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TNC3 User Guide
Mobilinkd TNC3 User Guide
Rev B - 2019-06-10
Thank you for purchasing your new Mobilinkd TNC3 Battery-powered Bluetooth TNC.
This TNC is designed to suit all aspects of the Amateur Radio community. It is ready to plug in and go
with easy to use and intuitive configuration software, and it is completely open for experimentation.
The schematics are published and all software used in the TNC is open source and available online.
Warning
Do not store your TNC where prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures can occur (such
as in the trunk or cabin of a car). It can cause permanent damage.
•Short term storage: -4° – 140°F (-20°C – 60°C)
•Long Term Storage: 32° – 77°F (0°C – 25°C)
•Operating Temperature: -4°F – 131°F (-20°C – 55°C)
Regulatory Information
This is the stuff I am legally obligated to put in this document If I am obligated to put it in here, you
are obligated to read it. Enjoy!
United States of America
Contains FCC ID:A8TBM78ABCDEFGH
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate
radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
• Or, you know – you're a licensed amateur radio operator. Figure it out!
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Table of Contents
Related Manuals for Mobilinkd TNC3
Summary of Contents for Mobilinkd TNC3
- Page 1 Mobilinkd TNC3 User Guide Rev B - 2019-06-10 Thank you for purchasing your new Mobilinkd TNC3 Battery-powered Bluetooth TNC. This TNC is designed to suit all aspects of the Amateur Radio community. It is ready to plug in and go with easy to use and intuitive configuration software, and it is completely open for experimentation.
- Page 2 You’re an ham radio operator. Go wild. Europe The Microchip BM78 radio module inside the TNC3 has been fully tested to comply with EC requirements for CE marking. These tests include Health, Safety, EMC and Radio. Further testing of the final product (the TNC3) was conducted to ensure compliance of the integrated product.
- Page 3 TNC3 User Guide Korea I think Korea requires that I provide a user manual in Korean. I don’t (yet) speak, read or write the language. Sorry. Give Google Translate a try: Taiwan 注意 依據 低功率電波輻射性電機管理辦法 第十二條 經型式認證合格之低功率射頻電機，非經許 可， 公司、商號或使用者均不得擅自變更頻率、加大功率或 變更原設計...
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Page 4: The Mobilinkd Tnc System
USB CDC (serial port emulation). KISS TNC The TNC3 is a KISS TNC, which means that it is purely a modem and not really a terminal node controller. A more accurate description of the TNC3 and all KISS devices is a KISS modem. The TNC3 does not manipulate the packets it receives in any manner. -
Page 5: Tnc Switches, Connectors And Indicators
TNC3 User Guide TNC Switches, Connectors and Indicators The Mobilinkd TNC3 has three switchs, two connectors and two indicators. Each of these is shown in the image and described below. RGB LED Red LED Power button DFU Button Reset Button... -
Page 6: Before First Use
The battery will typically last for 48 hours of continuous use. TNC Cable The TNC must be connected to the radio via a cable. Mobilinkd sells cables for a wide range of hand- held radios, as well as data cables for mobile and base radios with TNC ports. -
Page 7: Connecting The Tnc
1. Press S1 briefly to turn on TNC. The blue LED will flash slowly. 2. Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on other device. 3. On other device, scan for Bluetooth devices. You should see “TNC3 Mobilinkd”. 4. Connect to “TNC3 Mobilinkd”. The pairing should happen automatically. -
Page 8: Configuring The Tnc
The image on the right shows the main menu for the Mobilinkd Config app. This menu is the starting point to launch the various screens shown in the documentation below. When you are done with a... -
Page 9: Configuring The Power Settings
• USB Power” option. The TNC3 will still power on via the Power button when USB power is not present and “Power off with USB Power” is enabled. Please be aware: It is a frequent source of confusion for users when they have removed a TNC normally used in a vehicle and have forgotten that these setting are enabled. -
Page 10: Configuring Receive (Rx/Input) Volume
TNC3 User Guide Configuring Receive (RX/Input) Volume The radio's volume level must be properly adjusted for optimal packet decoding. Press the “Audio Input Settings” button. 1. Turn the radio on. If the squelch is set to be open (as you did when following the instructions above), you should see the input volume level on the audio meter. - Page 11 TNC3 User Guide Transmit (TX/Output) Volume Configuring the transmit volume requires a second radio and, without expensive monitoring equipment, will be a bit subjective. The default volume level (64) is a reasonable starting point. It may not be necessary to adjust the volume level at all. I recommend lowering the level.
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Page 12: Configuring The Kiss Parameters
TNC3 User Guide Configuring the KISS Parameters These parameters are best left at their default values: TX Delay – 33 Persistence – 64 Slot Time – 10 TX Tail – 2 TX Delay represents the amount of time in 10s of milliseconds that the TNC will key the radio and transmit the preamble before sending the packet. -
Page 13: Firmware Update
Before starting, turn the radio off to avoid accidentally transmitting bad APRS data. 1. Ensure the TNC is on and paired with the Android device. Make sure the Mobilinkd Config app is disconnected and that you have exited the app. Leaving the Mobilinkd Config app connected will prevent APRSdroid from connecting to the TNC. -
Page 14: Sending Your First Packet
1. Under “Connection Protocol”, select “TNC (KISS)”. 2. Under “Connection Type”, select “Bluetooth SPP”. 3. Under “TNC Bluetooth Device”, select “TNC3 Mobilinkd” 4. Return to the main screen. 5. There are three views: Hub, Map, and Log. Ensure you are in Log view. -
Page 15: Troubleshooting
“Stop Tracking” before attempting to use the Mobilinkd Config app. Conversely, when using the Mobilinkd Config app, make sure you “Disconnect” before you attempt to use APRSdroid. (BLE connections do not have the same limitations, but this has other consequences.) -
Page 16: Packets Not Digipeated
Verify that the radio’s squelch is open. • TNC Will Not Transmit Verify that it is not an improper APRS software configuration by using the Mobilinkd • Configuration App to send tones. (See Configuring Transmit Volume above.) Ensure that the cable is firmly plugged into the radio and into the TNC. -
Page 17: Tnc Resets When Transmitting
The code running on the TNC is available on GitHub. See http://www.mobilinkd.com/ and follow the links to GitHub. The firmware for the TNC3 is in the tnc3-firmware repository. This firmware is released under the GPL. Hacking (AKA “voiding your warranty”) is highly encouraged.
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