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FTM-400XDR / Digipeater
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Hey guys. Currently we are running a yaesu FTM-400 with APRSIS32 as a local igate. We have recently ordered a signalink and plan on converting to digipeater. I currently run a similar station at home. Just a different rig. I am looking for any tricks or tips from the group about using the 400. Thanks in advance.
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Rob Giuliano
Since you are already talking about SignaLink interface, you know of the issues with Yaesu's lack of a "true TNC" inside. So, the interface needs to be Radio -> SignaLink -> software TNC -> TCP KISS or AGW -> APRSIS32. ---------------^------------------- or hardware TNC Everything is the same - just be sure and disable the internal TNC in the FTM400 and just use the external. Robert Giuliano
On Sunday, November 13, 2022 at 04:01:08 PM EST, Jesse Rogers via groups.io <w4juu@...> wrote:
Hey guys. Currently we are running a yaesu FTM-400 with APRSIS32 as a local igate. We have recently ordered a signalink and plan on converting to digipeater. I currently run a similar station at home. Just a different rig. I am looking for any tricks or tips from the group about using the 400. Thanks in advance. |
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The FTM-400 has the 10-pin DIN plug in the back... which is like the "classic" 6-pin, but with 4 extra pins for the digital stuff. :)
Have you tried using the 10-pin DIn "DATA" port instead of the Signalink? The audio coming out the rear port is leveled and operates differently than the speaker out port. You might be able to take one bit of complexity/point of failure out??? Yaesu offers three different data cables: the CT-163, the CT-164 and the CT-165. Its kinda a shame to burn such a great mobile as a fixed digipeater. The good thing is, you could conceivably still use the other band for FM/C4FM work - but you'd have to be at the console. Unfortunately, its a real bummer you couldn't use the radio as a PDN for WIres-X while also serving as a digipeater... (the Wire-X as a PDN takes the entire radio) The FTM-400 truly shines as a mobile APRS messaging platform - due to its' huge touch screen, and the ability to run APRS on the B-Band. no no, of course it doesn't have a real TNC we know that. Good luck I am a part of a TechNet that runs every sunday at 3PM on Wires-X Room 28941. You should join us! Craig N1SFT |
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Lynn Deffenbaugh
Note that the "data" in the name does not mean that you can eliminate the SignaLink. Something still needs to convert the "audio" that comes out the "data" port to actual binary data before APRSIS32 can do anything with it. The SignaLink will digitize the audio and something like DireWolf can do the decoding and provide the true data interface that APRSIS32 can use.
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Lynn (D) - KJ4ERJ - Author of APRSISCE for Windows Mobile and Win32 On 11/14/2022 9:17 AM, Craig T. Bailey, N1SFT wrote:
The FTM-400 has the 10-pin DIN plug in the back... which is like the "classic" 6-pin, but with 4 extra pins for the digital stuff. :) |
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Lynn Deffenbaugh
I should further clarify that even if there IS a serial connection in that 10-Pin data connector, the Yaesu APRS radios in general do not support transmitting through their internal TNC as was mentioned earlier. Attached programs can "see" what the internal TNC has decoded, but cannot "send" anything to RF through that TNC. Obviously transmitting would be a requirement for the digipeater operation that is the topic of this thread.
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Lynn (D) - KJ4ERJ - Author of APRSISCE for Windows Mobile and Win32 On 11/14/2022 9:39 AM, Lynn Deffenbaugh wrote:
Note that the "data" in the name does not mean that you can eliminate the SignaLink. Something still needs to convert the "audio" that comes out the "data" port to actual binary data before APRSIS32 can do anything with it. The SignaLink will digitize the audio and something like DireWolf can do the decoding and provide the true data interface that APRSIS32 can use. |
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Yep, Lynn is of course correct - I suppose since Direwolf I have had blinders on to older hardware solutions.
Thanks Lynn! :) 73 |
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