Mobilinkd TNC3 User Manual

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!

Mobilinkd TNC3 Specifications

General

Category	Modem
Type	TNC (Terminal Node Controller)
Manufacturer	Mobilinkd
Model	TNC3
Connectivity	Bluetooth
Operating Voltage	5V
Supported Protocols	APRS, Packet Radio
Connectors	USB
Power Source	USB
Power	5V
Compatibility	Android, Windows, Linux

Summary

Warning

Temperature Storage Guidelines

Specifies short-term, long-term, and operating temperature limits for the TNC to prevent damage.

Regulatory Information

United States FCC Compliance

Details FCC ID and compliance statements for operation in the USA, including interference rules.

Canada Industry Canada Compliance

Outlines Industry Canada's RSS standards and antenna gain regulations for radio transmitters.

Europe CE Marking and RoHS Compliance

Confirms compliance with EC requirements for CE marking and RoHS standards for the radio module.

Japan Radio Certification

Details requirements for integrating modules into final products in Japan, including modification restrictions.

Korea MSIP Compliance

Provides Korean compliance information and restrictions on modifying frequency or power.

Taiwan Compliance

Details Taiwan's regulatory information regarding low-power radio frequency devices.

Overview

KISS TNC Functionality

Explains the TNC3 as a KISS modem, encoding/decoding digital information without packet manipulation.

Mobilinkd TNC System Components

Describes the three physical components of the system: radio, TNC, and a compatible computer/smartphone.

TNC Switches, Connectors and Indicators

Buttons and Switches

Details the Power button (S1), Reset switch (S2), and DFU button (S3) for device operation and firmware updates.

Connectors

Identifies the Micro-USB connector for power/USB serial and the TRRS connector for radio audio/PTT.

LED Indicators

Explains the function of the RGB LED (status, connection) and Red LED (charging).

Before First Use

Initial Battery Charging

Recommends charging the TNC battery fully before first use for optimal performance and battery life.

TNC Cable Connection

Cable Signal Configuration

Details the four signals (Audio In/Out, PTT, GND) carried by the TNC cable for radio connection.

Radio Settings for Optimal Performance

Squelch and Dual Receive Settings

Advises keeping squelch open and disabling 'Dual Receive' on radios for proper packet decoding.

Connecting the TNC to Radio

Physical Connection Procedure

Instructs connecting the TNC to the radio via the 3.5mm connector with both devices powered off.

Bluetooth Pairing

Pairing with Android Devices

Provides step-by-step instructions for pairing the TNC with an Android device using Bluetooth.

Configuring the TNC

Using the Mobilinkd Config App

Guides users through connecting and configuring the TNC using the Mobilinkd Config application.

Configuring Power Settings

Automatic Power Management

Explains how to configure automatic power-on/off based on USB power presence, ideal for vehicle use.

Configuring Receive (RX/Input) Volume

Audio Input Gain and Twist Adjustment

Details adjusting radio volume, input gain, and input twist for optimal packet decoding.

Configuring Transmit (TX/Output) Volume

PTT Style and Output Volume

Explains PTT signaling methods (Simplex/Multiplex) and adjusting output volume for radio transmission.

Output Twist for Transmit Tones

Describes how 'Output Twist' controls the level of Mark and Space tones for transmission quality.

Configuring KISS Parameters

KISS Parameter Settings Explained

Details essential KISS parameters like TX Delay, Persistence, Slot Time, and TX Tail for packet transmission.

Firmware Update

Updating TNC Firmware via USB

Provides instructions for updating the TNC firmware using STM32CubeProgrammer via a USB connection.

Recommendations For Use with APRSdroid

APRSdroid Configuration Steps

Guides users through setting up APRSdroid for packet transmission, including callsign, SSID, and path.

Sending Your First APRS Packet

Details the process of sending your first position report using APRSdroid and the TNC.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Cannot Connect to TNC

Addresses issues preventing connection to the TNC, suggesting checks for other apps, WiFi, and rebooting.

Cannot Communicate with TNC

Helps diagnose problems with communication after connection, checking LEDs, protocols, and reset options.

TNC Will Not Decode Packets

Provides steps to troubleshoot packet decoding failures, checking battery, audio, and gain settings.

Decode Packets with Squelch Open

Confirms that open squelch is expected behavior for the TNC to detect incoming packets.

No RX Audio Detected

Guides on checking cable connections, audio detection, and radio squelch when no receive audio is present.

TNC Will Not Transmit

Helps resolve issues where the TNC fails to transmit, checking software, cable, and PTT settings.

Packets Not Digipeated

Provides solutions for packets not being digipeated, including checking transmission, decoding, and digipeater range.

Transmitted Packets Not Decoded

Offers solutions for transmitted packets not being decoded by the receiver, suggesting volume and delay adjustments.

Not Showing Up in APRS-IS

Addresses issues with packets not appearing on APRS-IS, recommending checks for iGate range and proximity.

TNC Resets When Transmitting

RF Interference and Resetting

Explains that RF fields can cause resets, recommending checks for antenna, cable, and positioning.

Software Customization

Firmware and ST/LINK Programming

Details firmware update via USB DFU and advanced programming using an ST/LINK connector.

Acknowledgments

Software and Trademarks

Acknowledges APRSdroid software and APRS trademark.

Copyright Information

Mobilinkd LLC Copyright

States copyright ownership for the TNC3 User Guide by Mobilinkd LLC.