What is Packet Radio, by Russell Hall N8RSH
Packet Radio Network was started back in March of 1980 by Doug Lockhart, VE7APU out of Canada. He formed the Vancouver Amateur Digital Communications Group (VADCG) and created the “VADCG board”. To learn more about the history of Packet Radio Network visit www.choisser.com/packet/
Here is how the Packet Radio works. There is one center device that everyone will connect into to store messages. Messages can be addressed to ALL, a group, or an individual. It looks and feels like the old school bulletin board systems, you had to dial into a server before the Internet took off. There are software programs out there to make it easier to control the station or you can type all of the commands manually from a terminal prompt.
When you connect to the Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) station there is error check controls to make sure data exchanges correctly. With this center connection point you know your information is stored and waiting for the intend recipient. When the recipient is ready to receive that information, they login to the BBS station and download the data stored. It can take a long time sometimes to exchange traffic over the air due to the size of the message and the overhead of controlling the packets.
There is a way to use one station to relay to another station, with the use of Digipeating. This can be useful if the distance or a terrain obstacle is in the way of your destination station. You can use several station hops to get to the end station. However with more hops on a simplex frequency there will be a lot of RF collisions and it will take a long time to pass a message.
One thing that makes the whole experience easier to use is a program that I have been using called Outpost Packet Message Manager. This program works like an email client that you are familiar with. It will control your TNC so you don’t need to learn all of the special commands. After about an hour of using Outpost you will be a professional at it. More information on how to use Outpost and documentation on how to use it is on their website at www.outpostpm.org.
I have been using my Kenwood TH-D72a as a radio TNC combo, which is connected by USB. I configured Outpost to connect directly to the serial port. I did use it a few times with AWG PE. It worked ok, but it had a bit of lag to the whole process. This setup works well to connect to a remote BBS station to send and receive messages. If you want to setup your own BBS station for digipeating or message storage a Kantronics KPS-3+ TNC is recommend from what I have heard via the grape vine.
The common used 2M frequencies with the Packet Network in the USA are 145.01, 145.03, 145.05, 145.07, 145.09 144.91, 144.93, 144.95, and 144.97 MHz. The local frequency that is being used in our area is 145.090 MHz. After you connect to one of the local stations, you can list out the other stations it can connect to. This will give you a good idea of where the other stations are that you can access via that station.
I have been having great time learning and using Packet Radio. If you haven’t tried it, I would recommend giving it a try. You never know what kind of adventure you can find in this hobby. If you have any questions you can email me at n8rsh1 at yahoo dot com. I will do my best to direct you to the correct information.
73 from N8RSH
Packet Radio Relay Stations by Steve Wuelfing K8BZ
Packet Radio Information WB9LOZ
Here is a list of local station in the area to help you get started.
WB8EOC-1 on 145.090 MHz located in West Branch, MI
W8DMI-1 on 145.090 MHz located in Lupton, MI
KE8DWM-1 on 145.090 MHz located in Standish, MI
K8BZ-1 on 145.090 MHz located in Gladwin, MI
TAWAS as an alias
BBS on the International Space Station Stuffs..
cut out from amsat.org
C-Connect request
D-Disconnect request
DM-Disconnect mode
UA-Unnumbered Acknowledge
UI-Unconnected Information frame
I(n)-Information frame or Index packet (n=0-7).
ISS Packet Command Listing:
It takes a long time to down load the HELP file from ISS. I have included
an actually copy of the ISS help file. The commands are similar to most
terrestrial TNC's. You should review these commands and compare them to
your TNC owner's manual.
B(ye) B [CR] disconnects you from PMS.
H(elp) H [CR] or ? [CR] displays this help file.
J(log) J [CR] displays a list of callsigns heard (optional date/time)
K(ill) K n [CR] deletes message number n (only to/from your callsign).
KM(ine) KM[CR] deletes all READ messages addressed to your call sign.
L(ist) L [CR] lists the 10 latest messages.
M(ine) M [CR] lists the 10 latest messages to/from your callsign.
R(ead) R n [CR] reads message number n.
S(end) S (callsign) [CR] begins a message addressed to (callsign).
SB Sends Bulletin
SP Sends Personal
ST Sends Traffic
Subject: ending with [CR].
Text: End each line with [CR]. End message by
typing /ex [CR] or CTRL-Z [CR]
at the beginning of a new line.
SR(eply) SR n[CR] Sends a reply to message n prompting only for text.
V(ersion) V [CR] displays the software version of the PMS system.
The only commands the Public should be using are:
Bye, to disconnect.
Kill and KM, to delete your old mail.
List and Mine to see a message list.
Read, Send and SR, for mail
The rest of the commands are for the system operator usage.