BBLink=The Missing Link

BBLink is the missing link needed for RadioMail and the Kenwood D75. Now connecting the two is super simple thanks to BBLink by Island Magic.
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[@lyledal]

*Looks at iPhone* *Looks at D75* Can't we all just get along??

[@rong8955]

I’ve had my BB Link for several days and used it heavily. Works great. This is my first setup that can do Winlink with the pain of VARA HF.

[@islandmagicco]

🙏💜

[@jcritch42]

Why can't you use the iPhone Bluetooth?!?!?!???

[@islandmagicco]

Apple does not allow applications to use the Bluetooth Serial Port Profile (SPP) on iOS and only permits Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Note that SPP is supported on macOS, indicating its explicit absence on iOS is a deliberate design decision. This could be for power-saving or security reasons, as Apple also does not allow applications to access serial USB OTG either. In the TH-D74/5, Kenwood uses SPP to expose the internal KISS TNC, likely because TNCs have traditionally been serial devices. There is now a well-documented method to expose a TNC over BLE, as used by Mobilinkd and the PicoAPRS radio, which could be used in addition to SPP. While each design decision can be justified individually, their combination results in a frustrating incompatibility.

[@SheepdogPreparedness]

Hoping that the RadioMail app gets Android support soon. WOAD is not very intuitive.

[@joel6221]

what's the antenna you have on that D75?

[@Subgunman]

What about lightning connectors?

[@KM4ACK]

USB-C only since that is the way Apple is moving. I'm still stuck with the lightning connector which is why I used the battery bank to power the BBLink

[@islandmagicco]

The lightning connector on iPhone does not act as a power deliver source, unless the device has a special chip from Apple. USB-C does not have this limitation.

[@kg4gav]

Wonder why they decided to rip off the EIB (Excellence In Broadcasting) Radio Network logo. And to head things off, this this not political and I don't really care how anyone feels about Rush Limbaugh...this is just a curious inquiry as to why they are using the EIB logo.

[@joel6221]

Will this work with a D74?

[@islandmagicco]

Yes

[@on4vrt]

To bad it’s only for USA. No shipping to EU possible.

[@Subgunman]

If you have friends in the USA, HAVE IT SHIPPED TO THEIR ADDRESS AND THEN HAVE THEM SEND IT ON TO YOU.

[@islandmagicco]

International shipping is available, including EU, Australia, Canada and Japan.

[@on4vrt]

HI, Good to hear that shipping to Europe is available now. Thanks!

[@WalterBoring]

$70!! ouch.

[@islandmagicco]

The firmware is open source, so you can always build your own DIY version. Many folks have done this, and many more have opted for the ready-made version. Once you understand the effort involved in making one, you might perceive the value offered a bit differently.

[@joel6221]

i second that.

[@MarkSpohr]

Is this an iPhone problem only? Does it work with Android?

[@islandmagicco]

Yes. Android supports the Bluetooth serial port profile (SPP) that the radio uses.

[@N4EJM]

Won’t have to worry about it. Kenwood is too rich for me. Now if RadioMail and the DigiRig Lite will work over a wired connection to an HT I could do that.

[@KM4ACK]

That is a possibility from what I hear but my iPhone is the old connector so can't test.

[@N4EJM]

@@KM4ACK I have a USB-C iPad. Just ordered the lite, so hopefully soon I can try it out.

[@islandmagicco]

​@@N4EJM DigiRig Lite is just a soundcard interface, not a modem. TNCs like mobilinkd or the built-in one in the TH-D75 provide the AFSK modem required for packet data.

[@bruehlt]

IIRC this whole issue is Apple's fault (yet once again) for not including the correct stacks / information regarding their bluetooth. Apple is the worst at not following standards.

[@nickl3872]

Apple is trash i will not allow it in my house

[@islandmagicco]

It's a design choice by Apple. The serial port profile (SPP) used by the TH-D75 is part of the Bluetooth Classic standard, which is relatively power hungry. Apple does not allow applications to access this unless the device manufacturer undergoes a rigorous certification process. Conversely, Kenwood could have considered adding support for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) in their new TH-D75. There's now a well-documented method to expose a TNC over BLE, as used by Mobilinkd and the PicoAPRS radio.

[@bruehlt]

@@islandmagicco That's a pretty lame excuse. This profile exists for many more devices than just the Kenwood - its a standard, and they chose to ignore it. That's pretty poor engineering.

[@islandmagicco]

​@@bruehlt I won't pretend to know for sure why Apple does certain things, and I'm only speculating. SPP is supported on macOS, so its explicit absence on iOS seems like a deliberate design decision. If I had to guess, it’s a balance between battery life concerns and the fact that there aren't many "consumer" devices that users are expected to interact with via a serial interface, aside from the occasional networking equipment and yes, our beloved radio.

[@503Nick]

@@bruehltI guess if we fail to expect our new radios to utilize the newest available tech then we will never be let down