[aprssig] MFJ 1270B

[Bruce & Leigh Coates]

Hi Fred

I haven't bothered to upgrade the firmware on my MFJ's because I didn't care 
about the features other firmwares add.  My wife says it also because I'm 
too cheap (I prefer to think of myself as frugal ;-)  ).  If my (poor) 
memory is correct, one of the features the TAPR firmware adds support for 
using the TNC as a stand alone APRS tracker with just a GPS plugged it. 
This wouldn't be of any benefit for an igate.  I also seem to recall that 
additional RAM is only used for things like mailbox storage so adding more 
be of any benefit either.

One thing you definitely want to do is perform an alignment on the TNC using 
the radio you plan to use for your gateway.  The MFJ's can drift out of 
alignment over time and the transmit level is best set so it matches the 
radio you use.  I've done this on every MFJ TNC I've used any it can make a 
beg difference in its performance.  You can find information on this by 
entering "align mfj 1270b" into Google.  If you can't find it, let me know 
and I email you a copy directly.

73, Bruce

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Atkinson, WB4AEJ" <fred at wb4aej.com>
To: "TAPR APRS Mailing List" <aprssig at lists.tapr.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2005 6:23 PM
Subject: Re: [aprssig] MFJ 1270B


> Bruce,
>
>    Yes, I have already installed UIView on my PC, though I haven't yet
> mastered its use (and I say that tongue in cheek).
>
>    I popped the cover.  I see the firmware in one of three DIP sockets in 
> a
> row.  The middle one is empty.
>
>    In that case, is the TAPR firmware upgrade worth the cost or should I
> let it ride?
>
>    I would like to stick a little more memory in there, though.  Maybe I
> can find some on Ebay.  Or maybe you folks know what I need and where to
> find it at a good cost.
>
>    73,
>
>
>
> Fred, WB4AEJ
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bruce & Leigh Coates" <bruce.coates at sasktel.net>
> To: "TAPR APRS Mailing List" <aprssig at lists.tapr.org>
> Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2005 7:19 PM
> Subject: Re: [aprssig] MFJ 1270B
>
>
>> Hi Fred
>>
>> Good news although it may depend on which APRS program you're using for
> your
>> gateway.  If it's something like UI-View that can communicate with the 
>> TNC
>> in converse mode, it will work without any changes.  From what the MFJ
>> firmware supported KISS starting with version 1.2.6 so 1.2.9 should work
>> fine in KISS mode for programs that only work in KISS mode.  Running the
> TNC
>> like this doesn't require any more than 32k of ram either.
>>
>> 73, Bruce -  VE5BNC
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Fred Atkinson, WB4AEJ" <fred at wb4aej.com>
>> To: "APRS" <aprssig at lists.tapr.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2005 6:03 PM
>> Subject: [aprssig] MFJ 1270B
>>
>>
>> >    I just pulled my old TNC out.  It is an MFJ 1270B with version 1.2.9
>> > firmware.
>> >
>> >                        MFJ ENTERPRISES INC TNC-2
>> >                        AX.25 Level 2 Version 2.0 + FAX
>> >                        Release 1.2.9  12/23/92 - 32K RAM
>> >                        Checksum $17
>> >
>> >    I have three questions.
>> >
>> >                        1.    Can I run an IGATE at home with this TNC?
>> >
>> >                        2.    Will this version of firmware do (I 
>> > suspect
> I
>> > need to upgrade it)?
>> >                    If so, should I get the 1.1.9 with KISS from TAPR or
> is
>> > there another
>> >                    version?
>> >
>> >                        3.    Is 32k enough memory or should [or can] I
> add
>> > more?
>> >
>> >    The manual is in PDF format (I downloaded the 1270C manual from the
> MFJ
>> > site).  It's difficult to find things having to scroll through nearly
> 300
>> > pages.
>> >
>> >    I'll keep looking.  But if any of you can answer this, I'd 
>> > appreciate
>> > hearing from you.
>> >
>> >    73,
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Fred, WB4AEJ
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> > https://lists.tapr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aprssig
>>
>>
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