1. PACKET RADIO – AN OVERVIEW
Reasons for Learning Packet Radio
Packet Station Components
TNC, Airmail & My Elmers
Airmail Software Setup
Packet Network Nodes
Callsigns, SSIDs, & Node Alias Names
Virginia Digital Emergency Network (VDEN)

2. PACKET RADIO – AN OVERVIEW
VDEN stations and Map of locations
VDEN Bulletin Board System (BBS)
VDEN Operations – Connection Modes
Peer-to-Peer Operations – Connection Modes
Local Packet Nets and Stations
Not covered: Details of Airmail or Winlink 2000

3. Reasons for Learning Packet Radio
Emergency Management concerns about loosing internet connectivity with VA EOC and other EOCs
Packet radio provides essentially error free digital communications via two networks
Virginia Digital Emergency Network (VDEN) – all RF (no connection to internet)
Winlink 2000 (WL2K) – Packet may be able to jump over an internet outage to send & receive standard s via a RMS Gateway station

4. Packet Station Components
Dell Laptop and Airmail program
Kenwood
TM-71VA
Dual-band

5. TNC, Airmail Program & My Elmers
KPC-3 Plus – A modem, data processor, mailbox & digipeter for other stations
translates audio signals into digital & vice versa
performs control & info storage functions
communicates digitally to computer
Software – Airmail ver – free download
My Elmers – Earl (KR4MA) & Lou (KI4LWS)

6. Airmail Software Setup*
Menu Driven - may need help - suggest (1) Winlink 2000 FAQ (Airmail setup), (2) Airmail Help and/or (3) an Elmer
Setup Wizard – enter call sign, lat & long, TNC, Com Port #, Baud Rate with computer, etc.
Air Mail Options – enter options for Connections, Settings, Folders, Modules (Packet Client, Internet Access), etc.

7. Packet Network Nodes Nodes (operate on simplex) Node Types
Nodes form the infrastructure of a packet network like VDEN
Serve as connection points into networks
Relay digital communications to extend user range
May have multiple ports as well as multiple frequencies
Node Types
Digipeters – first networking scheme; requires end-to-end confirm
KA-Nodes – slight improvement; confirms transmission at each node; user directs each node connection (still dumb but more reliable). Set of commands available in Keyboard Mode.
Net/ROM Nodes - Net/ROMs listen & at interval transmits to other Net/ROMs a list of Net/ROMs it hears. Routing Table developed for automatic routing. No need to direct each node connection (smarter than KA-Node). Set of commands available in Keyboard Mode.

8. Callsigns, SSIDs & Node Alias Names
Callsigns – identify Packet stations
Secondary Station Identification (SSID)
Many Packet stations have more than one device using one callsign; SSIDs are used to differentiate (KR4MA, KR4MA-1, KR4MA-2, KR4MA-7, etc.,)
VDEN nodes have a callsign & SSIDs assigned: Net/ROM Nodes use SSID -2, KA-Nodes use SSID -7, and RMS Gateways use SSID -10
Alias Names – VDEN stations have alias names assigned (HAMPD for W4HPT, VAEOC/VDEM for N4VEM). Intent to help amateurs remember the various nodes.

9. Virginia Digital Emergency Network (VDEN)
VDEN.org website provides
General Operational Guidelines
Digital Traffic Format Guidelines
Listing of all VDEN packet station alias names, BBS, RMS Gateway stations, their lat & long, and trustee callsigns.
Various maps show VDEN network station locations
Nodes are “connection points” into VDEN - 52 node stations listed on VDEN website. Others added by messages
User callsigns must be registered in VDEN for station you connect to – contact Earl Moore KR4MA

10. Virginia Digital Emergency Network (VDEN) - continued
Many VDEN stations have more than one radio port to provide service on multiple frequencies.
Virginia Digital Emergency Network
MHz (1200 baud) primary user frequency
MHz (9600 baud) “high speed” backbone
MHz (1200 baud) “low speed” backbone
(also used by HPT for packet shelters/Hampton EOC)
High-speed “backbone” passes large amounts of data without competing with end-users

11. VDEN Stations (Partial Listing)

12. Map of VDEN Stations

13. VDEN Bulletin Board System (BBS)
A Full Service BBS – is both a message center and information store. Connect to a BBS to
Send & retrieve VDEN messages; provides auto-routing
Read bulletins and announcements (ARRL, ARES, RACES, VDEN, VANET bulletins, etc.)
Conduct nets/conferences: use “c” command to check-in
Standard commands available in Keyboard Mode such as:
“h” – list of all commands; b, c, d, f, h, I, etc.
“i” – hardware configuration of packet station
“id” - station port #s, with callsign and SSIDs heard, & frequencies
“j”- list of all stations heard by BBS and station ports
Note: Use “?” before each command provides a complete description.

14. VDEN Operations - Connection Modes
Handshake Mode – used primarily to
Connect and send messages via a BBS for automated routing
Example message address -
Keyboard Mode - used on
BBS: Conduct QSOs, nets/conferencing and obtain info available on BBS using available commands
KA-Nodes and Net/ROM nodes: Obtain station info using available commands and to direct connections to other nodes.

15. Peer-to-Peer Operations - Connection Modes
Two stations connect directly without using network infrastructure (e.g., KJ4TJT to KI4LWS) or via an intermediate station
Handshake Mode - send/receive messages (e.g., HPT shelters messages to/from Hampton EOC)
Keyboard Mode – conduct QSOs/real-time text conversations between two stations

16. Local Packet Nets and Stations
LPEN Net – Hosted by KR4MA at KR4MA-1 BBS station every Tues at 8:15 PM (local)
VA State Net - hosted by various operators at N4VEM BBS station every Weds at 8:15 PM (local)
Examples of Local Stations (active 24/7)
KR4MA – RMS Gateway (York County)
KR4MA-1 – BBS (York County), KR4MA-2 Net/ROM Node KR4MA-7 KA-Node
KE4FYV – BBS (LPEN), KR4FYV-2 Net/ROM Node, KR4FYV-7 KA-Node