Packet Radio What is it? What can you do with it? John H. Green WB4MOZ.

Packet RadioWhat is it

What can you do with it

John H Green WB4MOZ

Packet Radio ndash What is it Introduction

Packet Radio had its beginnings back in 1978 when the Canadians authorized ASCII transmissions by Amateur Radio operators The US followed in 1980

Several Organizations were formed - including

- AMRAD - The Amateur Radio Research and Development Corporation (1975)

- TAPR - Tucson Amateur Packet Radio Corporation (1981)

- PPRS - Pacific Packet Radio Society (1982)

The commercial protocol X25 was modified for Amateur Radio use ndash resulting in what we know as AX25

Packet Radio ndash What is it Hardware Various versions of the TNC were developed starting

with the early unit from Canada in 1978 TAPR released a kit called the TNC1 (based on the Z80)

in 1983 In the following years many clones followed Several companies produced TNCrsquos ndash some based on

the TAPR TNC and some were entirely new designs Some companies that produced TNCrsquos are AEA (now

Timewave) DRSI (out of business) Kantronics MFJ PacComm - There are many more

Software (soundcard) defined TNCrsquos were developed Speeds are 300b and up - with 1200b used for most

lans 300b used mainly on HF

Packet Radio ndash What is it Firmware Software

With the introduction of AX25 development of BBS Network and Terminal software followed

BBS ndash AA4RE F6FBB MSYS W0RLI to name a fewNewest and still under development ndash BPQMail

Network ndash Many variations of Node Software Firmware (BPQ Flexnet Texnet Thenet Rose Fpac to name a few) Some reside in firmware and some in a PC

Terminal Software User interface ndash Many programs were developed some specific to a TNC type and some very generic

Packet Radio ndash What is it Typical Configurations BBS ndash The most common BBSrsquos are operated as

Personal or Full Service

- Personal BBS (PBBS) are used for sending receiving personal messages and usually reside in a TNC Some Full Service BBS sw will function as a Personal BBS

- Full Service BBSrsquos are PC based and provide many features such as routing of messages bulletins special handling have multiple ports compressed forwarding etc World wide the F6FBB amp BPQ sw are the most common

- Most Full Service BBS software is dormant - little or no development The exception to this is BPQMail still under development and expansion by G8BPQ

Packet Radio ndash What is it Typical Configurations

Network ndash A typical network consists of Node(s) Switch(s) connected together to facilitate passing traffic within and between Lans

Node or Switch ndash There are generally two configurations used ndash one without a PC and one with a PC

- Non PC consists of a number of TNCrsquos (stack) with the RS-232 ports connected together via either an active or passive matrix The diode matrix was more common

- PC based node or switch has a PC to handle all the switching routing info etc functions The TNC (usually operating KISS) mainly interfaces the PC to the radio

A Typical Node or Switch

COMPUTER or MATRIX

TNCTNCTNCTNC

VHF RADIO UHF RADIO UHF RADIO UHF RADIO

ANTENNA ANTENNA ANTENNA ANTENNA

Supporting Power Equipment

Network diagram for Palm Beach Co and nearby areas This is a FPAC Network using 2m for Lans 223 and 440 for Network connections Most Lans are 1200b - West Palm Beach (K4PKT) also has a 9600b Lan port

Packet Radio ndash What can you do with it There are many applications that Packet supports ndash

some of which are

- APRS This is by far the most popular mode today

- WINLINK Email over ham radio has both HF and VHFUHF modes

- Sedan

- DX Cluster

- BBS Send receive personal messages and read bulletins from all over the world

- Keyboard to Keyboard (KtK)

Packet Radio ndash What can you do with it

APRS ndash Probably the most used aspect of Packet Radio

- There are two basic modes of operation in APRS

1 ndash A sender of location data where one uses a radio antenna a TNC and optionally a GPS to transmit their location stationary or mobile

2 ndash A receiver of location data which displays the location as a text string or on a map

Reception can be RF or internet using web sites such as aprsfi or finducom

There are many different uses for APRS ndash tracking people things simple messages ndash google it and enoy


Winlink ndash Developed as a message handling system early in the 1980rsquos and evolved to email over ham radio

-Todayrsquos users include Boating RVrsquoing general email and EMCOMM ndash lots of emphasis here

- A MARS version is in use also

- Large attachments can be sent received

- Winlink uses a combination of RF and Internet

- For more info check out the winlinkorg website and or view the Winlink presentations you can get some of them on the fadcaorg website

E-MAIL VIA AMATEUR RADIOPacket Network

User Port (LAN) User Port (LAN)

Backbone Ports Backbone Ports

Users RMS Packet Users RMS Packet

Typical Neighboring

FPAC Nodes

To neighbor LAN To neighbor LAN

- - - - = Radio Links


Sedan ndash Sedan was developed for use in a Keyboard to Keyboard mode of operation for EMCOMM with simple messages sent received

Generally speaking

Sedan allows nearly instant communications

Is a low traffic network

Will not handle attachments


BBS DX Cluster KtK

BBS ndash Allows one to send receive messages bulletins DX Cluster ndash Provides near instant alerts to DXrsquoers of

that rare DX station with frequency(s) KtK ndash Allowed KtK activity both locally and on distant

nodes

Due to the availability of Internet and Cell Phones these modes have seen decreased activity over the years

References

Palm beach Packet Group Inc httpwwwpbpgorg FADCA httpfadcaorg Intro to Packet Radio httpwwwchoissercompacket AMRAD httpwwwamradorg PPRS httpwwwpprsorg TAPR httpwwwtaprorg Winlink httpwwwwinlinkorg There are many many more ndash use Google

Packet Radio


Packet Radio ndash What is it Hardware



Packet Radio ndash What is it Typical Configurations (2)

Slide 7

Network diagram for Palm Beach Co and nearby areas This is a


Packet Radio ndash What can you do with it (2)




References


Packet Radio had its beginnings back in 1978 when the Canadians authorized ASCII transmissions by Amateur Radio operators The US followed in 1980

Several Organizations were formed - including

- AMRAD - The Amateur Radio Research and Development Corporation (1975)

- TAPR - Tucson Amateur Packet Radio Corporation (1981)

- PPRS - Pacific Packet Radio Society (1982)

The commercial protocol X25 was modified for Amateur Radio use ndash resulting in what we know as AX25
























COMPUTER or MATRIX

TNCTNCTNCTNC






some of which are



- Sedan

- DX Cluster





















Typical Neighboring

FPAC Nodes





Generally speaking





BBS DX Cluster KtK



nodes


References


Packet Radio






Slide 7







References
























COMPUTER or MATRIX

TNCTNCTNCTNC






some of which are



- Sedan

- DX Cluster





















Typical Neighboring

FPAC Nodes





Generally speaking





BBS DX Cluster KtK



nodes


References


Packet Radio






Slide 7







References



some of which are



- Sedan

- DX Cluster





















Typical Neighboring

FPAC Nodes





Generally speaking





BBS DX Cluster KtK



nodes


References


Packet Radio






Slide 7







References



















Typical Neighboring

FPAC Nodes





Generally speaking





BBS DX Cluster KtK



nodes


References


Packet Radio






Slide 7







References



Generally speaking





BBS DX Cluster KtK



nodes


References


Packet Radio






Slide 7







References


BBS DX Cluster KtK



nodes


References


Packet Radio






Slide 7







References

References


Packet Radio






Slide 7







References

Packet Radio What is it? What can you do with it? John H. Green WB4MOZ.

Documents

Transcript of Packet Radio What is it? What can you do with it? John H. Green WB4MOZ.