phone+digirig (or any soundcard interface) for winlink, you are limited to packet.
no vara hf/fm (that would require a device capable of running the vara windows binary)
Yes, have only done it using a Mobilinkd TNC, hence the question…so, is your response intended as a thinly veiled insult, or a helpful comment that it won’t work?
I didn’t keep the mobilinkd because there is no APRS activity or gateways near me, and it doesn’t do FT8, so it was not the right tool for my needs or location. I am looking for a tool that will work better for my location and needs.
Heh, neither. I love doing APRS on my iPhone and HT, but haven’t yet figured out how to get RadioMail or anything else to cooperate. Was hoping you or someone else had.
i don’t have an iphone so that’s why my response was un-informative
as for android devices;
ft8cn or ft8 radio, does a fine job working ft8.
it can do so with the digirig, supporting cat/c-iv control of the radio as well.
it can do it with just an audio cable and usb to cat/c-iv cable (ptt command rather than vox)
as far as winlink, the most popular ‘modem protocol’ is vara. hf or fm.
vara is limited to a device capable of running a windows binary.
there is a setup, varanny, that installs the vara modems and ‘other stuff’ on a cube pc that creates a remote hotspot for iphone winlink use.
that kind of defeats the super portable ‘kit’ idea but does work.
so, that leaves us with only 1 modem protocol that just about any device can produce on it’s own.
plain old packet.
the sound device of the phone/whatever can make the tones and output either through the speakers or headset or external audio device like a digirig.
for winlink use, this limits you to a vhf/uhf gateway running packet along with or instead of varaFM AND being close enough to connect with.
(woad doesn’t do 300bps packet for hf work, not that any gateways are running hf packet)
so that’s the best explanation i can give on using winlink with JUST a phone.
ft8=yes
winlink=not really
i use ft8 and winlink regularly in the field.
if i don’t bring the evolve maestro III, my winlink range is 30miles from my tower (packet)
i like to spot myself when POTA activating and winlink vara HF is much more reliable for me.
(so the little laptop usually gets thrown on the motorcycle as well)
btw, aprs gateways are very sparse here too.
mine being one in a 60 mile radius
The USB-C to lightning adapter won’t help you. They only exist so you can use a USB-C charging cable to provide power to the phone, not exposing any of the USB function to an external device.
WRT using sound cards with RadioMail, there is no internal modem in RadioMail (yet). Mostly because until the DigiRig Lite, existing mechanism to activate PTT (USB serial or HID) in most sound cards were not accessible to iOS apps. This is now changing since the Lite can use right audio channel for PTT control. As a result, I’ve just finished implementing a packet modem in RadioMail that is compatible with the DR Lite and VOX cable. It’s in early beta right now. If interested to test, DM me and I’ll invite you to TestFlight.