Packet
Getting Started
• It is REALLY helpful to have a mentor to help
you get setup and make your first contact.
• If you have never done this before – there
can be many UNKNOWNs to get over. With
the help of a Mentor you can reduce the
Unknowns. Even if it just a phone call, it can
save you a lot of time and frustration.
Packet Station
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Terminal Node Controller – TNC
2M Radio
Computer w/serial link
Program for Packet
Cable to connect computer to TNC, and
TNC to the radio
Packet TNCs
• Most Packet stations have a TNC (Terminal
Node Controller). The TNC is a small
computer that has memory, circuits to
decode/encode the tones, etc. (This type of
TNC should not be confused with the TNC
for PSK-31 [sound card interface].)
• There are some sound card programs for
packet (a few years ago these were not very
good – but they may have progressed).
Packet TNCs cont’d
• Some TNCs have limited capability, some
are KISS only.
• KISS – it is mainly a
modulator/demodulator and most of the
functions are performed in the computer if
your computer is not connected to it, it will
not function.
• Some TNCs have mail boxes – this allows
others to leave you a message if you are
not at the unit at that time.
Some of the Available TNC on the market
TNC-X
KISS Mode TNC
KPC-3+
PK-232
Programs
• Along with the TNC you will need a
program.
• XPware is a Freeware packet program
• MacTNC – freeware program for the MAC
• The software will run in different modes.
• Need to become familiar with your
program operation.
Radio
• You will need a 2M radio
• No tone is required so an old radio will do
just fine
• There are digipeaters (like repeater – but
for packet) so high power is not usually
required.
• I use an old radio with 10 watts output
• Some use a handie talkie
Cables and other hardware
• You will need several cables:
– Serial cable (USB/serial) to talk to the TNC
– Radio Interface cable to connect – Audio Out,
Audio In, PTT from radio to TNC
• Radio cable can be purchased for newer
TNCs to newer radios, if using an old radio
you will need to make your own.
Getting Started
• The first thing to do, is setup your station and
try and make a contact.
• Get you station on the air – leave it hooked
up for ½ hour to see if it receives any
stations (use MHeard)
• Common Packet Frequencies – 145.01, 03,
05, 07, 09 - For Montgomery county the
frequency is 145.03 – with an outside
antenna you should receive several stations
and digipeaters.
Getting Started cont’d
• Using MHeard – try to connect to a station –
the best are BBSs & WinLink stations
because they are active all the time and they
are nodes. (You can only connect to stations
& nodes.)
• If you can connect to a station or a node then
your station is transmitting & receiving,
cables are good, software is working –
everything is GOOD.
Getting Started cont’d
• Try checking into the ARES net on
Wednesday night (145.03 @ 7:45 – 8:00)
might have to use a digipeater (Conroe) to
talk to the station taking check-ins.
• You can also connect to a WinLink station –
(K5RUD in the Woodlands – if it is up) to
check out your station.
Packet Operations
• When the program and TNC is first
powered up the program will send
commands to the TNC (this is a setup in
your software). Downloads are:
– Commands - Modes of operations
– Call sign entry
– Date & Time
Packet Operation cont’d
• The TNC has lots of commands & setups
(50+ for a normal TNC) – to start out – just
use the DEFAULTS
• You will also need to know some operating
commands.
• Most all the commands have actions – (i.e.
Monitor On/Off )
• The most important command is entering
your call sign.
Packet Operation cont’d
• Your TNC will display messages when
someone is connected to you.
• You probably want to see the traffic and
whose is active.
• To do this there are several commands
you can use.
• Also normally you can only talk to stations
you are Connected to – might want to talk
to others stations etc. (round table etc.)
Common Commands
• Most commands will have a shorten
version (one or two letters)
• Monitor – On/Off – when On it allows you
to see all traffic on the frequency (not just
what’s addressed to you)
• MHeard – Short/Long – gives a list of
stations that your TNC has heard
• MCOM – On/Off – will list the command
signals
Common Commands
• UnPronto – allows you to talk to stations that
are not connected to you (like a round table
etc.)
• Command – this is a mode for the TNC – this
is how you give instructions/commands to the
TNC
• Converse – this is a mode for
communications – when you type items they
will go out over the air when you hit send
Packet Operation cont’d
• To talk to a station you need to connect to
the station – type “C KE5STL” - this is
what is typed in the send buffer – C is the
short version for Connect and then the
Call sign
• Most TNCs will try and connect with the
station a number of times (mine sends a
Connect message every 5 seconds for 10
times)
Packet Operation cont’d
• When the connected station is contacted it
will send several packets (control packets)
back & forth.
• Then Both stations will be “connected” –
an LED is usually illuminated to show that
you are connected to a station.
• Then your TNC will change into Converse
mode and anything typed in the TX buffer
will be sent etc.
Packet Operation cont’d
• A lot of times you can not connect to the
station directly (too far away), then we use
a digipeater. This is like a repeater but for
packet.
• Then the command will be “C KE5STL V
Conroe” - this command is Connect to
KE5STL Via Conroe digipeater (in packet
you can have alias for your station –
Conroe is an alias for W5CFJ digipeater)
Packet Operation cont’d
• You can’t “Kurchuck” a digipeater – it
receives a packet and then retransmits it
immediately (less than ¼ second)
• A digipeater is not a Node so you can not
connect to it.
Packet Operation cont’d
• You have instructed the Conroe digipeater
to relay you signal to the other station.
You also instructed the other station that
you are using a digipeater (he can then
connect to you and he will use the
digipeater)
• When you do a MHeard it will display the
*
call sign – if it has an then it means that
the station was heard through a digipeater.
Packet Operation cont’d
• If you do a MHeard Long, then it will give
you the name/call of the digipeaters.
• You can go through multiple digipeaters
(usually the limit is 5 or 10). Practically the
limit is about 2.
Winlink 2000
• Winlink 2000 is a system where you can
use you packet station to send & receive
emails & messages.
• It has HF and 2M/70 cm gateway stations.
• You use special software (like an email
program) to use Winlink
• You can connect to the RMS Packet
stations to check out your radio etc. (they
are nodes)
Winlink 2000 cont’d
• You can down load the programs from the
web site. There are 2 programs (freeware)
that can be used:
– Paclink – if using XP will have to probably load
some other programs
– Airmail – older 3rd party software (works on XP
w/o adding new software)
• When used the first time you will become
register (have to do it over the radio &
connect with a station to get registered).
Winlink 2000 cont’d
• Your address is CallSign@Winlink.org
• Friends can send an email to this address
and when you connect to the Gateway
station it will be tell you how many
messages it has, and will start downloading
them to you.
Winlink RMS Packet Map
2M Winlink Nodes
NK5Z Station in Conroe
KD2KW Station in Spring
Most Winlink 2M stations – have a Call Sign -10
HF RMS Stations
Local HF Stations
Up & Running
• Some TNCs have a Beginner & Advanced
Modes
– Beginner Mode – limited amount of
commands that can be used
– Advanced Mode – all commands can be used
• Beaconing – You can setup you TNC to
Beacon (send a short message) every X
minutes. This will let other stations know
that your station is active.
Up & Running cont’d
• Beacon requires several items to be setup
– Time to Beacon – should be ~ 15 – 30
minutes
– Need to set up the text it will send (limited to ~
128 characters)
• A lot of station heard are their Beacons.
• On the Beacon you can give them the
address of your mail box if you have one,
and other information
Other Fun Things
• Try working the Space Station on Packet
– Frequency is 145.825
• You can hear it with an indoor antenna,
need to use a better antenna to work
through it.
• Need to track the ISS and see if you can
hear it. If you can hear it, you can
probably work it or at least see your call
come back to you (due to the slight delay).
New Satellite Digipeater –
FASTRAC 1 (FO-69)
• There is a new satellite digipeater open for
use. (Just opened up for digipeating on
Dec. 1, 2011)
• It is called FASTRAC 1 – alias is FAST1
• Uplink Freq. 145.825, Downlink 437.345
• 1200 bps –
• To connect using digipeater
– “C KE5STL V FAST1”
Demo
• MHeard on 145.030
• Connect to KE5STL
• Connect to WinLink node – KD2KW-10 on
145.07
• Connect to another station Via Conroe
digipeater