Tutorial-TNC to Radio Circuit

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Contents 1 Introduction 2 Devices 3 Circuit 4 Documents

[edit] Introduction

In order to reliably data transmitted wirelessly over long distances, the following setup can be used with an off the shelf handheld radio and a terminal node controller (TNC).

[edit] Devices

The radio takes the audio from the TNC and broadcasts the audio over the air. In order to use amateur frequencies, be sure to have a handheld radio that works either in the VHF or UHF bands, specifically in the 144MHz (2m) band and the 433MHz (70cm) band.

Several companies make handheld radios. Here is a list of a few radios:

• IC-T2H - 2 Meter Transceiver by Icom America
• IC-T90 - 6 Meter/2 Meter/70 CM tri-band HT by Icom America
• IC-P7A VHF/UHF Dual Band FM Transceiver by Icom America
• TH-D7AG by Kenwood USA
• TH-F6A by Kenwood USA

A TNC however used to packet the data and convert to audio. The audio is then transmitted using the radio. Here is a list of some TNCs

• PicoPacket by Paccomm
• HandiPacket by Paccomm

[edit] Circuit

The TNC contains a serial data connection on one end and an audio connection on the other end. The following interface circuit is needed.

[edit] Documents

See US HF Band Chart (PDF).

See US UHF VHF Band Chart (PDF).

See US Grid Square Map (PDF).