TNC-to-Interconnect Detail

Select Other Pages Here a) GPS antenns and receivers a2) GPS antenna information b) GPS to TNC data cables c) TNC GPS Data interconnect d+e) TNC-Radio interconnect e) Radio-interconnect cables h) Power Splitter Harness i) Mag-mount antennas o) Cable and Wiring Overview -) Baker-to-Vegas HQ Page

Because of the variety of TNC's that may be used, we'll detail a few cable configurations here. We will add new cables as needed, to connect to various TNC's. (If you work out the wiring for a TNC that we don't list here, please send us email with the details.)

The Radio-to-TNC Interconnect uses a MOLEX(tm) "Miniature Series, 0.062" connector.
The MOLEX part numbers are;
03-06-2062 (plug) and 03-06-1061 (receptacle)
02-06-1103 female terminal (18-24 gauge) and 02-06-2103 male terminal (18-24 gauge)
1625-6PRT package set of (2) complete connectors

We have found it cheaper to buy the individual components in quantity (10- or 25-packs) of the plug and receptacle, and bulk bags of the terminals. Our local source is Minute Man Electronics in Fremont, but they are available at many other outlets and mail-order houses as well.

While many TNC's use the defacto-standard DIN-5 connector, we'll start with that, and then move to the DB-9 used on the Kantronics, and then any others.

NOTE: The pin numbers shown MAY NOT MATCH the numbers you may find molded into your connector shells! Please look at the images in the wiring diagrams, and put the pins where the diagram shows the numbers.

NOTE: the earlier schematic had swapped the RX Audio and Ground leads! The artwork above is correct. Please rework any cables made with the earlier schematic! The Kantronics TNCs use a female DB-9 connector to interface the radio. They use the DB-9 as the 1200 bps port on Dual Port TNCs. We use a male DB-9 to connect the TNC to the male half (male shell, female pins) of the TNC-to-Radio interconnect cable. Another Note: We have had a lot of trouble with the KPC-3, stemming from problems related to 12-volt power (sags at vehicle startup, or low voltage on storage cells), and the internal backup battery. The net result is a solid failure of the device, requiring us to open the TNC, and momentarily remove the backup battery, which then forces us to completely reprogram the TNC in the field. Kantronics feels that this is not a serious problem, and doesn't plan to fix it. We feel that this is too labor consuming for our needs. Because of this, we have decided` we will not use the KPC-3 TNC in our mobile tracking packages. We offer this information to others as reference information, and suggest that you test any TNC that you plan to use in a mobile installation for data retention through low-source-voltage conditions. (Packages with built-in large-capacity storage cells will greatly reduce this occurrence, but you need to ensure that the storage cells will carry your unit through the event, including any vehicle downtime which makes your tracker radio-TNC-GPS run solely on the storage cells.)

The Kantronics TNCs use a female DB-15 connector to interface the 9600 bps port to the radio. (remember that you will need to use a 9600 bps connector on the radio end!) We use a male DB-15 to connect the TNC to the MALE half of the TNC-to-Radio interconnect cable.

Select Other Pages Here a) GPS antenns and receivers a2) GPS antenna information b) GPS to TNC data cables c) TNC GPS Data interconnect d+e) TNC-Radio interconnect e) Radio-interconnect cables h) Power Splitter Harness i) Mag-mount antennas o) Cable and Wiring Overview -) Baker-to-Vegas HQ Page

Copyright 1996-2002, David K. Z. Harris, N6UOW
Questions? Comments? Additions? Email b2v at baker2vegas.org

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