Do you run VARAFM on the T4 in Windows? I didn't see that you used Linux, so am a bit confused why you layer the LInux + wine over Windows on T4 for VARAHF?
Either options are available. You can run Varanny with VARA FM and/or HF on Windows or Linux, as it is cross platform. Some people prefer the stability that Linux offers and the simplicity to launch processes at startup and setup a WiFi hotspot. Also Windows has the tendency to throw itself into auto update loop, which can be hard to deal with on a headless system.
I REALLY appreciate the schematic diagram showing the interactions between Radiomail, Varanny and the headless comp, you do a great job explaining for computer illiterates like me
This was a fun build. I have no prior experience working with Arduino or dev boards however this video made it a breeze. Great companion to Radiomail and the D74. Keep up the good work!! Thank you.
You did it again to help us with remote or emergency email. One question is widows can reconfigure com ports how do you stop that from happening for this setup.
There might be a solution for this but I don't use Windows enough to have an answer. For more reliability, I would recommend setting up under Linux. This other video covers that ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kPDTH4L319Q.html
Any apps that follow the github.com/hessu/aprs-specs/blob/master/BLE-KISS-API.md specification will know how to discover and utilize the TNC over Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Currently they are three available in the App Store: RadioMail for Winlink email, aprs.fi and PocketPacket for APRS position reporting and sending text messages.
You don't need an adapter for macOS as they support the Bluetooth SPP profile, which iOS doesn't. With your Macbook, you can pair with the D75 directly via Bluetooth or via USB if you prefer.
The adapter provides about 2mm of clearance when plugged in. If your case is unusually thick, you may need to remove it for a proper fit. On the product page, you can see a picture from NU8H using it on an iPhone 15 with what looks like the bumper style case.
Thank you for your advice. On MAC Silicon, I checked the driver in /dev/. But I got stuck with an error. I changed the environment to Linux and was able to install it on TinyPICO. Done The error on Mac is as follows. Error Message: bash: /Users/akiyama/Library/Arduino15/packages/esp32/tools/esptool_py/4.5.1/esptool: Bad CPU type in executable exit status 126 Compilation error: exit status 126@@islandmagicco
Looks like perhaps the toolchain for the wrong platform got installed. Maybe try to re-install and make sure you have rosetta installed. Beyond that, that's probably something better answered by searching for Arduino IDE errors.
22:13 When I try to find a station and connect to one it won’t do the same thing for me. I can see stations but can’t select one to connect to. Any idea what I’m missing?
I assume by "repeater tower" you are referring to the Winlink station you're connecting to. Visualize this as a series of links: "iPhone" <1> "B.B. Link" <2> "TH-D75" <3> "Winlink station". Connection #1 is via Bluetooth Low Energy and connection #2 is via Bluetooth Classic-both are short-range technologies that work best when devices are within a few feet of each other. Connection #3 uses your VHF or UHF radio signal, which typically requires line of sight to function effectively, within range of 5-50 miles. If any of these links are out of range or the corresponding device is not available, the session will timeout.
The most modern and most expensive handheld transceiver ever made, and it does not support the low energy BT protocol that has been around for fourteen years...
Wow, you guys really love this item! It's flown off the shelves, and we're currently out of stock. Orders placed today (May 13) will ship by end of the week. Beyond that, if you place a pre-order, you're in line to get it as soon as we build the next batch. Just a heads up though, it takes a bit of time to get everything just right. We need to procure all the parts and put them together, which means it will take a few weeks before your pre-order gets dispatched.
I'd like that too. Right now with USPS the shipping cost to Europe, plus duties, taxes, and other import fees comes up to more than the price for the device.
So I’m guessing being that this all works off of the ESP32-Pico, the QTPY ESP32 Pico development board (which uses the ESP32-Pico-V3-02 chip, specifically) would also work? It’s a bit smaller from what I see of the TinyPico, and I just so happen to have a couple laying around. I’ve successfully flashed everything, but run into trouble with HARDWARE_BOARD in adapter.h You’ll have to forgive my ignorance, as I’m very new to arduino (started about a month ago, was previously programming in micropython!). I was wondering is there any easy way to define the board, and define it as having that chip? Or would this not be possible because it’s a different variant of ESP32 Pico? Thank you so much! 🙏
Thanks for the video. I have wanted to use my TH-D74 with Radio Mail for awhile but the Bluetooth issue was holding me back. I will have to try this solution. Thanks ! -KE6EX
From a tech standpoint, yes, RadioMail has a AX.25 stack that allows it to do connection oriented sessions. From an application stand point however, the question is what features and functionality make sense? A keyboard interface on an iPhone is not very useful, and from what I understand, nodes commands have not been standardized, so it would be challenging to automate. There is a good write up on this: www.zeroretries.org/p/zero-retries-0147#§why-its-so-hard-to-get-people-excited-about-using-connected-packet-systems . What is the main use case you would want to see?
Basically there is no terminal type app for os out there to operate on a bbs. I have a Mobilinkd TNC 3. My club is operating an old school packet network. Basically it would be nice to just send typed commands through the TNC and be able to retrieve messages from a bbs. I realize it’s dated tech but some of the older guys like this stuff. I don’t know if there is much demand for this if any I’ll tell you it’s been a learning experience for me.
Quick question, is there a way to prevent the TinyPICO from sleeping? I took a different approach where I just power the board from the USB-C, but the issue is, if I keep the board idle, it sleeps. The only way to get around this is unplug and plug the power supply. Thank you
That should not be the case. When USB power is detected, the adapter should not go to sleep. If this is happening, please open an issue github.com/islandmagic/bb-link/issues
trying to connect,switch on touch battery and cable on pin4, orange led, nearby adapters B.B. Link RSSI: -32 in the app, connect OK, TH-D74 in BT pairing mode, click paired radio, blue led on B.B. Link, ...often Lost BLE Connection. I kept trying and eventally succeeded in connecting. Now on exploration in RadioMail.☺
After a few attempts, woohoo! it works! Keep in mind that you need the D75 set to the B band or it will not work ! Excellent work! Now I have to 3D print the case and get the battery :-) Thank you for all the help !
@@islandmagicco really? interesting, my TH-D75 is brand new, maybe I need to set something up to allow that? I did several tests, and when the radio is turned on and is on VFO Band A, the BB Link board will not communicate via BT to the radio. If I have the radio on the B band, then all works, the BT connection is done without any hiccups and the correct frequency is set, KISS12 mode automatically engaged and RadioMail checks my email (if I can hit the repeater, hehe)
There are two things at play here. You can configure which VFO is used for TNC KISS, via the Data Band setting, menu 506. Then there is what VFO is radio is using, single A or B or dual A/B. If the Data Band is set to VFO B, but the radio is in single band on VFO A, then yes, the connection will not go thru. If Data Band is set for VFO B, put the radio in dual band and you'll be able to use VFO A for voice and VFO B will automatically be used for Data.
Thanks Georges for Varanny and the tutorials! I've followed your tutorials and have configured the Beelink t4 computer as you have described. I only have an IC-705 at the moment and have the T4 configured for HF & FM. The T4 start every time as expected. Most of the connection with the IC-705 works but I have some random strange behavior with hamelib have issue setting properly the IC-705 : - First, Hambilb set improper frequency and mode, like it mix settings from previous connection, - Then I have this, in loop, untiI I cancel the connection: read_string_generic called, rxmax=200, direct=1, expected_lens=1 read_string_generic(): Timed out 1.904 seconds after 0 chars, direct=1 - So I stop the connection. If I have another try with the same station and frequency, most of the time I have the same problem. - To make it work again, I have to make a connection with a different stations or frequency, repeat it a couple of times until it works again. Maybe a serial port conflict issue? Any thought about it? Thanks! 73, Claude, F4LFJ
Claude, glad to hear you're up and running. I've experienced similar flakiness with hamlib as it seemingly loose synchronization with the radio from time to time. It seemed to occur mostly due to killing the hamlib daemon. I swapped my USB cable and it improved but never went away completely. I found the best remedy when it's in a bad state is to re-plug the USB connector. I have to do more testing on Linux to see if this is a Windows problem. I see that there has been some fixes on Windows to perform a more graceful shutdown. I've been running 4.5.5, will try to run the latest dev version and see if that improves.
@@islandmagicco Ok, I'll try different cable to see if it improve it. Bye the way, on my T4, the MyPublicWiFi software take a long time before being minimize, I had to add a delay of 45s in the json config file.
@@islandmagicco OK, I'll try with another USB cable. I wonder if it would solve the issue withj wWindows 11. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KXGZ8Q0rhds.html
Thank you for the Radiomail app and all of these tutorials! I'm a new ham, your work and video will help me to build similar setups your are demonstating. I've got a Beelink T4 (it's incredibly small for a PC), just left to configure it. I like to use an iPad, it's a very practical, lightweight and powerful device and it has a long battery life. Too bad there is only few ham apps on it. I'd like to see VARA implementated. Thanks again! 73, Claude, F4LFJ
Newbie @ Arduino. When I com to the connection part, I can see USB-Enhanced-serial CH9102 on COM7. I can't see the wchb1.. as you say? On the board type I have UM TinyPICO, the reel one, and next COM7 Serial Port (USB)
So I downloaded the most recent Arduino IDE (2.3.0) for windows and when I try to install , when I go to perform the step of installing the additional board manager URLs, there is no window in the Preferences-> Settings labeled “Additional board Manager URLs”. I uninstalled 2.3.0 and found 2.2.1 which appears to be the same version you are using and same issue. Is there some other setting that makes this option available or? I just got my device today so am anxious to try it. Thanks.
