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| Reviews Summary for TinyTrak3 |
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Reviews: 51
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Average rating: 4.6/5
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MSRP: $32
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Description: A small and inexpensive GPS position encoder which replaces the need for a packet TNC in an APRS tracker.
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Product is in production.
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More info: http://www.byonics.com
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W3TUA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 26, 2012 06:57
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Reliable
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had a TT3 for about three years now and use it with an ADI handheld VHF radio. After buying a pre-made cable from Byonics, I plugged it into my radio and GPS with no problems. It's handy to throw in the car during public service events so as not to tie up a mobile radio. There's been nothing but reliable operation from the unit each time I use it.
The fellow who has had trouble finding serial GPS pucks might want to look into an inexpensive GPSr like the Garmin E-Trex. I paid $45 for one and and serial cable can be purchased for it.
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KB3KSA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 25, 2012 14:25
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Great value
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had one for several years and haven't had any problems. And I'm expecting to launch it aboard a high-altitude balloon this spring.
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G0JLX
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Rating: 0/5
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Jul 24, 2011 09:26
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Total RUBBISH
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I had hugely high hopes of a small, neat APRS unit running on 2m to the network of digipeaters we have established here in the UK.
I went and purchased a really neat, small little 2m handie that would fit in the side panel of the car and purchased a nice little 2m antenna and mount to run it all on. So far so good.
First problem - I find it near impossible to get anything other than a USB GPS receiver puck here in the UK because nobody makes a serial one any more, so I buy a USB puck and build an interface for it and chop cables about to wire it all to a 9-pin D and generally get really hacked off when it just doesn't work.
After extensive discussions on the TT Yahoo! group, it becomes crystal clear that a USB puck won't work (shame the website didn't say that in HUGE red letters initially) and after 3-4 weeks additional effort I finally manage to find a 9-way serial puck instead and buy that too.
I tried this new serial puck direct into the TT3 - it didn't work (no valid GPS LED). I tried it with a null modem in series with it. Still no valid GPS LED. Nothing works. I never get a GPS valid LED lit, even with the GPS puck hanging out of the shack window. I have no way of testing the 9-way serial GPS unit at all.
So far, I have tried 4 different GPS pucks and I have spent HOURS trying to find out why this unit doesn't work. I have drawn a total blank.
This project has had HOURS expended on it and I am fed up with it all. It is neither cheap nor quick nor small.
I will not recommend this unit to anybody ! DON'T BUY IT - IT DOESN'T WORK.
The reply from Byonics themselves is that it works great with their GPS pucks. OK, so why is this essential item not sold as part of the kit without exception ?
With postal rates being so high, and the UK charging import duty and VAT on every item that's shipped in from the USA, this project has now reached the point where it gets consigned to the "expensive failed projects" bin for bits recycling.
My recommendation - keep your money in your pocket and go find something else to play with. You certainly won't get as frustrated as I have with this one !
73
Andy
GØJLX
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KE5IRD
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Rating: 4/5
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Sep 15, 2009 19:24
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Cheap and great
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased a TT3+ along with a GPS2 and cable to interface with my HT (YAESU VX-150). Works very nearly perfectly out of the box - probably took me about 5 minutes to show up on a tracker.
My ONLY reservation is the same as some of the others listed here - RFI. Sometimes caused an endless loop of reseting the hardware when it transmitted. Of course there are tons of workarounds as detailed in the pretty extensive support groups.
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W6DPS
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Rating: 4/5
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Sep 1, 2009 14:28
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Solid product, easy to follow kit instructions.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I got the kit version and had it up and running in les than an hour from first opening the bag.
I havea detailed page at www.qsl.net/w6dps
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W3TUA
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Rating: 5/5
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May 27, 2009 12:57
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Superb
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This tracker was built in about 45 minutes from a kit. The included instructions were clear and concise with plenty of illustrations.
The programming interface is easy to use. I ordered a pre-built cable from Byonics for my HT radio. Once power was applied everything worked FB.
RFI was a problem only when using the HT with the rubber duck antenna. Once I put the radio on an external antenna I had no more issues.
The SmartBeaconing feature has made me prefer my cheap little tracker over my Kenwood D-7A handheld. That should speak volumes about this excellent device.
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KE5GDB
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 16, 2009 14:50
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Great APRS Tracker
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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The TinyTrak3 is an amazing APRS tracker. Although it can only transmit packets, it does the job very well. The implementation of SmartBeaconing makes it perfect, and the size is great for small setups too.
I have the TT3+, the Byonics GPS (first version) and the cables for Yaesu radios and the 8 pin mic connector. The only complaint I have is that the power cable isn't long enough, but that is a very easy fix.
I would recommend this device to anybody who needs a simple APRS tracker at a great price. If you need something more advanced, maybe the TinyTrak4 would be right for you.
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N4DBM
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 7, 2008 13:14
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Excellent
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This unit is excellent. Hard to believe that little PIC chip will hold as much as it does. I've been using mine for over two years with no flaws. I had one in the wife's car that did get garbled with RF but I put some chokes around the GPS and radio lines and that fixed the problem. There's also a mod about placing a 0.01 capacitor across some pin and ground, but can't remember what. I'm sure Byon would be glad to answer. I'm ordering a WXTrack soon for my weather station. For $33 and some shipping, you can't get a better deal. 73 - Derek (APRS N4DBM-9)
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N4MJG
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 26, 2008 19:20
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TT3 Is the best !!!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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i had mine like 3 or 4 years !i was running HT wire came undone when it tranmit then short out the transisitor was shot so replaced it started to work now i was using the rig icom 25H with battery backup to keep the memory! ,but anyway i'm happy with mine no more problem atfer transistor being replaced !
73
Jackie
KG4ORX
KG4ORX.COM
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WW5AA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 10, 2008 07:59
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Simple!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Great way to get on APRS, easy to program with my laptop while on the go. Hooked it up to an old 5 watt HT and I was beaconing for less than $75. Check out the PT cruiser (WW5AA-9)
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