Packet radio is an error-free digital mode in which data are sent in small
"bursts", or packets, implemented by a computer program interfacing with a
radio transceiver. The packets contain both the information to be sent and
also "overhead" information used to route the packet and reassemble them
into their original continuous whole. The "web" operates as packet radio,
but it was invented for computer communication by radio amateurs many
years ago. 

97 responses total.

There will be a program and demonstrations on packet radio at the next
regular meeting of the ARROW radio amateur club in Ann Arbor on Wednesday,
8 April, starting at 7:30 p.m., at the Clonlara School. More information
about this can be found on the ARROW homepage at
http://www.cyberspace.org/~arrow/

Packet Radio is s Very PowerFull to be "INVISIBLE" on The NET !.
 




                                              73 de LZ5XK

where is the arrow club HQ???

Check out http://www.cyberspace.org/~arrow/ - Actually, the club does not
have a "HQ", unless you mean the city, which is Ann Arbor.  They have a
station (radio room )in the basement of the Red Cross building (not yet
refurbished and operable since the collapsw of the radio tower and the
flood). The club will have its next meeting in September...watch the web
site for info in about mid August. 

 hmmm....i've recently installed Linux redhat 5.1 in my box and
 read somewhere that linux is the only OS that has built in packet
 radio software...if somebody has managed to get it working in 
 your home computer can you tell me what you think of it. (verses 
 using the software made for win95/dos)
                                        -KC8BYL

I managed to enable the AX.25 support on my Linux system, but I didn't
do much with it.  I was able to monitor traffic in the neighborhood, and
initiate connections, but I never figured out how to answer when someone
else requested a connection.  I also didn't get TCP/IP over packet
configured.   Now I've re-installed a new release of Linux, so I have to
start over.

[D[A[ADoes anyone here

Hi, does anyone here know how to use tcp/ip over packet?
Sorry. I am attempting to get used to this.

I thought I read somewhere that connecting between a packet connection
and the internet was verboten.  Is this true?  

What are the practical uses of packet radio?

No, I've logged into the internet via a "gateway", although since you
are transmitting your password over the air it is not very secure.

Packet radio provides fast and *accurate* communications. For message
handling over short distances it is excellent - much better than by voice
or code, with operators having to write down what they hear. It is a very
useful mode for emergency communications. I used it once at a remote rest
station during a local bicycle race to transmit participant messages and
requests for provisions, etc: the data do not get garbled in transmission. 

Packet is also adaptable to what is called the Amateur Packet Radio
System, which can be used to transmit information from mobile operators
about location (determined by GPS) and other parameters. It has been used
in road rallys (even bicycle rallies) for keeping track on a map of the
location of all the participants. (I have not used this yet, but it is on
my lift of projects....)

  We use packet at the Hell of a Ride with limited success. Usually we can
park a packet station at a point where we have always had trouble with voice
and eliminate the problem. When we tried mobile packet, it was a consummate
failure because we couldn't find a reliable relay station to stay connected
with. We are learning our limitations as the years roll by. One of these times
we'll have the good sense not to do it at all. ;)

    I'm confident that you'll see it in action once again at OHR 2K.

resp#10: I believe it's actually "Amateur Position Reporting System", and
it's also been used on balloon launches for tracking & recovery of the
payload.

Yeah..I was rotating APRS, ARPS, APSR,...in my mind, trying to recall. I
haven't done anything further toward setting it up for a while.

I need to learn more about packet...I keep hearing bursts of noise from
a local repeater (I forget the freq.)

If I got a terminal, a TNC, and a radio, how would I communicate with other
hams?  Do you give a digital CQ or do you really have to have something
setup ahead of time?

You set that up in your software, since all your packets have to be
identified with your callsign. You "listen"...and you can send to or
connect to another packet station. 

   All you really need is a TNC, a radio and a terminal.

   The TNC has firmware which is set prior to you going on the air, callsign
usually goes in first, and stays there. There are all sorts of settings you
have to do before you start, and each of the settings is determined by where
you live and how well you hear and are heard.

   Ideally, the radio should be a 25 to 50 watt output to ensure transmitting
capability. You should also have a good outdoor antenna, about 25 to 50 feet
off the ground so that you are heard as well as seen. There is nothing worse
than a packet station that is all mouth and no ears. I personally use my HT
but I always go through a friend's stronger powered station to make m,yself
heard. You will also learn what digipeating is.

   If you want Chris, I can show you my packet station and help take some of
the mystery out of it. Packet is really a fun mode and more people should do
it. Send me an e-mail.

  I'll even give you a terminal. Free.

Whether you need much power or not depends a lot on what the local packet
network is like.  I used to do fine with 5 watts from an HT, into a 5/8 wave
antenna on the roof.

There is some software now that lets you bypass the need for a TNC, if you
have a fairly modern computer with a sound card.  (You still have to wire
a circuit so the computer can trigger the radio's push-to-talk line,
though.)  I haven't played with any of this "software TNC" stuff, but it
looks interesting.

I have a friend who might still have a TNC and mobile 2M radio that he
is looking to get rid of.  He also has other ham gear he wants to sell.
His asking prices were very reasonable, as I recall.  Let me know.

Jim, I'd like to see your packet setup sometime, thanks

David, I'm going to poke around the net for the 'software TNC' stuff, thanks.

Klaus, I may be interested in your friends gear, thanks.

The specific program I noticed is called 'Flexnet.'  I haven't had the
chance to tinker with it yet.

Packet is dead, the 'net saw to that. 
\
at least here in detroit it is...

It isn't for emergency communication.

Yeah, the local packet network here in da UP fell apart because everyone
lost interest.  Now the only way to forward mail or bulletins in or out is
via the Internet, so what's the point?

The point is that county EOCs use packet. 

I also like the APRS aspect when you are trying to coordinate lots of hams
in vehicles helping out at events.  GPS prices are still a little too high
for the average ham to get into it and putting the equipment together takes
time and effort.

  Now that I have a laptop, I think we'll be seeing mobile packet at the PS
events this year. I would like to have packet at the March of Dimes walk, so
if you want to help out, I'm always looking for a few good hams....

On that subject, we need to update the ARROW web page for 2000 public
service events. Would you write that up and send it to me for posting?

Packet radio is also used for high-altitude/"near space" ballooning.

The KPC-3 TNC that I have even has two analog inputs for such activities.
It will run for a long time off of a standard 9 volt battery too.

  OK. I have to make a few phone calls first.

I am planning to set up a packet radio station in the philippines. how do i
start? can anyone give me the details on how I should do this? DE Nandy,
DU2BFG. 

I'd recommend getting a book on packet radio. Check the ARRL website. 
What you do depends on your choice of radio and TNC as well as local
radio regulations.

Thanks Rane. I am here in Saudi Arabia where HAM is dead but I am planning
to do this when I go back to the Philippines. How can I link the internet to
packet? There are many radio users in the Phils who wanted to get e-mails from
the internet.

You need a packet internet gateway. I used one here when I had packet
set up - and then I realized that I was posting my password to
anyone else with packet when I logged in. I changed my PW and stayed
off the gateway after that.

Can anybody give me a link to where i can find the AX.25 spec? Im looking to
design and build a TNC but havent been able to find consistent information
on protocols

http://www.tapr.org/tapr/html/Fax25.html  (this was just the first thing I
saw in a Google search -- there may be better references.)

There's also extensive support for AX.25 in the Linux kernel.  The source
code may make a good sample implementation, though it's hard to say without
looking.  Some Linux code is well written and documented, and some is an
utter nightmare.

Thanks for the reference - If LINUX has AX25 support i expect I could just
run LINUX on one of my old PC's and use that as the TNC, then all id need
would be a modem to link the PC to the transceiver.

More to the point though, does anybody know if theres much packet activity
in the north of england, it would just be my luck to get set up and find i
had nobody to connect to.

I don't know -- your best bet would be to search for local or regional
packet radio clubs, or general amateur radio clubs, and ask around.

In the U.S. VHF packet activity has died in most areas now that Internet
connectivity is common.

- Backtalk version 1.3.30 - Copyright 1996-2006, Jan Wolter and Steve Weiss