Looking for a TNC

[K3WDT]

What is a good TNC for a packet beginner? i am looking for something that will last, but is affordable. i need something that i can connect to my Yaesu radio with an 8pin packet port.

[W9GB]

What is a good TNC for a packet beginner?
I am looking for something that will last, but is affordable.
I need something that I can connect to my Yaesu radio with an 8-pin packet port.

?? which Yaesu radio, HF, VHF/UHF, DC-Daylight ...

Do you mean the 6-pin mini-DIN -- the standard ISO connection?

[K3WDT]

The FTM350AR. and it is an 8pin DIN. i believe it is the only Yaesu radio with this connection

[W9GB]

Your Yaesu FTM-350AR already has an internal 1200 bps TNC (usually used for APRS as mobile),
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...xvrs/3350.html
and this unit was Yaesu's response to the Kenwood TM-D710.

Yaesu sells an appropriate adapter cable for your mini-DIN 8-pin connector.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal.../54203350.html

Hal Mueller's explanation of FTM-350AR Packet usage (using TNC built into radio)
http://halmueller.wordpress.com/2010...aesu-ftm-350r/

APRSISCE/32 -
http://aprsisce.wikidot.com/start
This needs the Yaesu CT-142 cable (8-pin miniDIN to DE-9, serial)
http://aprsisce.wikidot.com/ftm350
===
Kantronics KPC-3+ is popular and new/used units readily available.

[K3WDT]

the built in TNC is not accessible from an outside source (ie a computer). basically all you can do is send aprs packets from the radio itself, and display these packets on a computer. what i would like to do is to be able to send messages through APRS from my laptop to the radio then to RF-land. as well as other forms of packet radio.

[W9GB]

OK, the Kantronics KPC-3+ or any APRS compatible TNC (latest firmware) should work.

The Yaesu CT-142 data cable has an 8-pin mini-DIN to connect to the Yaesu radio and
a 9-pin DE-9 (serial) to connecting to the PC.
The Yaesu CT-140 data cable is like the CT-142, but includes an extra lead for connecting
to an external TNC (6-pin miniDIN)

For programming this Yaesu radio these cables must use a USB/serial converter that contains an FTDI USB chip; Prolific USB chips do not work at the non-standard cloning baud rate of 48000 baud used in this Yaesu configuration. -- Yaesu/Vertex Support.

[K3WDT]

thanks for the help. hopefully i can find a TNC that can connect to my laptop by usb because it has no serial ports.

[W9GB]

Thanks for the help. Hopefully I can find a TNC that can connect to my laptop by Universal Serial Bus (USB), because it has no (RS-232, DE-9) serial ports.

Purchase a Quality USB to RS-232 adapter cable. I recommend FTDI cables. WHY?
Primary drivers are usually loaded by MS Windows automatically.
These FTDI USB cables are available from Mouser, in various lengths.
http://www.mouser.com/MobileCatalog....ZUREkgY2FibGVz

[W4PC]

http://www.timewave.com/products/pk96.html

Pk-96 with a built in USB interface.