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Reviews For: TinyTrak3

Category: Packet TNCs & Digital Multi-mode Controllers

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Review Summary For : TinyTrak3
Reviews: 52MSRP: 32
Description:
A small and inexpensive GPS position encoder which replaces the need for a packet TNC in an APRS tracker.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.byonics.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00524.6
KD7MWR Rating: 2006-11-11
Fantastic service and very Innovative Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is one of the most innovative pieces of gear I use. It makes a very inexpensive APRS tracker using an old handheld such as a HTX-202. I used a GPS I found on EBay for $13 along with a $25 radio and made a tracker for under $100.

The Tinytrak offers smart beaconing wich gives it an advantage over a Kenwood D7A or D700A. The TinyTrak will also transmit location after voice.

However, using the Tinytrak does require two radios if you want to use a repeater for voice transmissions and 144.39 for APRS. Using the Kenwood only requires one radio.

Byon offers some of the best customer service I have ever encountered! His shipping is only $3.00 and is very quick. I was missing one part and sent an EMail. He had the part to me in only 2 days.

This is a great product.
KI6BYJ Rating: 2006-09-25
wonderful unit Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've had a TinyTrack3plus unit for several months now without any major problems. The configuration is very simple. The only problem that I've had is RF getting back into the unit through the GPS cabling when I installed a rig in my car that was much more powerful than the 5watt HT I had been using. I was able to fix that issue with some RF chokes and the movement of the gps puck.
N1IIC Rating: 2006-05-31
An awesome tool for the APRS world Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I ordered my TT3 and recieved it in short order. I assmebled it in less than an hour, got it programmed and working just as fast.
I would like it to have more memory for more than two saved profiles.
K7NNV Rating: 2006-05-22
Nice unit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered the TT3 built and tested and after receiving it, I could not program it. Byon referred me to the Yahoo user group but no one seem to have an answer for me. I sent it back to Byon and as it turned out, it had a defective EEPROM which Byon replaced and sent it back to me pre programmed with my info. I am now running the unit with my Icom HT in the Reno, NV area and it appears to work flawlessly. I am a full time RVer and am looking forward to hitting the road with the TT3 in operation. By the way, Byon's customer service is great and answered all my e-mails promptly.
KE5HFM Rating: 2006-05-13
Doesn't get any easier Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
How cool is this?! 20 minutes of soldering and cable making and you have an APRS station!! Directions are incredibly easy to follow, professionally made circuit board, TON's of features, and you have a professional piece of equipment when you're done.

If you're thinking about getting into APRS, or you just need a TINY APRS transmitter to go with your HT or mobile, THIS is the kit for you!

I may just buy another one because it's so much fun to put together!! the Tiny Trak is destined to be a classic. Don't be fooled by the imitations you can find on auction websites... buy the real deal from Byon, it's MORE that worth the money.
N3XKB Rating: 2006-03-13
I figured I'd give Byonics another go... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I figured I'd try again. This time I bought a regular TinyTrack 3 (not the SMT version with which I had zero luck and lots of frustrating hours). This thing works flawlessly. I initially purchased the SMT version for a ham radio ballooning project. I have the TT3 installed in my car for testing. I like this thing so much that I am leaving it installed permanantly and will buy another for the balloon! I'm sorry for the previous "0" review, however it accurately reflects my opinion of the SMT version and the experiences *I* had with it. This 5 is for the full size regular version of the TT3.

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Earlier 0-star review posted by N3XKB on 2006-03-06

I had absolutely no luck with this thing. I looked at the schematic and see the chip is talking TTL/CMOS (0 and 5VDC) rather than +/- 12VDC like the RS-232 recommended spec calls for. I passed this through a MAX233 chip (232 with internal charge pump caps). No good. I fire up the o-scope and see that the data is inverted. Odd. Byon mailed me back saying that there is a user setting to allow inverted input. Great. None of my three computers has a serial port that will talk to this thing (yes, I tried) so I can't get the setting changed. I finally decided to remove this little thing from a carrier board I was using to handle power, RS-232 communications, GPS (sweet Lassen SQ gps board!), and the like. I stupidly forgot I jumpered the on-board voltage regulator and hit it with 12 volts ending it's short lifespan. The lights blinked when it "worked" but now it's in the trash bin because it's not even heavy enough to be a paperweight.
S56OA Rating: 2006-02-26
Great APRS tracker Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Works great in my mobile with Garmin GPS-18 GPS receiver and Yaesu VX-2 handheld as a transmitter. Smart Beaconing functionality is a great plus over standard time interval beaconing. Installation and configuration of the unit is simple, price is also great.
K5BXV Rating: 2006-01-29
Great unit, works fine Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is a great little unit with lots of features.
I had a problem communicating with it but that was my fault. Byon answered my email right away and was very helpful in providing support. If you want a GPS Tracker this is the way to go.
G4ZLZ Rating: 2005-06-09
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Excellent value kit, simple to put together. It has interfaced easily to VX5R H/T for a very small tracking station (the 4-pole jack plug can be a little temperamental), to FT8900 for a vehicle tracker(you can use an old mouse lead to connect to the FT8900, and the carrier-detect signal), and also to Philips / Simoco FM1300 converted PMR where the radio can power the TinyTrak3 (and the GPS, if required).

The "smart beaconing" mode is very good, and paints good tracks on the map.

I have found that the use of MIC-E encoding gives significantly more reliable results than plain text on a crowded band - the packets are shorter and more likely to be received without error.

Programming / configuring software is simple to use (any chance of a Linux version???)
W5AOX Rating: 2005-05-11
I have 3 of 'em.... so far Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have purchased and built 3 of the Version III units of the Byonics TinyTracker. The first one is interfaced to an ancient 1 watt VHF Engineering transmitter strip in a minibox that my Magellan plugs into; worked flawlessly when first assembled and still does a couple years later.
The other 2 are mounted inside Delorme Tripmates that run off the +8VDC available on my Icom and Kenwood microphone connectors.
Don't know how Byonics makes any money on these things ( I have sold kits mail order in the past. )
But I'm very happy with their price and performance.