Packet Radio

GregKruckewi,,ARRLSacramentoValleySec:onECPaulGroseN6DRY&DwaneEvansKG6KPW

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Emailviaradio

Topics

•  Introduc:on•  WhatisPacketRadio?

•  WhyusePacketRadio?

•  BuildingaPacketSta:on•  SoNwareforSendingPacketMessages

•  Demo

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WhatisPacketRadio?

•  AmateurPacketRadioisoneofmanydigitalmodesthatHamscanusetobuildwirelesscomputernetworks

•  Packetestablishesa“privateconnec:on”betweentwosta:onswhilesharingafrequencywithothersta:ons

•  PacketcanuseBulle:nBoardSystems(BBSs)fordroppingoffandretrievingmessagesbetweenusers

•  Youcantakeadvantageofpacketnodestoconnecttodistantsta:ons

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HowPacketRadioWorks

•  PacketRadiousestheAX.25protocol•  Sendspackets(anenvelope+payload)

–  Envelopecontainstheheaderatthebeginningandachecksumatend

–  Headercontainsaddressinginforma:on(to,from)

–  Checksumdeterminesifpacketiserror-free–  Payloadcontainsthedatatobesent

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Packet–MakingConnec:ons…

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AdvantagesofPacketRadio?

•  MessagessenttoaBBScanbestoredandforwardedthroughoutconnectedBBSnetworks.

•  Therecipientdoesnotneedtobeon-linetogetthemessage,meaningthatmessagescanberetrievedattherecipient'sconvenience.Thiscansavecomputer’sba6erypower.

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AdvantagesofPacketRadio?

•  Packetradioisidealforsendingcomplexmessages–  passinglistsofmaterial,addresses,instruc:ons,

orcomplexwords(i.e.pharmaceu:calsorchemicals)Youwouldnotwanttomistake;

HydrogenSulphide(agas)withHydrogenSulfate(anacid)

•  Errorcheckinginsuresthatmessagesaresenterror-free

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ComplexDataSentfromTevisRide

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ComplexDatafromaRedCrossShelter

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BuildingaPacketSta:on

•  Tobuildapacketsta:onyouwillneed:

– Computer

– TerminalNodeController

– Radio

– CablesfromcomputertoTNCandfromTNCtoradio

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PacketRadioSoNware

•  Terminalprogram

•  RMSExpress

•  OutpostPacketManager

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OutpostPM&WinlinkExpress

•  BothOutpostPMandWinlinkExpress– HaveafamiliarEmailProgramlook…

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TerminalProgram

•  Terminalprogramscanbeusedtoconnectandsendshortpacketmessages

•  Manycommandstolearn

•  Canbeusedforkeyboardtokeyboardmessaging

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RMSExpress

•  DesignedtobeusedwithexclusivelyWinlinkEmailSystem

•  CannotbeusedtoconnecttoaPBBS•  Idealtosendemailanywhereintheworld

•  Cansenda,achmentssuchassmallphotos

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OutpostPacketManager

•  DesignedforARES/RACESEmcommsbyJimOberhofer,KN6PEspecificallyforARES/RACESinSantaClaraCounty.UsedbymanyARESgroupsfordigitalcommunica:onsintheUS.

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WhyOutpostisidealforARES

•  Easytouse,e-maillikeinterface•  Folders:Inbox,Outbox,Sent,Archive,DraN,Deleted

•  Addressbook•  AutomatescommswithTNC/BBS–justpressSend/Receive

•  Autologgingofallmessagessentandreceived

•  Makesprin:ngamessageassimpleasaclick

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Outpost:MessageList

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Outpost:ReadMessages

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Outpost:ComposeaMessage

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PacketRadio

•  Demos:

– Usingaterminalprogram– UsingOutposttoconnecttoanotherpacketsta:on

– UsingWinlinktosendapacketemailmessage

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Resources

•  OutpostPacketManagerh,p://www.outpostpm.org/

•  RMSExpress&Winlinkh,p://www.winlink.org/

•  www.sacvalleyares.orgLinkstothispresenta:onaswellasinforma:ononpacketandmanyothertopicsrelatedtoARES.

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•  Contactinforma@on

GregoryKruckewiC,KG6SJT PaulGrose,N6DRYkg6sjt@gmail.com pgrose@pacbell.netcell:530-219-0611 cell:916-956-7387

DwaneEvans,KG6KPWkg6kpw@sbcglobal.netcell:916-764-0227