1. Outpost TNC Message Manager Version 1.1
Author Jim Oberhofer KN6PE
Title: Tour and Training
Document Rev: 1.2
Release Date: 22 March 2004
File: OutpostTnT110.pdf

2. Agenda Outpost TNC Message Manager
Introduction
Features
Setups
Controls and settings
Creating messages
A typical session
Limitations and Constraints
Questions 2
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

3. Introduction Outpost TNC Message Manager
What is Outpost?
Windows-based packet message client
Compatible with many existing BBSs and TNC PBBSs
Aimed at ARES, RACES, and other amateur radio emergency response teams
Allows users to focus on the message, not the medium
Background
Requirement: Cupertino must be able to send information by packet from the City EOC to the County.
Situation:
Most CARES members come to us from the CERT program and interested in supporting their neighborhoods
Packet is not particularly mainstream for the very casual operator; not a big draw
Needed a means for handling packet traffic w/o being a packet expert 3
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

4. Features Outpost TNC Message Manager
Message management
Familiar -like look and feel
Separate folders for storage
Follows a formal message workflow
Manage BBS and TNC setups
Additional settings to control how Outpost behaves 4
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

5. Features Outpost TNC Message Manager
Message viewing
Supports viewing, printing, or saving a message to a local file
Reply and Forward message formatting 5
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

6. Features Outpost TNC Message Manager
Message creation
Supports Private, Bulletin, and NTS message types
Message formatting before sending
Different ways for originating messages
NTS Message Maker 6
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

7. Setups Outpost TNC Message Manager
Application setups
Comm ports
TNCs
BBSs
Station ID (call signs)
Tactical Calls (if required)
Support for...
Hardware Flow Control
USB-to-Serial port adapters 7
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

8. Setups Outpost TNC Message Manager
Application setups
Comm ports
TNCs
BBSs
Station ID (call signs)
Tactical Calls (if required)
Considerations...
Defaults are the most common TNC commands 8
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

9. Setups Outpost TNC Message Manager
Application setups
Comm ports
TNCs
BBSs
Station ID (call signs)
Tactical Calls (if required)
Considerations...
Defaults are the most common BBS commands
Need to be careful with BBS prompt uniqueness 9
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

10. Setups Outpost TNC Message Manager
Application setups
Comm ports
TNCs
BBSs
Station ID (call signs)
Tactical Calls (if required)
Considerations...
Support for Secondary Tactical Call Logon prompt 10
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

11. Controls and Settings Outpost TNC Message Manager
Display controls
Resets column widths to original setting
Packs column widths for optimal viewing
Manual control to resize or hide any column 11
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

12. Controls and Settings Outpost TNC Message Manager
Send/Receive settings
Automatically initiate message send and retrieve sessions
Selective retrieval for Private, NTS, and Bulletins
Force messages to be left on the BBS after retrieving them
Policy …
Frequency of Send/Receives
Define message type usage for the Operational Area
Treatment of retrieved messages 12
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

13. Controls and Settings Outpost TNC Message Manager
Message settings
Define message type for new messages
Define message type for replied-to or forwarded messages
Message form control and prompts
Policy …
Define message type usage for the Operational Area 13
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

14. Creating Messages Outpost TNC Message Manager
Direct entry
Allows cursor placement within the text field
Supports TAB characters thereby reducing character count
Allows text files to be directly imported into the message form 14
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

15. Creating Messages Outpost TNC Message Manager
NTS Message Maker
Step 1: Forms-based with field validity checking 15
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

16. Creating Messages Outpost TNC Message Manager
NTS Message Maker
Step 1: Forms-based with field validity checking
Step 2: Press Check; reformats the message per the agreed NTS Packet message standard 16
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

17. Creating Messages Outpost TNC Message Manager
NTS Message Maker
Step 1: Forms-based with field validity checking
Step 2: Press Check; reformats the message per the agreed NTS Packet message standard
Step 3: Saves the message to a message window; message type is NTS. Press Send when ready. 17
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

18. Creating Messages Outpost TNC Message Manager
Cut-and-Paste from other apps
From Excel, highlight the fields to be copied, then paste into an Outpost message.
At the receiving station, highlight and copy the message, then paste into Excel.
Preserves the Tabs so the message can be pasted back into another spreadsheet.
Tab Characters are valid ASCII characters that can be sent to and retrieved from a BBS.
Sending an excerpt of a spreadsheet by Outpost:
Develop the Excel file with whatever data needs to be managed.
When ready to send, highlight the cells to be sent.
Open an Outpost Message. Put the cursor in the message window. Press Cntl-V or select Edit->Paste.
If the message is to be extracted into a spreadsheet at the receiving end, DO NOT CORRECT THE FORMATTING.
Send the message.
At the receiving station, open the message.
Highlight the text to be extracted, Press Cntl-C or select Edit->Copy.
Open Excel. Put the cursor on the first field, then press Press Cntl-V or select Edit->Paste.
Sending a spreadsheet file by Outpost:
When ready to send, save the file as a comma delimited file (for Excel, it’s a *.csv)
Open an Outpost Message. Select File->Open. Change the Files of Type to “All Files (*.*)”
Find and select the *.csv file just saved. Note: Outpost only supports files up to 10,000 characters large. If larger is required, I recommend the copy-and-paste method and send multiple files.
Send as usual.
Select File->Save As. Enter a file name with a.csv file extension.
Open Excel. Select File->Open. Change the Files of Type to “Text Files (*.prn; *.txt; *.csv)”
Delete the message header from the spreadsheet rows 18
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

19. A Typical Session Outpost TNC Message Manager
Open Comm Port
A Typical Session Outpost TNC Message Manager
Initialize the TNC
Connect to the BBS
Send all messages from Out Tray
If set Private is set
Retrieve List, Read, and Delete each message
If set NTS is set,
Retrieve List, Read, and
Delete each message
If set Bulletins is set,
Retrieve List, if don’t have it, read each message
Exit the BBS
Close the Comm Port 19
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

20. A Typical Session Outpost TNC Message Manager
Open Comm Port
A Typical Session Outpost TNC Message Manager
Initialize the TNC
Connect to the BBS
Influenced by…
Send/Receive Settings
Send Messages
Only sent from the Out Tray
Messages must have been “Sent” not “Saved”
Moved to Sent Folder when sent
Retrieve Messages
Depends on the Retrieve settings; if none are selected, none are retrieved
Depends on the “Keep on BBS” setting
Bulletins are never deleted
Stored in the In Tray
Send all messages from Out Tray
If set Private is set
Retrieve List, Read, and Delete each message
If set NTS is set,
Retrieve List, Read, and Delete each message
If set Bulletins is set,
Retrieve List, if don’t have it, read each message
Exit the BBS
Close the Comm Port 20
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

21. Considerations, Limitations and Constraints Outpost TNC Message Manager
What Outpost does not do
No support for FBB bulletin board SW protocol
No direct internet access
No support for common mail protocols (POP3, SMTP, etc.)
Things to avoid
Sending bulletins to a named person (instead of a group Identifier such as ALLEOC, etc.) will cause repeated retrievals
Embedding the BBS prompt in a message (uniqueness of the prompt) will cause unintended results 21
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

22. For more information Outpost TNC Message Manager
Visit the Outpost website…
Send inquiries to… 22
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1

23. ? Questions? 23
Outpost TNC Message Manager v1.1