[aprssig] Future Plans for New Radios with APRS support (Like the TM-D700A/TH-7)?

[Stephen H. Smith]

Curt, WE7U wrote on 1/21/2005, 11:30 AM:

 > Alinco has a 2-meter mobile rig with an optional TNC board.  The TNC
 > is very similar what's in the Kenwoods though.

The TNC chip is IDENTICAL to the one in the Kenwoods but without the 
extensive APRS terminal firmware and front panel display capabilities. 
You CAN connect an NMEA GPS receiver directly to the Alinco, but without 
an exernal computer, it's only a dumb tracker.  No RX and no messaging 
capabilities.

 > I think there's another Kenwood with a TNC built-in.  2000?

The TS2000 which is a "DC-to-light" HF/VHF/UHF rig.  It's essentially a 
enhanced TS-570 HF rig and a TM-G707 2M/UHF rig stuffed into one box. 
One side is capable of 160-thru-UHF 100W output operation  on 
SSB/AM/CW/FM (except on UHF which is 50W).  The other side is capable of 
FM-only operation on 2M or UHF (one band at a time - no duplex; i.e. 
just like a TM-G707).

When used mobile, the main radio box (about the size of a TS-450 or 
TS-570) can mount in the trunk. A control head identical to the one on 
the D700 can then remotely operate it.  [The control heads are literally 
the same on the two radios. The host radio's firmware determines the 
functions and labels of the various buttons on the head.]

Unfortunately the built-in TNC, while based on the same TASCO 
TNC-on-a-chip as the D700 and TH-D7,  lacks the extensive APRS-oriented 
firmware of the D700. You can't monitor/operate APRS with the built-in 
display as on the D700. It was primarily intended for monitoring a DX 
packet cluster on the VHF-only side, and then automatically tuning the 
all-mode HF side to the freqs reported.  It also supports Kenwood's 
"SkyCommand" system for remotely controlling the HF rig with a VHF/UHF 
dual-band-duplex handheld.

The TNC WILL work with external APRS software (or any other packet 
software for that matter).  The same INIT files used for the  TH-D7 and 
D700 will work,  but the TNC lacks the dedicated GPS feedthrough port of 
the TH-D7 or D700. Thus you will have to provide a second serial port on 
the PC for mobile GPS-based operation.



Stephen H. Smith                wa8lmf (at) aol.com

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