WELCOME FEBRUARY 18, 2012 Packet Workshop

Thanks to our host, Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) for the generous use of their facilities, and to Dan, WA9DDI, for helping make it all happen. Housekeeping Issues Smoking Location Restroom Locations Comments and Questions Etiquette

Amateur Radio Packet “The Relevance of 30-Year Old Technology in the 21 st Century” Cessna 150Lockheed F-117

Packet Workshop 3 Modules  Basics of Packet & TNC Setup  Using Terminal Mode  Configuring & Using Outpost

Tools Needed Computer with Outpost TNC (KPC-3 or other already working model) Serial port cable (w/adapter, if needed) Power source for computer & TNC 2M transceiver, antenna (dummy load) Connecting cable for TNC-to-Radio Power source for transceiver

Why are we here ? … and, why are we talking about packet ?  Emergency Management, Police, Fire, EMS  Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Schools  Red Cross, Salvation Army INFORMATION -- DATA  Amateur Radio  Volunteerism! - a desire to help  Communications  Structure

Why are we here ? … and, why are we talking about packet ?

What is Packet Radio ? … in a nutshell  One of many digital modes that hams can use to build wireless computer networks  Built on the AX.25 protocol, a mature extension of the industry standard X.25  Transparency  Error correction  Automatic control  Data transfer speeds from 300 baud up to 19.2 kb  frequency dependent; higher speeds = wider bandwidth

What is Packet Radio ? … the advantages  Error free  Date/time stamp messages  Can provide a message hard copy  Single frequency - “store & forward”  Relatively low cost  Reliable  Scalable  Self-building infrastructure

What is Packet Radio ? … the advantages  Long Messages  We know to keep it under 25 words; served agencies often don’t/won’t  Complex Messages  “Need to swap gallon drums of acetalethelhexabadstuff for 4 4-gallon drums of phenylbromotetragoodstuff”  Lists of names, addresses, phone numbers, call signs, etc.  High Volume Messages  Transmit, log, and print much faster than by voice

What is Packet Radio ? … the disadvantages  Requires operator training  Specialized hardware needed  Minimum number of stations required for an effective network  Duplication of radio equipment required to maintain 2M voice operations for nets  May interfere with co-located 2M voice operation  Single frequency reduced throughput  Slow speeds compared to Internet

What is Packet Radio ? … the components  Power supply

What is Packet Radio ? … the components  Power supply  TNC  Radio

What is Packet Radio ? … the components  Power supply  TNC  Radio  Laptop

What is Packet Radio ? … the components  Power supply  TNC  Radio  Laptop  Printer

What is Packet Radio ? … the components  Power supply  TNC  Radio  Laptop  Printer  Task Lighting

What is Packet Radio ? … the components  Power supply  TNC  Radio  Laptop  Printer  Task Lighting  “Comfort” considerations (fan, heater, etc.)

What is Packet Radio ? … the components  Power supply  Computer

What is Packet Radio ? … the components  Power supply  Computer  TNC  Terminal Node Controller  Modem  Packet Assembler/Disassembler (PAD) AGW Packet Engine (AGWPE)

What is Packet Radio ? … the components  Power supply  Computer  TNC  Radio  Mobile preferred  Don’t forget the cable!

What is Packet Radio ? … the components  Power supply  Computer  TNC  Radio  Antenna  PDI  Size (height) Matters  Height vs. Power

What is Packet Radio ? … the components  Power supply  Computer  TNC  Radio  Antenna  Operator

A Windows-based packet messaging client Supports ARES, RACES, and other emergency response teams and their need to pass digital traffic Helps automate the packet message handling environment Manages all message-handling between you and your BBS Lets you read, delete, create, reply to, or forward messages back to the BBS Outpost is a software layer that provides a nice user interface to the complex world of packet operations, TNC usage, and BBS commands. What is Outpost ?

Why use Outpost ? Leverages the existing packet hardware, network, and BBS infrastructure Compatible with many existing BBSs and TNC PBBSs Uses your existing TNC and packet radio equipment Hides the complexity of the packet operating environment Similar look and feel to contemporary programs Shorter learning curve for packet operations Allows users to… “focus on the message, not the medium” Implements most local emergency management policies for digital communications Still under active development based on user requests and on- going alignment with the Outpost mission.

Installing Outpost … to communicate with your TNC

Desktop Icons  Ipserial  Outpost PMM Installing Outpost … to communicate with your TNC

No serial port on your computer?  Converters with FTDI chipsets work best  Get latest drivers for your OS USB-to-Serial Port Converter … to communicate with your TNC

USB-to-serial port converter installed – now what?  Determine what COM port Windows assigned to it USB-to-Serial Port Converter … to communicate with your TNC

 4 connections between radio and TNC Connecting TNC to Radio … difficult part #2 RadioTNC Audio outAudio in Audio out PTT Ground

 6-pin mini-DIN “data” or “packet” connector  Industry standard adopted by all Japanese manufacturers  Less expensive radios do not have it Connecting TNC to Radio … difficult part #2

 “Roll your own” or buy pre-made  Must be built for your specific radio and specific TNC Connecting TNC to Radio … difficult part #2

 Audio levels are critical for proper operation  Radios with mini-DIN connectors make it easy  Using speaker jack requires careful volume adjustment (usually about 1/3 up)  Unsquelch radio when using KPC-3 with “CD software”  Set squelch just above threshold when using other TNC Connecting TNC to Radio … difficult part #2

 Relax  Believe it or not, the hard part is over.  Have fun while you learn  “Playing” on packet actually develops your skills The Packet Station … ready for action

 Digipeater  Node (TCARES, CYCLON, INHOWA, NOIRAM)  PBBS (W9TCA-1, AB9LE-1, WR9A-1, etc.)  “Full service” BBS (aka: cluster)  BBS  Conference room  Multiple ports  Backbone access / Internet access  Backbone The Packet Network … what is it exactly?

What is Packet Radio … what can we connect to ?

Why use Packet Radio ? … the case for packet  BBS Message “Store and Forward”  Message storage, retrieval, and forwarding  Messages stored for retrieval at any time

Why use Packet Radio ? … the case for packet  Home stations with Internet access can greatly enhance the local packet network’s capabilities

Why use Packet Radio ? … the case for packet  Full-service BBSs and nodes often use another frequency to exchange large amounts of data  This is known as the “backbone”  Internet can also be used to link BBSs & nodes

Why use Packet Radio ? … interoperability

What if I … … can’t access the local BBS directly ?