birds may be very difficult to access without tracking antenna systems, etc... if you share what you'd like to try.
Some forms of satellite digital communications don't require "much" at all to do, others require quite a station to pull off successfully and consistently.
Bob will point you to his web pages on APRS via satellite as one of the simplest and effective ways to do digital comms on satellite, and rightly so -- while others have interests that go far deeper into high speed and other modulation types/schemes... how far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?
;-)
-- Nate Duehr, WY0X nate@natetech.com
Despite all the good comments about software based "soundcard" solutions, a solid TNC is still a good recommendation especially with higher speeds.
Look at the "TNC7multi" that can be equipped with modems up to 104K4. You will find more information here:
http://www.tnc7multi.de/index.html
The pages are in German. However you can find the English manual in the download section.
The TNC runs of a USB or serial port. Your choice.
73, Stefan VE4NSA
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of John Henderson Sent: November-12-07 6:07 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] TNC Reccomendation
I would like to get into the digital sats and would like some ideas on TNC to consider. I looked at the MFJ web site but it appears they have discontinued many of their models. Also looking KAM but have no idea which one to pick. Appears major deltas are baud rates 1200 vs 9600.
Thanks for any ideas or things to consider.
John
John Henderson N4NAB
212 Bayside Drive
Cape Carteret, NC 28584
252-725-2744
mailto:n4nab@amsat.org n4nab@amsat.org
http://www.amsat.org/ http://www.amsat.org/
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Might be considered "fuddy-duddy", but I like the good ole KPC-3 for standard packet and APRS. Plug-n-play for the most part. I use one for APRS mobile with Delorme Streetmap (old version about 1986?). I have a slew of them on remote mountain-tops as digi-peaters.
Of course for high-speed digital modes then one will need something better. I have MixW2 and AGWPE, etc. that work well for the high-speed telemetry data. For above 9.6 one is more challenged to find a wide-band radio.
But alas I am not an expert here! :-)
73, Ed Hoping soon to report the AO-40 antenna system back in service. Cool wx and short dark days kind of keeping me inside!
At 04:45 PM 11/12/2007, Stefan Wagener wrote:
Despite all the good comments about software based "soundcard" solutions, a solid TNC is still a good recommendation especially with higher speeds.
Look at the "TNC7multi" that can be equipped with modems up to 104K4. You will find more information here:
http://www.tnc7multi.de/index.html
The pages are in German. However you can find the English manual in the download section.
The TNC runs of a USB or serial port. Your choice.
73, Stefan VE4NSA
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of John Henderson Sent: November-12-07 6:07 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] TNC Reccomendation
I would like to get into the digital sats and would like some ideas on TNC to consider. I looked at the MFJ web site but it appears they have discontinued many of their models. Also looking KAM but have no idea which one to pick. Appears major deltas are baud rates 1200 vs 9600.
Thanks for any ideas or things to consider.
John John Henderson N4NAB 212 Bayside Drive Cape Carteret, NC 28584 252-725-2744 <mailto:n4nab@amsat.org> n4nab@amsat.org <http://www.amsat.org/> http://www.amsat.org/
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
73, Ed - KL7UW ====================================== BP40IQ 50-MHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com 144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xpol-20, 185w DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa@hotmail.com ======================================
John
I have 4 different brand name TNC's I use to cover 1200, 9600 & 38k4 baud ranges. For 1200/9600 my PK96 works the best for me as the data rates are easily software changeable, no dip switches or jumpers to worry about. I have a KPC-9612+ which works well but requires 2 different data cables to work 1200 & 9600 with my IC910 rig. I found I had to make some specific internal software settings to get it to continuously work right. As with any TNC you have to have the right data cable / cables that match your TNC to rig.
73 Bruce KG4YEV
----- Original Message ----- From: "John Henderson" jah@ec.rr.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 7:07 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] TNC Reccomendation
I would like to get into the digital sats and would like some ideas on TNC to consider. I looked at the MFJ web site but it appears they have discontinued many of their models. Also looking KAM but have no idea which one to pick. Appears major deltas are baud rates 1200 vs 9600.
Thanks for any ideas or things to consider.
John John Henderson N4NAB 212 Bayside Drive Cape Carteret, NC 28584 252-725-2744 <mailto:n4nab@amsat.org> n4nab@amsat.org <http://www.amsat.org/> http://www.amsat.org/
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (5)
-
Bruce -
Edward Cole -
John Henderson -
Nate Duehr -
Stefan Wagener