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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
N1KSN Rating: 2005-05-11
Excellent--does the job Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The kit went together smoothly, and after a bit of poking around the Internet for APRS info I was tracking as a bicycle mobile with an eTrex Legend and my home station as a RELAY. (My shack TNC is an ancient KPC3 I got for $5.)

I'm now putting together a car tracker with a old HTX-202 (w/o battery), the TT3, and a Garmin GPS 18PC OEM unit. All three items have about the same minimum voltage (7 to 8 v), so I'm experimenting with an 8 D-cell power setup with a homebrew voltage monitor, as I can get somewhat-used D cells for free at work. If this doesn't work I'll use a gel cell.

The TT3 makes it pretty easy to get into APRS and is an excellent product. The customer service is very good, too.
KB5TBB Rating: 2005-05-10
Fun, Easy, INEXPENSIVE Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I don't see how anyone can rate a TinyTrak with less than a 5. If you put it together, which is hard to do wrong, you are going to have fun. It is sold already constructed, too, at a good price.

I have owned all three generations of the TinyTrak. I purchased my first at Dayton several years ago.

I've incorporated the TT into several housings and used various styles of interface connectors.

It doesn't take much experience in building kits to take the TinyTrak and incorporate it into almost any enclosure.

Support from Byonics is great, if you need it.
KC0ERG Rating: 2005-04-09
Fantastic product at an amazing price. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Simply put, TinyTrak is a fantastic buy that's very easy to assemble. It was actually my first "plug in the components and solder together" project and it worked the first time out.

Seriously, if I can do it, anyone can.

I can't believe the guy who gave the "0" rating ever contacted Byon about his problem.

Byon should probably charge more considering the money that this will save you on a tracker setup!
K2RRT Rating: 2005-01-19
No Problems Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have two TT3s and a TT2. They have never given me any trouble. Assembly is quick and easy. The only procedure needed after assembly was setting the two pots for rx sensitivity and tx gain.

I have no need for the secondary config function so I soldered two posts in for a shorting shunt (like from a PC harddrive) tha can be applied when needed.

Order yours with the case it is really nice!
W4MY Rating: 2004-11-24
Works Just Fine Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I built mine about a year ago and interfaced it with an Alinco DJ-120 HT I had religated to the junk box long ago. I packaged it all up in a little $3 project box with a $89 Etrex and it has been working well ever since. (this was before the unit that has everything in a tiny Altoids tin)

When I mounted the little circuit board right next to the 1W HT in the box, I did have an issue with RF getting into the TT. No problem, I just built a little shield and put over the TT.

It didn't exactly build itself, but there was no problem I couldn't overcome easily. The PC software interface is simple and stable. Outstanding product, and the smartbeaconing is a very nice feature.

73 Marty / W4MY

KG4PTZ Rating: 2004-11-23
I thought this thing was supposed to work Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I built this thing over a year ago and have tried for quite some time to get this thing to work with my HT (Kenwood TH-F6A). I followed their instructions to the letter in regards to the PTT line and R8. Still it gives me problems. On one hand, the rig used to stay keyed up after the first transmission. Now it will never key the radio. Programming it on the computer is a hit-or-miss situation at best. I somehow got it programmed once, but when I went to reprogram it, the computer wouldn't recognize the TT3. Eventually, I just gave up on using this piece of junk and bought a Kenwood D7 which has reliably worked in my truck with a Garmin eTrex Legend and an Antenex B1443S 5/8 wave for 6 months or so. The D7 doesn't support SmartBeaconing like the TT3 supposedly does, but at least the D7 works.
KC9AXZ Rating: 2004-10-24
Fun unit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just got it assembled and connected. It was fun to solder togather and wire up. I also built the interface cable that runs from the unit to my Yaesu FT-8800R. I already had the cable that runs from my Garmin eTrex Legend to the TT3. Just a overall fun simple kit to build.

I listed my setup info for the 8800 on my website.

http://www.kc9axz.com/tinytrak.asp

73 Jon KC9AXZ
N7SEB Rating: 2004-06-06
So small, yet so great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is is great! I looked at the other choices for small APRS TNC's, this one was the winner. I bought it used and I have no problems.

I would suggest it to anyone who is considering a small APRS TNC.
NW2M Rating: 2004-05-18
A great kit for anyone! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
We purchased the TT3 kit from Byonics at the 2004 Dayton Hamvention and built it that evening in the hotel room! Construction time was 30 minutes. Interfacing took 2 hours as we built all the cables from scratch. It was great to get behind the soldering iron again!

The TT3 was connected to a Kenwood TM-241A which has 8 Volts on the round microphone connector. We used that as our power source. In fact, the 8 Volts was designed to pass voltage through to the other connector which then powered the TN-204 displayless GPS unit! The same microphone connector has audio on it so the TT3 will hold-off transmitting while other signals are on the air. This makes the TT3 a "good neighbor" in the APRS community.

It took a while to get the computer-TT3 interface working as we did not have the right null modem cable. Once we did, it was an easy process. The "Smart Beaconing" is an excellent feature. It beacons your position frequently when you are moving, less when you are not. It also knows (from the GPS) if you made a turn so it will beacon your position in the "corners".

This is a VERY well thought out unit. This was done in the hotel room with several trips next door to catch a free wireless Internet ride for additional information. If we can do it, you can do it! 73
WA9AFM Rating: 2004-05-18
Will Become A Classic Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've built a TTII and two TTIII's. The last one went from mailbox to operational in about 90 minutes. This is a simple, no nonsense unit which is what makes it so great. I've used both the TTII and III with HT's, mobile rigs, and a base rig. The TinyTrak is on the road to becoming an amateur radio classic.