From: lairdpg@lub001.lamar.edu
Newsgroups: comp.bbs.misc
Subject: Re: Info Post on Packet Radio.
Date: 8 Sep 92 21:27:16 +1700
Organization: Lamar University - Beaumont

In article <18363.2aa646b4@ecs.umass.edu>, pierre@ecs.umass.edu writes:
> 
> 
> Posted by Xyzzy Markany Tesseract Plugh on 08.10.92: 15.19
> Xyzzy@ai.mit.edu or DanielD@(vax2.)hofstra.edu
> Mind Itself > /dev/null == A Mind Itself goes nowhere 
> 
> Packet Radio
> 
> Packet radio is a form of amateur radio communications combining radios with 
> modems. Packet radio uses the features of TCP/IP or AX.25, but using RF signals
> instead of telephone or dedicated wires.
> 
> To use packet radio, you must have a valid amateur radio license or an 
> excellent forgery <grin>. In all seriousness, however, the FCC 
   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Very illegal!  Don't even think of this, you could be one who recieves the
20,000.00 fine and go to prison in the U.S. operating packet without a
license...

> _does_crack_down_ on people who obviously don't know what they are doing.  Once
> you have a radio license, you must get a VHF radio. Some radios are well suited
> for this purpose; others are not. Usually, because people are really starting 
> to get into packet radio a lot because of the new NO-CODE radio class, many 
> radios proudly bear the label 'good for packet radio'. Don't worry, 
> you _can_ believe that. <:-)>.
> 
> You will also need a device called a TNC (terminal node controller). The best 
> one is PK-232 (a good one is made by AEA); two other standards are the TNC1 and
> TNC2.  It connects directly to the 232 port and your radio. The TNC is used to 
> control the input and output to and from the radio waves. It is in charge of 
> assembling the actual frames of data. Another item you may or may not need is 
> a packet radio terminal program. Although you may use a regular program such as
> Smartcom or Procomm, this will put you through the needless pain of learning 
> all of the TNC system commands. The alternative is getting a packet terminal 
> program that acts as a front end to the TNC. Many good shareware programs have 
> been written for this purpose. If you get a PK-232, there is a shareware 
> program called PK232com, which is what I use and it supports packet, morse, 
> baudot, RTTY, etc. (Morse, baudot, and RTTY are other forms of non-vocal 
> communication; you don't have to know Morse code to converse in it!)

The PK-232 is very outdated.  There are many multi-modTNC's on the market
today.  Research before you buy...

> 
> How Packet Works
> 
> Packet radio originated in the late 1970s, when radio amateurs in Canada 
> decided that the marriage of the radio and the computer would be a Good Thing. 
> At that time, a standard for communications was decided on, but it was soon 
> seen that this format was too limiting to be supportive of many people in the 
> long term. As hams in the United States got involved in this aspect of radio, 
> amateurs got togehter and decided on a new, improved format. It was decided 
> that the new protocol should take after the popular X.25 format. The new format
> for radio was named AX.25. This format, still in use, defines the way TNCs 
> pass information between them. Each TNC, when it sends a block of information, 
> sends first a header block (sometimes called a supervisory block), then a data 
> block, then an end block.

He doesn't mention KA9Q, does he? (contributions to X.25 Driver and TCPIP)

> 
> Header Block
> The header block is used only when on a frequency being used by many people. 
> (This will usually be the case. However, if you have found a certain person 
> with whom you wish to chat or exchange files without being in contact with the 
> rest of the radio network, it is consindered good equiette to move off 
> frequency so as not to clog the airwaves. When off frequency, header blocks are
> not needed as there is only one place where your files are going.) This header 
> block contains, among other items, your call sign, supervisory information such
> as error codes, and addressing information (where you are talking to).
> 
> Data Block
> The data block contains the actual data that you are sending.
> 
> End Block
> The end block tells the other computers that you are done. Sometimes, the end 
> block is not used because the data block contains a fixed amount of 
> information. However, it is good because it can contain a checksum to make sure
> everything was sent correctly.
> 
> The header block serves a very important purpose; in most cases many hundreds 
> of stations will be using the same frequency. This is good. Each and every of 
> those stations, if configured properly, can act as an intelligent digipeater. 
> When you send a packet of information to a certain address, you send it out in 
> all directions. Then, when another station recieves it, it compares the address
> with a list in memory and, if it is closer to the target address than others 
> in the vicinity, it will rebroadcast this packet. (These lists are updated on 
> powerup by checking what signs are being transmitted.) You yourself will also 
> be acting as a digipeater for others. (This can be disabled, but there is no 
> real advantage to doing so.) In this manner, you can transmit around the world,
> although if the frequency is crowded, there can be so many packets bouncing 
> around that it may take almost a second for your packet to reach its target.
> 
> Use
> Packet radio is a great way to communicate with other radio operators. Like 
> morse and RTTY, there is a better chance of your message getting through than 
> with voice, because it is a completely binary format. However, it is better 
> than others because if there is a single mistake made in transmitting your 
> packet, the recieving station will ask for a retransmittance. In this way, no 
> matter how bad the conditions eventually a error-free packet will get through.
> There are many people out there using Packet, (150000+) and each wants to talk 
> to you. There are even computers out there called PBBSs, which are the radio 
> equivelent of telephone BBSs, and the packet equivelent of radio repeater clubs.
> 
> Beyond (before?) Packet
> Many TNCs are also capable of transmitting and recieving morse, baudot, and 
> RTTY. The TNC will detect the speed and copy code to normal characters on your 
> screen and vice versa; you don't need to know a letter of code. This will 
> usually work perfectly as many others will also be transmitting and recieving 
> morse with a computer, so there will be no timing errors. You can also 
> transmit baudot and RTTY, although these are not as popular.
> 
> The New Standard
> Although AX.25 is still widely used, an emerging standard in the packet radio 
> networks is the TCP/IP protocol used in the Internet (THE net). The TCP/IP is 
> considerably more complex (and accurate) than the AX.25 standard, and will 
> probably be the standard in a few years. It is important to buy a TNC that 
> supports this.
> 
> Bad Idea
> There are many programs going around called things like "Poor Man's TNC" and 
> "SofTNC". These are supposidly software TNCs. They work, but very slowly, and 
> you will soon be seen as an impediment to the network because your link will 
> slow every packet sent through you to a crawl. Get a REAL TNC.
> 
> Radio and Phones; what's the link?
> Some PBBSs, for a fee, will patch through your transmission to a telephone 
> line, enabling your radio to be connected to various services. This is very 
> useful if you need to access an online service while in the middle of nowhere.
>

No fees may be charged for any service in the Part 97 regulations I have and
have read.  You may not use a telephone under any conditions where you can
complete the call by toll. Long distance calls may not be made by phone patch.
 
> Conclusion
> Packet Radio is good.
> 
> d8-<
> -- 
> 
> 	Again this was posted on my bbs, I do not use packet and don't think I
> will.  2 technical at the moment. Hope this is informative to all who read it. 
> I made sure his addresses were in the header.
> 

It is very enlightening and somewhat true in respect to license, how it
transfers data, but looks a little old with mention of the PK232.

> 
>   /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
>  <    Disclaimer: per usual, all opinions are my own and not neccesarily      >
>  <    those of an employer or any other person or thing, living or dead.      >
>  <---------------------------------------------------------------------------->
>  <   Michael R. Pierre       Pierre@ecs.umass.edu                             >
>  <---------------------------------------------------------------------------->
>  <                           Culture for service;                             >
>  <                           service for humanity.                            >
>   \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

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