DINO Sat TNC

PacComm

TimeWave

Kantronics

• PK-96: 9600 baud– Before modifications:

• High power consumption: 12V @ 400mA (4.8W)• Electrolytic capacitors, battery, fuse

– After modifications:• Still high, but much lower power consumption: 12V @ 100-

110mA (around 1.3W)– Possible to run at less than 12V– Have to replace existing chips with CMOS chips

• Battery can be removed• Fuse can be replaced with a wire• Electrolytic capacitors can be replaced with ceramic

capacitors

• PK-96: 9600 baud– PROS:

• Great technical support• Already have this particular TNC here• Not extremely expensive: $220.

– CONS:• High power consumption• Must replace existing capacitors and chips to reach the

specifications we want

• KPC-9612+– PROS:

• Power Consumption: 5.5V to 25V @ 45mA (.25W to 1.1W)• Fast data transfer

– Up to 38.4Kb/s which can be modified with a crystal change that will bump it up to 56Kb/s

– However faster data transfer rates are limited by the radio we use

– CONS:• Communications with the company

– Unable to contact via phone

– Email takes about 1-2 weeks

• Contains electrolytic capacitors

• PicoPacket– 1200 baud Ultra-mini Portable TNC

• SPIRIT-2– 9600 baud TNC

• TINY 2-MK-II– 1200 baud TNC

• Ultra-miniature Packet Modem– 9600 baud surface mount TNC

• Ultra-miniature Packet Modem (UP9600): 9600 baud– PROS:

• Very low power consumption: 9V to 12V @

30-60mA (0.27W to 0.72W)• Customizable Firmware available• Small size: 2.5” x 4.75”

– CONS:• Price: $595.• Have had troubles customizing PacComm TNC’s in the

past

Recommendation

• The PacComm UP9600

– Meets all specifications

– Uses by far the least amount of power

– Surface mount design saves us time by not having to modify any parts

– The only downfall:• The Price: $595.