While receiving packets, the TNC automatically decodes, checks for errors, and displays the received messages. Packet radio provides error free communications because of built-in error detection schemes. If a packet is received, it is checked for errors and will be displayed only if it is correct. In addition, any packet TNC can be used as a packet relay station, sometimes called a digipeater. This allows for greater range by stringing several packet stations together.
Users can connect to their friends' TNCs at any time they wish, to see if they are at home.
Another advantage of packet over other modes is the ability for many users to be able to use the same frequency channel simultaneously. Figure 1 shows an illustration of a typical station setup with a schematic diagram of a station wiring. It also reverses the process, translating the audio that the connected radio receives into a byte stream that is then sent to the computer. This is the user interface. A computer running a terminal emulator program, a packet-specific program, or just a dumb terminal can be used.