Victor Poor, W5SMM Rick Muething, KN6KB Telpac Paclink DCC 2003 Telpac and Paclink… Streamlined AX.25 Packet Radio Server and Client for a Full Service Ham Radio Messaging Network Victor Poor, W5SMM Rick Muething, KN6KB

Introduction and Overview Telpac Paclink Introduction and Overview DCC 2003 Background on Winlink 2000 (WL2K) Motivation for Telpac and Paclink Development Approach Telpac ….The TELnet - PACket bridge for WL2K Simple setup examples Paclink …. A Radio client for E-mail Configuration and operation examples Using the AGW Packet Engine Applications Summary/Questions Demo of Paclink and Telpac (time permitting)

Winlink 2000 System Telpac Paclink What is WL2K? DCC 2003 Introduced in 2000 (DCC 2000) WL2K is a modern software implementation of a Global ham message system capable of conventional BBS functions with significant extensions for the Mobile user. Biased toward the mobile user. Conventional BBS functions with routing and store and forward for radio and E-mail messages. No “Home BBS” designation required (global message mirroring) Optimized to capitalize on Internet forwarding when possible On demand WX products and other Web information. E-mail with text/compressed binary attachments Position reporting and request from radio and Internet Currently 4300 Users (HF Pactor, Packet, Telnet, Web) delivering over 150,000 messages per month by 36 PMBOs.

Winlink 2000 System Telpac Paclink Paclink Internet Telpac node Radio DCC 2003 WL2K Central Server (CMBO) Internet Telnet Telnet Telpac node WL2K PMBO WL2K PMBO (Telnet Server) Radio (Pactor 1-3, AX.25 packet) AX.25 Packet NPMBO BBS Paclink USERS AirMail BBS Programs Keyboard Terminals User Client

Motivation for Telpac and Paclink DCC 2003 WL2K has been very well accepted by the mobile HF community Many requests to expand local WL2K coverage (VHF/UHF) Emergency communications Small portable terminals Two obstacles for widespread VHF/UHF expansion: The standard PBMO setup requires a considerable computer, radio equipment and synchronized data base. Telpac provides a simple Telnet to Packet bridge The user client program has to work with most available TNCs and interface with existing E-mail clients. Paclink provides a user client that meets these objectives

Development Approach Telpac Paclink DCC 2003 Leverage existing standardized interfaces & protocols: Existing WL2K Telnet Servers via Internet/Telnet Standard TCP communication between components Standard mail format and server protocols: MIME message storage POP3 and SMTP servers Capture TNC drivers using a standardized TCP interface AGW Packet Engine Use modern development environment and tools for improved productivity and reduced support Telpac: VB6, Paclink: VB.NET

Telnet <> Packet Bridge Telpac Paclink Telpac…WL2K’s Telnet <> Packet Bridge DCC 2003 Key Features: Easy set up No local database Multiple active connections Supports all WL2K functions AGW Packet Engine support

Telpac… 15 Minute Setup…Step 1 Paclink Telpac… 15 Minute Setup…Step 1 DCC 2003 Install the AGW Packet Engine… These 2 menus setup the TNC

Telpac… 15 Minute Setup…Step 2 Paclink Telpac… 15 Minute Setup…Step 2 DCC 2003 Install Telpac… These 2 menus set up the Telpac bridge. Customize your log-on banner and beacon... You’re a WL2K Telpac node!

Paclink… A Windows Radio E-mail Client Telpac Paclink Paclink… A Windows Radio E-mail Client DCC 2003 Key features: WL2K, FBB or MBL BBSs E-mail user interface Mixed radio/E-mail Packet Engine support

One-to-One E-mail Account to Paclink Channel Concept Telpac Paclink One-to-One E-mail Account to Paclink Channel Concept DCC 2003 Each account on the E-Mail client (e.g. Outlook) handles traffic for one Paclink channel E-mail client accounts Paclink channel setup Paclink ports setup [AGWPE 1] [ W4MLB via COA1 ] [KN6KB] [MLB_BBS/****] POP3 SMTP Mail Acct: MLB_BBS PACTOR [AGWPE 3] [ N0IA-1] [KN6KB-1] [BUD_DIRECT/******] POP3 SMTP Mail Acct: BUD_DIRECT PACKET 1 AGW 2 ENGINE 3 [PACTOR] [ N8PGR ] [W5SMM] [ WL2K_PACTOR/*****] POP3 SMTP Mail Acct: WL2K_PACTOR TELNET POP3 SMTP Mail Acct: WL2K_TELNET [TELNET] [ K4CJX Telnet ] [KN6KB-1] [WL2K_TELNET/****]

Paclink Channel Setup Telpac Paclink DCC 2003 Name and password match E-mail client Each Paclink channel corresponds to one E-mail client account Channel Properties Port Properties

Paclink’s User Interfaces Telpac Paclink DCC 2003 Paclink’s own simple terminal window for keyboard interfaces Your favorite E-mail client for normal BBS messages.

with Telpac and Paclink The AGW Packet Engine with Telpac and Paclink DCC 2003 By George Rossopoulos, SV2AGW Standardized TCP interface supports most TNCs Using KISS mode. Supports sound card TNCs (1200 & 9600 baud) Shares TNCs across applications Paclink, Telpac, BBS, APRS, Terminal, Monitor Allows remote operation via TCP link TNC’s may be separated from application TCPIP AGW Packet Engine … Sound Card TNC TNC

Telpac and Paclink Applications DCC 2003 Telpac as a conventional BBS for “Last Mile” wireless connectivity Paclink as an end user client for BBS access (WL2K, FBB etc) Paclink as the an emergency radio link for Internet E-mail Paclink provides the radio connection to a WL2K Telpac node Emergency field operators use their existing E-mail client but with a “radio” account instead of default account Multiple operators can share a single Paclink and its TNCs/radios Paclink <> Paclink transfers (keyboard or via E-mail clients)

Demo (time permitting or in the demo room) Telpac Paclink Demo (time permitting or in the demo room) DCC 2003 1) Connection to a WL2K Telpac node: Send request via E-mail for a text WX report Outlook Express > Paclink (local TCP) Paclink > Telpac node (AX.25 packet) Telpac node > WL2K Telnet server (Internet Telnet) Telnet Server > WL2K Bulletin Processor …..and return…. 2) Paclink to Paclink (keyboard and message via Outlook Express)

Pick up a Telpac/Paclink CD! Summary/Questions DCC 2003 Telpac and Paclink are examples of rapidly developed modern Ham software that leverage standard protocols and existing user and TNC interfaces. Simplified setup and minimal equipment requirements mean expanding the wireless infrastructure can be done quickly with minimum expense. Your feedback and comments are appreciated to help us expand these programs to new applications. Pick up a Telpac/Paclink CD! Thank you!