[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] Fwd: Got Kenwood TH-D75 Blues?

Thu May 9 09:26:09 EDT 2024

FYI, Georges Auberger (WH6AZ) has released his BB Link Bluetooth adapter product to connect Kenwood TH-D74 and TH-D75 radios with iPhones and iPads quickly and easily.

I’ve been beta testing it for a couple months now and it’s great. It’s essentially a TinyPICO with all the code already installed and ready to go. If you didn’t want to get a TinyPICO and use the Arborino SDK to program it, you might find this a good solution, IMHO.

NOTE: Thie BB Link adapter requires a USB-C connection for power. It does NOT work with Lightning connectors (or adapters). USB-C is Apple’s future, but if you’re still using an older iPhone, you’ll still need to find power for this.

Full disclosure: In exchange for testing, Georges gave me a free adapter, but I’ve not otherwise been compensated in any way. I’ll likely see him and buy him a coffee later this month in Kaua`i. (Happy to pass along any feedback from ARC members.)

IMHO, Georges does a great job supporting the amateur radio community. I started using his Transceive application a few years ago to connect to AllStarNet nodes from my Mac. (It’s not free, but it’s a fabulous AllStar client.) Most of his code is available open source from Github. His open source Varanny application is a great way of running multiple VARA modems on your network and connecting to them with RadioMail. I’ve been encouraging him to release a RadioMail for Mac or Linux as well, but he’s not there yet.

Cheers,

Ken van Wyk
Armata Scientia

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: Georges WH6AZ <g at islandmagic.co>
> Subject: Got Kenwood TH-D75 Blues?
> Date: May 9, 2024 at 9:03:32 AM EDT
> 
>  	
>  
> 	 
>  
>  	
> Aloha Kenneth,
> 
> I’m excited to share some news with you.
> 
> When I started the journey of building RadioMail, my modest goal was to bring Winlink email onto the iPhone, even if that meant connecting via Telnet only. I knew that interfacing with radios would be more challenging, due to limitations in connectivity.
> 
> Since, a lot has happened. Solid options like the Mobilinkd TNC 4 <https://ternarylabs.dmanalytics2.com/click?u=https%3A%2F%2Fstore.mobilinkd.com%2Fproducts%2Fmobilinkd-tnc4%3Futm_campaign%3Dlaunch%26utm_term%3DMobilinkd%2520TNC%25204%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Ddirectmailmac&i=1&d=J5-i7dQIRR6Izghgm79vaw&e=ken%40vanwyk.org&a=AMAhh-k5Qk-WeiVllNn60g&s=lMV__kYA6BQ>, PicoAPRS <https://ternarylabs.dmanalytics2.com/click?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.db1nto.de%2Findex_en.php%3Futm_campaign%3Dlaunch%26utm_term%3DPicoAPRS%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Ddirectmailmac&i=2&d=J5-i7dQIRR6Izghgm79vaw&e=ken%40vanwyk.org&a=AMAhh-k5Qk-WeiVllNn60g&s=6kJEkEvxvr0> and DireWolf on the DigiPi <https://ternarylabs.dmanalytics2.com/click?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcraiger.org%2Fdigipi%2F%3Futm_campaign%3Dlaunch%26utm_term%3DDigiPi%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Ddirectmailmac&i=3&d=J5-i7dQIRR6Izghgm79vaw&e=ken%40vanwyk.org&a=AMAhh-k5Qk-WeiVllNn60g&s=JpCLH5ELbxM> have emerged.
> 
> Discovery of those devices has improved tremendously, and zero-conf setup is now possible for both packet TNCs and VARA modems, with the varanny <https://ternarylabs.dmanalytics2.com/click?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fislandmagic%2Fvaranny%3Futm_campaign%3Dlaunch%26utm_term%3Dvaranny%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Ddirectmailmac&i=4&d=J5-i7dQIRR6Izghgm79vaw&e=ken%40vanwyk.org&a=AMAhh-k5Qk-WeiVllNn60g&s=baOJNWvsugU> agent.
> 
> It’s easier than ever to get email over the air with RadioMail.
> 
> Yet, the popular Kenwood TH-D74 and its successor, the TH-D75, painfully stood out. Those radios depend on Bluetooth Classic for connectivity, whereas iOS devices only support Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Which means, the powerful built-in packet TNC of these radios remained inaccessible to iPhone users.
> 
> Until now.
> 
> A couple months ago, I published the firmware for an adapter that bridges those devices. The response was overwhelmingly positive and many of you built their own adapter, using general-purpose development boards. Despite the enthusiasm, the DIY solution has its downsides. Procuring the right parts, 3D printing an enclosure, compiling code and soldering wires can make the project less accessible for some. The resulting device is also somewhat bulky to mount on a radio, and having to charge yet another battery is annoying.
> 
> To address these shortcomings, I developed a custom hardware adapter designed for those who value ease and convenience, all packaged in a compact design. This new adapter relies on the USB-C connector found on the iPhone 15 and newer iPad models.
> 
> Meet B.B. Link, the Bluetooth adapter that cures your connection blues.
> 
>  
>  
>  	 <https://ternarylabs.dmanalytics2.com/click?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgetbblink.com%3Futm_campaign%3Dlaunch%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Drm-list%26utm_term%3D&i=5&d=J5-i7dQIRR6Izghgm79vaw&e=ken%40vanwyk.org&a=AMAhh-k5Qk-WeiVllNn60g&s=LVfhV4Azn2E>	 
>  
>  	
> 
> With this adapter, RadioMail can fully utilize the radio's built-in KISS TNC packet modem. Plug it into the USB-C port of the phone, pair with your radio once and you're set. 
> 
> See it in action:
> 
>  
>  
>  	 <https://ternarylabs.dmanalytics2.com/click?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DX07X-XVmps8%26autoplay%3D1%26utm_campaign%3Dlaunch%26utm_term%3DImage%3A%2520B.B.%2520Link%2520Adapter%2520-%2520Pair%2520%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Ddirectmailmac&i=6&d=J5-i7dQIRR6Izghgm79vaw&e=ken%40vanwyk.org&a=AMAhh-k5Qk-WeiVllNn60g&s=nNSjlqq5mwc>	 
>  
>  	
> 
> The adapter only works with certain radios, devices and apps. You’ll need:
> 
> An iOS device with a USB-C connector, like the iPhone 15 or newer iPads.
> A Kenwood TH-D74 or TH-D75 radio.
> A packet application like RadioMail <https://ternarylabs.dmanalytics2.com/click?u=https%3A%2F%2Fradiomail.app%2F%3Futm_campaign%3Dlaunch%26utm_term%3DRadioMail%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Ddirectmailmac&i=7&d=J5-i7dQIRR6Izghgm79vaw&e=ken%40vanwyk.org&a=AMAhh-k5Qk-WeiVllNn60g&s=I-k98ccewn0> or APRS.fi <https://ternarylabs.dmanalytics2.com/click?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgeo.itunes.apple.com%2Fapp%2Faprs.fi%2Fid922155038%3Futm_campaign%3Dlaunch%26utm_term%3DAPRS.fi%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Ddirectmailmac&i=8&d=J5-i7dQIRR6Izghgm79vaw&e=ken%40vanwyk.org&a=AMAhh-k5Qk-WeiVllNn60g&s=5HeoV5oTfM0>.
> While I realize that not everyone has upgraded to the iPhone 15 yet, USB-C is here to stay. In the meantime, you can use a portable power bank to power the adapter and you’ll be set when your next phone upgrade comes around.
> 
> I’ve only made a small initial batch to gauge demand, so availability is limited.
> 
> Use the promo code below at checkout for a 15% discount (valid until end of May):
> 
> V6ZDKB3 
> 
> Grab your B.B Link at https://getbblink.com <https://ternarylabs.dmanalytics2.com/click?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgetbblink.com%3Futm_campaign%3Dlaunch%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Drm-list%26utm_term%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fgetbblink.com&i=9&d=J5-i7dQIRR6Izghgm79vaw&e=ken%40vanwyk.org&a=AMAhh-k5Qk-WeiVllNn60g&s=c1BCFt81Vok>
> 73,
> Georges
> WH6AZ
> 
>  
>  
>  
>  	
>  <https://ternarylabs.dmanalytics2.com/click?u=https%3A%2F%2Fradiomail.app%3Futm_campaign%3Dlaunch%26utm_term%3DImage%3A%2520Website%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Ddirectmailmac&i=10&d=J5-i7dQIRR6Izghgm79vaw&e=ken%40vanwyk.org&a=AMAhh-k5Qk-WeiVllNn60g&s=cZHFDWMZPg0>	 
>  
>  <https://ternarylabs.dmanalytics2.com/click?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fradiomailapp%3Futm_campaign%3Dlaunch%26utm_term%3DImage%3A%2520Twitter%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Ddirectmailmac&i=11&d=J5-i7dQIRR6Izghgm79vaw&e=ken%40vanwyk.org&a=AMAhh-k5Qk-WeiVllNn60g&s=Ab-m3cIJ1ik>	 
>  
>  <https://ternarylabs.dmanalytics2.com/click?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2F%40islandmagicco%3Futm_campaign%3Dlaunch%26utm_term%3DImage%3A%2520YouTube%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Ddirectmailmac&i=12&d=J5-i7dQIRR6Izghgm79vaw&e=ken%40vanwyk.org&a=AMAhh-k5Qk-WeiVllNn60g&s=25VTHewM0N4>
>  
>  
>  
>  	
> RadioMail by IslandMagic Co. <https://ternarylabs.dmanalytics2.com/click?u=https%3A%2F%2Fislandmagic.co%3Futm_campaign%3Dlaunch%26utm_term%3DIslandMagic%2520Co.%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Ddirectmailmac&i=13&d=J5-i7dQIRR6Izghgm79vaw&e=ken%40vanwyk.org&a=AMAhh-k5Qk-WeiVllNn60g&s=8S6U4QAQ-Os> · +1 808-202-2521
> Made with Aloha on Kauaʻi
> You’ve indicated interest in RadioMail, the Winlink email app for iOS.
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