Introducing the Mobilinkd Bluetooth APRS® TNC: Your Affordable and Portable APRS® Solution
When it comes to getting started with APRS®, finding the right equipment can be challenging and costly. Enter the Mobilinkd Bluetooth APRS® TNC — a compact, cost-effective alternative to dedicated APRS® radios. By combining your existing radio, an Android phone, and this TNC, you can create a complete APRS® system that’s not only budget-friendly but also offers a superior user experience compared to traditional APRS® handheld transceivers (HTs).
Why Choose the Mobilinkd TNC?
- Enhanced User Interface: The Mobilinkd TNC provides a better mobile APRS® experience than any existing APRS® radio on the market. It leverages your Android device’s intuitive interface, making it easy to navigate and manage.
- Affordable: At a fraction of the cost of purpose-built APRS® equipment, the Mobilinkd TNC offers an economical solution for hams looking to build their APRS® system without breaking the bank.
- Battery Powered and Bluetooth Connected: The TNC is battery-operated and connects via Bluetooth, reducing the need for multiple cables. Just one cable connects the TNC to your radio, simplifying your setup.
- Optimized Performance: Tunable for optimum performance with your radio, the Mobilinkd TNC ensures reliable operation in various conditions.
- Hackable and Customizable: Ready to go with minimal configuration, the TNC is also fully hackable. If you’re a ham who loves to tinker, you’ll appreciate the open-source firmware and schematics available on GitHub.
Traditional APRS® radios are often expensive and come with outdated interfaces, resembling 1990s cell phones. Building a custom APRS® setup with other TNCs typically involves a cumbersome array of external GPS devices, computers, power supplies, and tangled cables. The Mobilinkd TNC simplifies this process, offering a streamlined and portable solution with just one cable connecting the TNC to your radio.
The Mobilinkd Solution
Here’s what you need: your radio, an Android phone or tablet, APRSdroid, and a Mobilinkd TNC. Starting at just $64.95, you can assemble a compact, portable APRS® system that’s easy to use anywhere.
The Mobilinkd TNC is incredibly slim at just 11mm thick, weighs less than 40 grams, and can run for over two days on a single battery charge.
The APRSdroid User Interface
The Mobilinkd TNC is the first TNC designed specifically to take full advantage of APRSdroid’s support for Bluetooth KISS TNCs. Unlike other APRS® solutions, which often require costly, purpose-built APRS radios or a cumbersome setup with multiple components, the Mobilinkd TNC offers a clean, portable solution with a single short cable and a lightweight TNC.
Even in remote areas without mobile or Wi-Fi signals, APRSdroid remains fully functional thanks to its support for downloadable Open Street Map maps. With a network connection, you gain access to online resources like Google Maps and station information from QRZ and aprs.fi.
Versatile and Portable
The Mobilinkd TNC isn’t just for handheld transceivers (HTs) — it works seamlessly with mobile and base radios too. If your radio has a TNC connector, connecting is a breeze. Additionally, the TNC is compatible with any APRS® software that supports the KISS protocol, including Xastir on Linux and APRSCE/32 on Windows with a Bluetooth dongle.
Setting up your APRS® system with the Mobilinkd TNC is simple. Connect the TNC to your radio, pair it with your smartphone or computer, configure the software, and you’ll be sending your first APRS packet within minutes.
Completely Hackable for the Enthusiasts
While the Mobilinkd TNC is ready to use out of the box, it’s also perfect for those who love to experiment and innovate. The firmware and support software are available on GitHub under open-source licenses, and the schematics are provided for those who want to dive deep into the hardware. The TNC can even be modeled with an Arduino, a common Bluetooth board, and a few discrete components.
Now with iOS Support!
The recently released Mobilinkd TNC3 features Bluetooth LE, bringing support to iOS devices. The aprs.fi app on Apple iTunes now supports the TNC3. While the iOS support is still being fine-tuned, users are welcome to join the public beta for the Mobilinkd Config App for iOS.
In summary, the Mobilinkd Bluetooth APRS® TNC offers a modern, cost-effective, and portable solution for hams looking to explore APRS®. With its easy setup, excellent performance, and hackable design, it’s the perfect tool to take your APRS® experience to the next level.