TARPN NinoTNC

 

TNC's have not really moved on since the 90's in general.  My interest was piqued by this new little board from TARPN (Terrestrial Amateur Radio Packet Network).

The NinoTNC is so named because the project was started in 2015 by Nino, KK4HEJ and has been developed since then.  The latest design with the blue board was released in 2020 and the project continues.

This is a TNC that will operate up to 9600 baud to the radio and is simple to configure using on board switches.

It comes as a kit and with a little patience and a multimeter is a nice little build.  It took me about 3 hours and that included testing at various stages and filming segments as I built.

The build sequence is very nicely done.  You start with the crystal and then a few resistors and capacitors.  Next you fit the socket for the CPU.

Now additional capacitors, including the tantalum capacitors where you must be careful of alignment.  A resistor network and 2 pots for deviation and delay on the edge of the board. A voltage regulator is also fitted.

After fitting the USB socket, the device is powered up and a voltage test is done between the 2 socket pins labelled.

Now the rest of the build can be completed and final tests can be done.  Everything is done from the board itself, making the tests simple to do once you understand the sequence.

Finally the board can be fitted into a box of some kind.  This fine 3D printed case was sent to me by Matt, 2E0YML.  Thanks Matt :)

I have done a couple of videos on this and you will find them below.  Now all I need to do is interface it with the radio :)

A big thanks to Matt, G7HMV for sourcing the board, CPU and parts.  You can get the .stl file for the case from https://tarpn.net/t/nino-tnc/n9600a/n9600a_3d_printed_case.html

73 Ian

North West Packet Group

 

Back in the 90's, I was heavily involved in the local packet network.  This was well before the Internet became a normal thing!  I dabbled briefly in AX25 packet but moved into the TCPIP Side of things quite soon after.

In the Morecambe Bay area, there were quite a few stations linked together known as the BayMAN (Metropolitan Area Network). It was great fun watching what would become normal Internet protocols working over 1200 baud via radio!  We also had a licensed station up at Lancaster University too, with a chat server (WWConvers) and links around the world.

I eventually set up GB7MBC which added a DXCluster to our list of services.  GB7MBC was the first Internet linked DXCluster in the UK and is still popular today.  Of course, it runs, like most DXClusters, over the Internet now as packet radio in general cannot handle the amount of traffic with skimmer spots etc.

Linda was talking with a friend, Matt, G7HMV who was involved with packet in the south and mentioned it to me.  Before I knew it, I was playing with AX25 packet again!

North West Packet Group was formed soon after, based around a FaceBook group, which at the time of posting has over 200 members.  I could not believe the interest!

I decided to use my NoV and put the GB7MBC BBS on the air.  It is accessible in the Morecambe and Lancaster area on 144.950MHz.

A second BBS has been set up in the Rossendale Valley area.  This is well located and is GB7ROS.

Currently, we are the only BBS's in the North West and we will have some forwarding nodes coming online soon!

I have set up a website to help enable people to get involved and to provide a central information hub for installing node software etc and this is growing nicely.  You can find it at http://www.nwpg.website

The biggest challenge for new users of packet radio is that virtually nothing has happened since the interest in the mode waned towards the end of the 90's.  The old well loved programs like Winpack simply do not work under a modern Windows system.

That said, both BPQ and FBB have linux versions which are up to date.  LinBPQ and LinFBB install nicely on a Raspberry Pi and work flawlessly.  I have documented the installation of both on the website.

It remains to be seen if this resurgence of interest continues.  It is wonderful to see people experimenting and enjoying the mode again.

73 Ian