Cache County ARESRACES

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Cache County ARES/RACES
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Introduction to Packet Radio

• cmdc PACKET Via THE SHACK CONNECTED to
  PACKET Via THE SHACK

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What is packet radio?

• Packet radio is communications for the computer
  age. More and more hams are adding computers to
  their ham shacks. Early ham-oriented computer
  programs allowed computers to send and receive CW
  and RTTY. Some farsighted hams, however,
  developed a new mode of communications that
  unleashes the power of the computer. This mode is
  Packet Radio.

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Packet radio has the computer age features you
would expect.

• It is data communications -- high speed and error
  free packet radio communications lends itself to
  the transfer of large amounts of data.
• It is fast, much faster than the highest speed CW
  or RTTY.
• It is error free -- no "hits" or "misses" caused
  by propagation variations or electrical
  interference.
• It is spectrum efficient -- several stations can
  share one frequency at the same time.
• It is a network -- packet stations can be linked
  together to send data over large distances.
• It is message storage -- packet radio bulletin
  boards (PBBS) provides storage of messages for
  later retrieval.

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What do I need?

• Packet radio uses a terminal node controller
  (TNC) as the interface between a computer and a
  transceiver.

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AEA PK-12
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PacComm PicoPacket
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MFJ TNC-2
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Kantronics KPC-3 Plus
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PacComm Tiny-2
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Sound Card TNC!
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What does the TNC do?

• A TNC is nothing more than an enhanced modem.
• A TNC accepts information from a computer or
  ASCII terminal and breaks the data into small
  pieces called packets. In addition to the
  information from the computer, each packet
  contains addressing, error-checking, and control
  information. The addressing information includes
  the call sign of the station that sent the
  packet, and the call sign of the station the
  packet is being sent to. The address may also
  include call signs of stations that are being
  used to relay the packet. The error-checking
  information allows the detection of packets
  containing errors. If the received packet
  contains errors, the receiving station waits
  until it is transmitted again.

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What does the TNC do?

• By breaking up the data into small parts, packet
  radio allows several users to share a frequency.
  Packets from one person are transmitted in the
  spaces between packets from other people. The
  address section allows each person's TNC to
  separate packets intended for him/her from
  packets intended for others. The addresses also
  allow packets to be relayed through several
  stations before they reach their destination.
  Having information in the packet that tells the
  receiving station if the packet has been received
  correctly is much like a read receipt and tells
  the sender it was received correctly.

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What does the TNC do?

• All an amateur needs to set up a packet radio
  station is a VHF or UHF FM transceiver (with an
  antenna), a computer or ASCII terminal, and a TNC
  or multimode controller, which allows operation
  on several modes.
• The TNC connects to the transceiver microphone
  input. It also connects to a computer or terminal.

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Typical packet station
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Your manual can answer all your questions!

• Your TNC manual should contain detailed
  instructions for wiring the TNC, radio, and
  computer together. So many hams are on packet now
  that someone in the local radio club will
  probably be able to help you if you have
  problems, or ask around on the local repeater or
  a simplex frequency.
• http//www.packetradio.org

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Getting started

• To get started on packet radio, you must tell the
  TNC your call sign. Most TNCs allow the user to
  change their call sign at any time, so several
  family members could use one TNC with each of
  their call signs. Most TNCs also have a way to
  remember the call sign when the power is switched
  off. The TNC must be in command mode before
  commands may be entered. When the TNC is in
  command mode, you will see a prompt
• cmd

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Getting started

• This indicates that the TNC is waiting for input.
  To tell the TNC my call sign, KC7DMH types
• MYCALL KC7DMH
• means "carriage return". On most
  computers this key is labeled "ENTER".

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Starting a conversation or calling CQ

• As in all modes of Amateur Radio, packet allows
  you to "read the mail" or monitor channel
  activity. This is called the monitor mode, and
  looks like this
• KC7DMHKC7JKX HELLO, WHEN IS THE NEXT NET? K
• KC7JKXKC7DMH HANG ON, I'LL CHECK.

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Starting a conversation or calling CQ

• To enable monitor mode, simply type MON ON at
  the cmd prompt. You may also need to type MALL.
  Consult the operating manual for your TNC to be
  sure.
• The call signs of the stations involved appear as
  "FROMTO" with the contents of the packet
  following. When it is in monitor mode, your
  computer will display everything that is
  transmitted on the packet frequency, even if it
  is not addressed to you. In addition, a packet
  station that is monitoring is not replying to any
  messages, unless the message is directed to that
  station.

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Starting a conversation or calling CQ

• You can send a CQ by entering the converse mode
  of the TNC. You go into converse mode by typing
• CONV
• (Some TNCs allow you to type "K" instead of
  "CONV")
• You can then type your CQ
• BOB IN MINNEAPOLIS LOOKING FOR ANYONE IN MANKATO
• Your TNC adds your call sign as the FROM address
  and CQ as the TO address. The receiving stations
  TNC adds these addresses to the front of the text
  when it is displayed.

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Starting a conversation or calling CQ

• You answer a CQ or establish a contact by using
  the CONNECT command. When two packet stations are
  connected, each station sends data packets
  specifically addressed to the other station. When
  a station receives an error-free packet, it
  transmits a reply packet to let the sender know
  the packet has been received correctly. The two
  stations take turns sending data or messages
  typed on the keyboard.

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Connecting to another station

• To connect to another station, you type
• Connect KC7JKX
• where KC7JKX is the call sign of the station you
  wish to contact. (Most TNCs let you use "C" as an
  abbreviation for "connect".)
• If KC7JKX's packet-radio station is on the air
  and receives your connect request, your station
  and his will exchange packets to set up a
  connection. When the connection is completed,
  your terminal displays
• CONNECTED to KC7JKX
• and your TNC automatically switches to the
  converse mode.

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Connecting to another station

• Now, everything you type into the terminal
  keyboard is sent to the other station. A packet
  is sent whenever you press ENTER. It is a good
  idea to use K, BK, O, or at the end of a
  thought to say "okay, I'm done. It is your turn
  to transmit."
• When you are finished conversing with the other
  station, return to the command mode by typing
  when the command prompt (cmd) is
  displayed, type
• Disconnect
• and your station will exchange packets with the
  other station to break the connection. (Most TNCs
  let you use "D" as an abbreviation.) When the
  connection is broken, your terminal displays
• DISCONNECTED

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Connecting to another station

• If, for some reason, the other station does not
  respond to your initial connect request, your TNC
  will send the request again until the number of
  attempts equals the internal retry counter. When
  the number of attempts exceeds the retry counter,
  your TNC will stop sending connect requests and
  your terminal displays
• retry count exceeded
• DISCONNECTED

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Connecting to another station

• A TNC can reject a connect request if it is busy
  or if the operator has set CONOK (short for
  CONnect OK) off. If this happens when you try to
  connect, your TNC displays
• KC7JKX busy
• DISCONNECTED

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Getting out of the Valley

• Sometimes terrain or propagation can prevent your
  signal from being received by the other station.
  Packet radio gets around this problem by using
  other packet radio stations to relay your signal
  to your intended station. All you need to know is
  which on-the-air packet radio stations can relay
  signals between your station and the station you
  want to contact. Once you know of a station that
  can relay your signals, type
• Connect KC7JKX Via W7AW-5

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Digipeating

• where KC7JKX is the call sign of the station you
  want to connect to and W7AW-5 is the call sign of
  the station that will relay your packets. The
  "-5" following W7AW is a secondary station
  identifier (SSID). The SSID permits up to 16
  packet stations to operate with one call sign.
  For example, W7AW-5 is a 2 meter packet repeater
  and W7AW-6 is a 222 MHz packet repeater.

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Digipeating

• When W7AW-5 receives your connect request, it
  stores your request in memory until the frequency
  is silent. It then retransmits your request to
  KC7JKX on the same frequency. This action is
  called digipeating, a contraction of "digital
  repeating". If KC7JKX's packet radio station is
  on the air and receives the relayed connect
  request, your station and his will exchange
  packets through W7AW-5 to set up a connection.
  Once the connection is established, your terminal
  will display
• CONNECTED to KC7JKX Via W7AW-5
• W7AW-5 will continue to relay your packets until
  the connection is broken.

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Digipeating

• If one digipeater is insufficient to establish a
  connection, you can specify as many as 8 stations
  in your connect request. Additional digipeaters
  are added to the connect command separated by
  commas. For example typing
• Connect KC7JKX Via W7AW-5, WA7FTC-1
• after the command prompt (cmd), causes your TNC
  to send the KC7JKX connect request to W7AW-5
  which relays it to WA7FTC-1. Then, WA7FTC-1
  relays it to KC7JKX.

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Digipeating

• Do not use more than one or two digipeaters at a
  time, especially during the prime time operating
  hours of evenings and weekends. Each time you use
  a digipeater you are competing with other
  stations attempting to use the same digipeater.
  Each station that you compete with has the
  potential of generating a packet that may collide
  with your packet. The more digipeaters you use,
  the more stations you compete with, greatly
  increasing the chance of a packet collision. As a
  result, it may be difficult to get one packet
  through multiple digipeaters, and your TNC will
  quickly reach its retry limit and disconnect the
  link.

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Any station can digipeat

• Any packet radio station can act as a digipeater.
  Most TNCs are set up to digipeat automatically
  without any intervention by the operator of the
  station being used as a digipeater. You do not
  need his/her permission, only his/her
  cooperation, because he/she can disable his/her
  station's digipeater function.

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Network Nodes

• The most common form of digipeater is the node.
  To reach a distant station, first connect to the
  node. Then, instruct the node to connect you to
  the distant station. The node acknowledges
  packets sent from either station, then relays
  them to the other station. This has a number of
  advantages over a simple digipeater.
• Amateurs have set up nodes to connect with other
  nodes, so packet messages can be sent over longer
  distances. Such a system of interconnected nodes
  forms a network of packet stations.

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NODE
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Dual Port Gateway
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4 Port Diode Matrix Interface
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To PIH
To SLC
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Using Your TNCs Built-In Mailbox

• Connecting to your TNCs Mailbox
• You connect to your mailbox in the same way that
  a REMOTE user would, by using the SSID that you
  assigned when you configured your TNC.
• So if KD7QOH wants to connect to his mailbox, he
  simply connects to KD7QOH-1. He will get a prompt
  such as this ENTER COMMAND B,J,K,L,R,S, or Help
  

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The Mailbox Commands

• B (Bye) - Exit Mailbox
• J (Heard) - Callsigns Heard List
• K (Kill) - Kill a message (eg K 3) A remote
  operator may Kill only a message sent BY that
  station or addressed TO that station, but if you
  are accessing your OWN mailbox, you have full
  authority to delete any message. The messages are
  identified by number so the command must include
  the message number that is to be killed, eg K 5.
  Upon sucessful deletion of the message you will
  get a response such as Message 5 Killed

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The Mailbox Commands

• L (List) - List available messages
• R (Read) - Read a message (eg R 3)
• S (Send) - Send a message (eg S N7AHI) The Send
  command may be entered as "SP" or "S" (which is
  the same thing) if entering a Personal message,
  or "SB" to enter a Bulletin. Your mailbox needs
  to know who the message is being "sent" to.
• For a REMOTE user the callsign is optional if no
  callsign is entered, the assumption will be made
  that the message is for you, the owner of the
  mailbox.

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Examples of a Send command

• SP N7AHI Personal message addressed to KD7QOH,
  may be read by that station when he connects to
  this mailbox.
• SB PAKET Bulletin for this PMS only. Anyone
  accessing our mailbox can read this message.
• S A simple S (or SP) command is permissible for a
  REMOTE user. In this case the message will be
  addressed to you and stored here in your mailbox.

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Examples of a Send command

• When the mailbox is ready to take the message it
  will prompt for the message header. Eg
• Subject for msg 5 from KD7QOH to N7AHI?
• The "Subject" is the text that is shown in the
  mailbox Listing so try to make it interesting and
  meaningful. That could be the only part of your
  message some users will see!
• Then, finally, the following prompt is issued
• OK, send your message...( to end)

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Examples of a Send command

• Any text that is entered after this will be
  recorded in the mailbox for this message. A
  , or "/EX" on a separate line, will
  terminate the message. The mailbox then saves the
  message details and issues the following
  confirmation that all is well
• Message 5 stored
• Help - Display details of the Mailbox Menu
• Typing a "?" is the same as typing "Help".

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TCP/IP over packet

• Amateurs have also established another type of
  network that operates in a manner very similar to
  the internet. This system is known as the TCP/IP
  network. TCP/IP is short for transmission control
  protocol/internet protocol, which describes the
  set of rules or commands that control the network
  operation. Here your station is assigned a
  network address, and the stations automatically
  know how to route your messages and data to other
  stations on the network.

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Packet frequencys

• Today, most amateur packet radio occurs at VHF,
  on 2 meters, but activity on 222 MHz continues to
  grow. The most commonly used data rate on VHF is
  1200 bauds.
• Getting on the air is usually a simple matter of
  turning on your radio and tuning to your favorite
  packet radio frequency. On 2 meters, common
  packet channels are 145.01, 145.03, 145.05,
  145.07, and 145.09 MHz. On 222 MHz, packet
  activity centers on 223.4 MHz. If there is a
  voice repeater on that frequency in your area,
  ask around at a club meeting or on the repeater.
  Someone is bound to know where the packet
  activity is.

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Moving to another frequency?

• If you are conducting a direct connect, move your
  contact to an unused simplex frequency. It is
  very inefficient to use a frequency where other
  stations, especially digipeater stations, are
  operating. The competition slows down your
  packets and, in return, you are also slowing down
  the other stations. You should use a frequency
  occupied by a digital repeater only if you are
  using that digital repeater. Check with other
  hams in your area for more information on local
  packet operating frequencies. Although you are
  operating your packet station on simplex, it is
  best not to use the designated FM simplex
  frequencies because packet and voice are not
  compatible modes.

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Packet Programs

• paKet 6.2
• WinPack
• Hyper Terminal
• ARESpack
• ARES Data
• WinLink
• Outpost
• Lots of BBS Software

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APRS

• No discussion of modern packet radio would be
  complete without at least a mention of the
  automatic position reporting system (APRS). This
  system is a software application that uses a
  system of maps to display the location of
  stations. Combined with a global positioning
  system (GPS) receiver, many TNCs can be set to
  automatically decode your latitude and longitude
  information and transmit it for display on the
  maps of other stations in the network.

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Resources!

• http//www.packetradio.org
• Everything for Packet Radio
• http//www.tapr.org
• http//www.qrz.com/download/packet/index.html
• http//www.aprs.org
• http//www.google.com
• http//www.washcoares.org/software/paKet62.zip
• Excelent packet program!

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Questions?

• --------------------------------------------------
  ------------------------
• CONNECTED to PACKET Via THE SHACK
• cmd D
• DISCONNECTED