TinyGate
The new 3-in-1 transceiver interface for digital modes:
a low cost USB interface as kit that provide a integrated soundcard and two independent serial interfaces for CI-V/CAT and a PTT/CW control.
The TinyGate are widely compatible with many digital mode software and supported by many operating systems
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You are looking for a compact interface for digital modes with full galvanic isolation between your PC and transceiver?
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You don’t want a jumble of cables with separate soundcard, serial ports and/or CAT adapter?
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You don’t want trouble installing the drivers of the interface?
Then you’ve come to the right place!
A kit with preassembled SMD components and a aluminum enclosure are available from RF-SYSTEM‘s webshop.
User manual: Download (Updated: 20/8/18)
Assembly
guide video (Updated: 22/5/16)
TinyGate Group on Yahoo!
Quick Overview:
The TinyGate was designed by Martin IW3AUT and is a small, low-cost transceiver interface for digital modes (for example: PSK31, RTTY, WSPR , SSTV, Echolink, APRS, Pactor, ROS, and many more).
As a 3-in-1 interface and powered from a USB connector provides a Sound interface + CAT/CI-V serial interface + PTT/SQL/CW/FSK interface with full galvanic isolation between Transceiver and Computer by using audio transformers and optocouplers. You can use the TinyGate with many software available either as a freeware, shareware or commercial. This way a great many hams can operate on digital modes on all bands by having just a low cost hardware working with a lot of transceivers and software.
TinyGate board layout:
The TinyGate is a 65 x 80mm circuit board that use the PC’s USB port as data and power interface
TinyGate Key Features:
- 3-in-1 USB interface, just only one USB cable to your PC: built-in USB 2.0 High speed Hub
- Full galvanic isolation between radio and USB interface
- Integrated USB sound device:
- Provides 2 independant integrated USB COM-Ports:
Support for following radio control ports: CI-V, FIF-232, IF-232 (RXD+TXD)
Supported by the following operating systems: Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Macintosh OS X and LINUX.
Squelch(COR) input, positive or negative logic (for Echolink and remote control applications)
PTT relay output: direct keying control without VOX circuit
- Controls for receiver and transmitter audio level
- Quick change USB and Radio interface connectors
- RJ45 connector for transceiver connection with a flexible pin selection jumper socket (attached to MIC connector, accessory or data port works with virtually all transceiver). A detachable radio cable can be made easily with a standard unterminated RJ45-FTP network patch cable (get a patch cable and cut/remove one of both RJ45 connectors), where you can solder a suitable connector for your transceiver. Here as example my cable for a ICOM IC7400 transceiver:
- Leds for USB Audio device, PTT and CAT RXD/TXD activity
- All communication software which support a standard sound card and a serial port for the PTT can work with the TinyGate. Due the independant sound interface and COM-Ports it can be used also with any combination of CAT, remote operation and data software like MixW, Hamradio Deluxe, DigiPan, MixW, FLDigi, RemAud etc.
A brief list of software for Digital Modes:
| Software | Notes | O/S | |
| Ham Radio Deluxe Digital Master 780 | With digital data decoder, Internet remote control and many, many more…. | Windows | |
| UZ7HO Packet Radio Soundmodem | Use a digimode sound interface as a modem and supports AX.25 protocol | Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10) | |
| MixW | Multimode operating software | Windows | |
| DigiPan | Windows | ||
| FLDigi | Windows/Linux | ||
| RemAud | Voice over IP (VoIP) application primarily designed for two-way amateur radio remote control over the Internet | Windows | |
| MMTTY | Linux | ||
| Multipsk | Windows | ||
| ROS | Windows | ||
| WSPR | by Joe Taylor, K1JT | Windows/Linux/MacOs X |
See also the huge digital mode software list of Serge, RV3APM
Preliminary specification:
- USB 2.0 High speed interface
- USB Power requirements: 5V, max. 120mA
- Board size: 65x80mm
- USB sound interface (codec):
48 / 44.1kHz Sampling Rate for Both Playback (D/A) and Recording (A/D)
88 dB (typical) dynamic range
16-Bit DAC Output and 16-Bit ADC Input with a 22dB Microphone Boost
Audio Output:
Frequency response (1 dB bandwidth): 0,02 – 11,5 kHz typical (D/A frequency response conditions: measured with a E-MU0202, include isolation transformer)
Second harmonic: -70 dB typical
Total harmonic distortion (THD): 0.06% typical
D/A Sampling rates: 44.1, 48 kS/s
Audio Input:
Frequency response (1 dB bandwidth): 0,02 – 15 kHz typical (A/D frequency response conditions: measured with a E-MU0202, include isolation transformer)
Dynamic Range: 88 dB typical
A/D sampling rates: 44.1, 48 kS/s
- USB COM-Ports:
Chip: FTDI FT232RL
Multi-Standard: CAT, FIF-232 (5V TTL), IF-232 (5V TTL): RXD/TXD, up to 38400 baud
CI-V: up to 38400 baud
CAT/CI-V interface power:
external powered from the transceiver / internal powered from the USB (internal powered works only without galvanic isolation)
PTT output: reed relay driven from RTS, max. 100V/0,5A
CW/FSK output: optoisolated open collector driven from DTR or TXD, max. 50V/50mA
Squelch input: optoisolated logic high or low to activate CTS, 4-20VDC - Radio connector (RJ45):
Availability:
A kit with preassembled SMD components and a aluminum enclosure are available from RF-SYSTEM‘s webshop.
For other questions please send me an email.
Thanks!