On Wed, Sep 13, 2023 at 10:52 AM, <Greg.zdenek@...> wrote:

... It doesn't seem to be able to transmit beacons or messages, and I am wondering if that is because I configured it as a digipeater too.??

The TT4 should work just fine as a "tracker" and "KISS interface" to a connected computer.
? ?I assume the TT4 beacons okay on its own?? If so, then it isn't the CDMODE/CDLEVEL settings.

Is your IGATE working bi-directionally, or just single direction (data going to APRS-IS system only)?
How do you know you system is not beaconing when APRSIS32 sends something??
? ?Keep in mind you need to monitor it locally as the direct connection between APRSIS32 and APRS-IS will ALWAYS win the race and be the reported data on aprs.fi.
? ?Also, do the TT4 and APRSIS32 have different SSIDs?
First 2 things I can think of on the APRSIS32 side:
? ?Is Menu item >Enables >Beaconing Enabled?checked?
? ?On the RF port configuration screen
? ? ? ?Is the Xmit Enable checked?
? ? ? ?Also, Messages and Beacon should be checked
? ?Beyond those, you may want to post in the APRSISce32 groups.io for more.? Lynn (author) sometimes posts here as well.?

On Wed, Sep 13, 2023 at 10:52 AM, <Greg.zdenek@...> wrote:

I realize that being an iGate and a Digipeater doesn't really make sense (why rebroadcast if you can get in the network),

Not true.? There are lots of information that benefits from RF.? Isn't that what amateur radio is about (RF)?
Take a station2 that is 1000 feet away from your IGATE and isn't connected to the internet.?
A third station3 that is 1000 feet in the other direction sends a message to station2, and uses your callsign as the VIA.?
? ?That message is passed without any internet involvement.
? ? It "may" also be gated by some other IGATE, and come back through another IGATE, but the information was handled.

-------
Robert Giuliano
KB8RCO

Hi All - Sorry if this is a basic question, but I have my TT4 working well as a digipeater with the Mycall set. It seems to only retransmit my callsign, which is exactly what I wanted. I?also configured the Port A as KISS and have the radio hooked up to APRSIS32 and was able to configure that to scoop up the RF from the TT4.?It doesn't seem to be able to transmit beacons or messages, and I am wondering if that is because I configured it as a digipeater too.??

I realize that being an iGate and a Digipeater doesn't really make sense (why rebroadcast if you can get in the network), but I plan to use the unit both at home as an iGate and use the radio as a digipeater in the car when I do some SOTA hiking in the more remote parts of Maine. So I'm hoping I can use one configuration, but perhaps I need two.?Anyway I am new to both the TT4 and APRSIS32 so if someone could point me in the right direction I would appreciate it.?

Thanks,

Greg
KC1RID

On 9/11/2023 2:58 PM, catalano.c@... wrote:

Barry,
I appreciate you trying.? I hate for knowledge to get lost.? Can you do one email and allow one of us to upload them on your behalf to a file site such as google drive and share it publicly?
Thank you,
Chris
KJ6MSE
_._,_._,_

Chris,

That sounds like a good idea. It's attached. Uploading to G-Drive and making a group post with the publicly shared link would be better than making a post with a large attachment (such as this one) and posting it to everyone, most of whom are probably not interested in schematics. I have a larger version as well and can probably make it as a PDF, not as a bit-mapped raster image but a vector drawing. but this seems very readable. I learned to prefer the newer schematic symbols that especially benefited complex logic IC's (The one with "hats" - I can't remember the 'spec' designation for that standard) and I made a good number of parts for the schematic capture software I was using at the time, which I believe was the schematic capture program (free) from ExpressPCB, although I didn't do that for the MAX3232C part. I may decide to release some other TT4-related drawings in the future.

I have to say that I wasn't terribly surprised that creating new directories and uploading files into those directories was not permitted. As I recall, back in the day, how groups that allowed unrestricted uploading had high rates of spammers uploading ads and other undesirable junk. It didn't matter that the forums were intended for Hams because you didn't actually have to be a Ham to join those groups and upload junk. I guess it's just something you have to live with.

Barry
N4MSJ

Hi Hank,

As a Group Owner you should know that the best way to contact or hear from an owner is to send an email directly to the Group Owners via the Group Owner email address.

There is no dubious, nefarious, our questionable reason why the Group had been setup a certain way.? It just was.

Feel free to upload photos and files and members always have the option to direct email each other.

Regards,

Joe, N2QOJ - Group Owner

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Why is it even necessary to go through those gymnastics to store a single worthy file?? I own several groups,io? (most way bigger than this one) and it is unusual to see file and photo uploading disabled, especially for a ham radio group.

Even if the owners of this Group.io insist on keeping it that way (a dubious decision IMO), one of them can upload the file simply emailed (once) by Barry.? There is at least one other workaround which I will not get into.

I view offsite storage as a very last resort.? It can be a nuisance to access and it can disappear after a period of time (for various reasons).

I'd like to hear from one or more of the four listed owners about this.? The main question I have is ""WHY is TinyTrak set up this way?"? The other would be "will you take a look at Barry's file and, if deemed useful, upload it to the files section?"

Hank
____________________________________________________

Barry,

?

I appreciate you trying.? I hate for knowledge to get lost.? Can you do one email and allow one of us to upload them on your behalf to a file site such as google drive and share it publicly?

?

Thank you,

?

Chris

KJ6MSE

Some time ago I wrote to the group that I had drawn a schematic for the TT4BT and some related adapter cables, including one that used RJ modular phone-type cables and connectors.. That may have been back in the old Yahoo Groups days. In recent years I've lost some interest in the TT4 scene, and while I get posts to the group via email and have read many of them, I've rarely logged into the group's website.

I've recently received several requests for the schematic and I was able to find it along with other TT4-related adapters and cables. My vision has deteriorated a bit over the years and I find the low-contrast text on websites for the past few years to be very painful to work with and search. So, I don't want to have to deal with attaching PDF and/or image files to individually answered emails. Therefore, I decided to reacquaint myself with the TT4 website and upload it to a photo file album. Unfortunately I've been unable to find any sort of "add album" or "upload file" button on the TT4 groups page, not even on the "Photos" page. And YES, I was logged on to the group. Sounds like a badly designed forums platform to me.

So, there you have it. I'm not gonna do it the long tedious (individual) way, and I apparently am unable to do it the "easy but impossible" (once to everyone) way. I've been in the online community since the late '70s and 80s, put together my first home computer around 1980, been programming in several languages since I took Fortran as a course in my first year as a EE student at my University in the early 60s, but I don't know what I can do about getting this drawings online.

Too bad, I tried. Sounds like others are addressing the situation though.

Barry
N4MSJ

Hi Robert,

The link I posted is the 3rd Iteration of my .

Here are the other iterations:
1 - First one: : had the inconvenient to directly expose the BT module on the DB9
2 - with a HC-06 module , turned out to be a failure:
3 - And finally this one

I put the BT Module onto port B. As per the instructions in my article it will be on port B. In this way I keep Port A free for configuration menu through a regular serial cable and also for the GPS mouse. I have some details on port config in the first iteration article,

I did not cut any traces. As matter of fact, as you correctly assumed, you can end up with 2 devices connected through port B which never caused me any issue as I only use port B for BT. Everything else is done through port A. I do not own the splitter cable so I would need to build my own adapter if I wanted to access Port B from the DB9.

KISS Reset commands also works well over BT.



73
Geoffrey

--
___________________________________________________________
Geoffrey F4FXL / KC3FRA
My Tinytrak Stuff =>

Very nice package!
That's one advantage of the "built" TT4 - the extra space in the case for a BT module.

Two things:
1. Which port did you put the BT module on (Port A or Port B)?
??? The reason I ask is that Port A of the TT4 has the 5V GPS power and the DE9 is configured to directly connect to a GPS.
??? Now that the firmware (since 0.69 I think) can be configured on either port, Port B for the PC is more convenient on the TT4.
??? So Port B is an option for the BT.
2. This setup (unless traces were cut) can allow 2 devices connected on the same port (BT and external on the DE9).
??? Have you ever had that and a computer hardwired to the DE9 with the BT module connected?
??? Just curious if that causes any issues.? It may not, unless the BT is actually sending/receiving data.

Another comment/question:
I find it difficult to reset the TT4 and get into the configuration menu with the BT module, without a reset switch.
I have TeraTerm macros to send the reset command (with SOFTRST TRUE).? In TEXT mode, it seems to work every time.
?? In KISS mode, it is not as easy.
?? Have you try / experienced this?

-------
Robert Giuliano
KB8RCO

Hi,

I had success with installing a TTL HC-05 into a Tinytrak 4.


HC-06 failed at some point...


--
___________________________________________________________
Geoffrey F4FXL / KC3FRA
My Tinytrak Stuff =>

If you dig around prior emails I have archived a lot of stuff on the device as well did some work with newer BT modules with success.?

de k7mhi?

On 9/1/2023 11:04 AM, catalano.c@... wrote:

Barry,
I'm interested in seeing that schematic if you ever found it.
73,
Chris
KJ6MSE

Chris,

I _was_ able to find the schematic, at least I think this was the file I mentioned in the previous (long ago!) post. It has the schematic of the TT4BT module itself, as well as the wiring of several ways of interconnecting various TT4 accessories, including the TT4BT. I think I was unable to read (or understand) the part number on the tiny surface mount 3-terminal 3.3v regulator, but I think any would work as well.

I want to put it, and possibly some other similar TT4-related schematics, up in a folder at Groups.io as I originally had done at Yahoo's TT4 forum (before Yahoo decided they weren't making enough money from their forums to justify the cost to host them). I'm not nearly as active with forums as I once was, so I'm mostly unfamiliar with using the Groups.io website. Soon as i get some time and energy to take that on (I'm 79 now), I'll upload them soon and post, to the group, that they are there, with a bcc to you. I'm also not active in most aspects of ham radio as I once was, including APRS. I'm mostly a "receive only" kind of guy now!

I had worked out some interesting ways (imho) to hook up various modules and the diagram has many of them on one page. You simply cross out the items you don't have and wire up what remains. I've even used RJ modular plugs and receptacles (my own wiring/pin assignment). I couldn't find any sort of "standard" for that, de facto or otherwise, so I made up my own - for example, the wiring of a Garmin GPS-18LVC puck, and another for EIA-232C ports using RJ-12 [IIRC] plugs, 6P6C version).

BTW, if you stack or arrange a number of TT4-type modules together, remember that the TT4BT module transmits and receives RF (2.4GHz) to/from a printed circuit antenna on the TT4BT board itself, so try to arrange them so the TT4BT antenna is "in the clear" as much as possible so that the signal isn't blocked by other modules. The same also goes for a GPS Puck's built-in patch antenna, if you use one of those.

73, Barry
N4MSJ

Splitter cable option:
For the TT4, a quick and dirty option would be a DE9 Y-Cable with PIN 4(Vcc) populated in both with an HC-08 dongle (like the DSD Tech HS-HC-08 => BT4.0)? which is Apple compatible.
If you make your own cable, you can replace the DE9 computer connection with Dupont connector to go directly onto the dongle.?
??? TT4??????? SH-HC-08??????? GPS
Rx ?? 2? <=?? TX???????????????????? N/C
Tx ??? 3 =>??? Rx???????????????????? N/C
Vcc ? 4 =>???? Vcc?????????????????? Vcc???????????? Must tee together
Gnd? 5????????? Gnd?????????????? ?? Gnd??????????? Must tee together
Tx ??? 7 =>??? N/C?????????????????? Rx?????????????? Not really used
Rx ??? 8 <=??? N/C?????????????????? Tx

Be sure and set the Jumpers:?
?? JP6????? Vcc
?? JP7A??? TTL to mattch SH-HC-08
?? JP4B??? match your GPS

If you want to connect direct to a computer, you would use a USB to TTl adaptor (maybe a CP210x).
Since the SH-HC-08 is designed to connect direct, you will likely need to swap Tx & Rx wires for that.
?? I suggest 2 separate dupont 2-pin connectors from the TT4 tee.? One with 5V/Gnd and the other Tx/Rx.
?? Flip the Tx/Rx over when you connect directly to a computer.

That is all external, and if you set the BT on top of the GPS, it can be a very nice, small package.
If you use a GPS module (rather than a puck), you could build them all into a single project box.
-------
Robert Giuliano
KB8RCO

Barry,

?

I'm interested in seeing that schematic if you ever found it.

?

73,

Chris
KJ6MSE

Hey guys, I'm looking for either an in line Bluetooth adapter or the MTT4BT radio for my truck.? Let me know if anyone has one for sale they want to get rid of.

?

Thanks,

?

Chris

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I might be interested. I am not familiar with setting up a digi for APRS. What is the item number?
73 David KD0GRH