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Table of Contents
NinoTNC BLE
An OARC Group-buy and build was organised in April 2025 for the NinoTNC BLE board developed by {Dave}
The latest compiled firmware for the onboard Pico is available here: {link to compiled firmware}
What is it?
The NinoTNC BLE board allows one to connect to a NinoTNC over Bluetooth and BLE, allowing for a user to use a TNC with a smartphone or tablet/laptop without the need to use a USB-B cable.
Applications that are known to communicate with it:
APRSDroid using the SPP profile WoAD Winlink on Android
Assembly
Assembly of the board is recommended to take place in the following order:
Underside components
- SMD 10kΩ Resistors and 100nf Capacitors (R1,R2 & C1,C2)
- MicroSD Card Slot
- Pogo Pins
- Run/Passthrough switch
- Reset Button
Top side components
- Raspberry Pico
- SSD1306 OLED screen
Tips
When mounting the pogo pins - beware the GND pin takes quite a bit of heat to get it to take.
An SMD hotplate makes this easier but if you don't have one, I recommend using a third hand and using a pair of tweezers or fine pliers to hold the pin on one side and applying heat from the other.
Use 6mm stand-offs between the TNC and BLE board.
Additionally, use 10mm offsets on the TNC to lift the whole assembly so it sits flat when the stack is assembled, with the BLE board on top.