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Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................................................2
Acknowledgments..............................................................................................................................................................2
Construction .............................................................................................................................................................................................3
Schematic ..........................................................................................................................................................................3
Parts List............................................................................................................................................................................3
Printed Circuit Board..........................................................................................................................................................4
Upgrading from an older TinyTrak.....................................................................................................................................4
Case ..................................................................................................................................................................................4
Assembly Instructions........................................................................................................................................................5
Assembly Completion ........................................................................................................................................................6
Interfacing ..........................................................................................................................................................................7
Radio – J1 ......................................................................................................................................................................7
Serial – J2 ......................................................................................................................................................................7
Power – J3 (also J1 and J2)...........................................................................................................................................7
LED Control – J4............................................................................................................................................................7
Primary/Secondary Switch SW 1 – J5 ...........................................................................................................................8
Power Switch – J6..........................................................................................................................................................8
Serial Power Enable – J7...............................................................................................................................................8
Operations................................................................................................................................................................................................8
Configuration Software ....................................................................................................................................................8
Primary / Secondary.......................................................................................................................................................8
Callsign ..........................................................................................................................................................................8
Digi Path.........................................................................................................................................................................9
Symbol & Symbol Table / Overlay..................................................................................................................................9
Timing ............................................................................................................................................................................9
Status Beacon................................................................................................................................................................9
Checkbox Options........................................................................................................................................................10
MIC-E Settings .............................................................................................................................................................10
Time Slotting ................................................................................................................................................................11
SmartBeaconing...........................................................................................................................................................11
Power Switch ...............................................................................................................................................................12
Configure......................................................................................................................................................................12
Tone Test.....................................................................................................................................................................12
Save / Load ..................................................................................................................................................................12
TinyTrak3 Adjustment......................................................................................................................................................13
Troubleshooting .....................................................................................................................................................................................14
Frequently Asked Questions ..................................................................................................................................................................15
Hints, Tricks, & Notes............................................................................................................................................................................. 16
Overview
TinyTrak3 is a small, inexpensive radio controller designed to receive and broadcast position reports from a GPS receiver.
It removes the need for a full TNC (terminal node controller) in an APRS tracker. When combined with an NMEA-0183
compatible GPS receiver, and a radio transmitter, TinyTrak3 will key the radio at user-defined intervals, and transmit the
GPS’s current position. The position can be sent as text, or in the compact binary MIC-E format, and can include position
with altitude, speed, heading, a status message, and a timestamp. TinyTrak3 can be configured for time slotted reporting,
or the dynamic reporting rate of SmartBeaconing. TinyTrak3 can conserve radio battery use by turning the radio on just
before a transmission will be sent, and can be configured to transmit a 1/3 sec position burst after unkeying after voice
traffic, or to send positions on command. It supports most RS-232 and TTL GPS receivers, and can even be used to
broadcast a fixed position. All TinyTrak3 operating parameters are stored in the internal EEPROM, and will persist even
when power is removed. TinyTrak3 was created by Byon Garrabrant, N6BG. More information can be found at the
Byonics web site at http://www.byonics.com.
Acknowledgments
Thanks must go to all those who helped test TinyTrak3: Doug Spreng, W7MCF; Jim Chandler, N0VH; Mike Connors,
KI7AB; Michael Pendley, K5ATM; Tom & Beth May, KA3GYI & N3QAF; Mike Musick, N0QBF; Mark Conner, N9XTN;
Gerald Peklar, DK7XE; Matt Cline, KB8WFH; Laird Stanton, N3HLL; Ken Simmons, K9TPT; Drew Wilson, N0XU; Jesse
Royall, KC5LOS; Gary Crouch, KC8NAP; Jack Smith, KE4LWT; Porter Hammer, KD7OKN; Bill Cook, K5LPS; Russ
Roysden, N8NPT; Rob Potvin, KB1GNC; Greg Ansley, KB4R; and Andres Vitols. In addition, thanks to the testers and
users of TinyTrakII and the original TinyTrak and my wife, Lara Garrabrant, KD6AYO. Thank you to everyone for helping
make TinyTrak3 all that it is.
