Date: 2025/06/22 14:13  (UTC)
From: N3MEL@N3MEL.#EPA.PA.USA.NOAM
Subject: June PKTNET the Results
To: PKTNET@USA

R:250622/1413Z 8742@KN4LQN.#RICH.VA.USA.NOAM BPQ6.0.24
R:250622/1406Z 2016@N3MEL.#EPA.PA.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24


The net received 82 check-ins this month.

Thank you to everyone who checked in this month, you will find the link 
below for the results:

https://www.tprfn.net/pktnet-info/june-pktnet-the-results

Hope to see more of you in July!


-- 
73 de Glenn N3MEL

(View as PDF)

Packet Bulletin Net - PKTNET@USA
June, 2025

Net Control:
   Glenn N3MEL
   n3mel@n3mel.#epa.pa.usa.noam

View net reminder bulletin from N3MEL

WHO: All amateur radio operators
WHAT: Packet Bulletin Net - PKTNET@USA
WHEN: Sunday, June 15, 2025 - 0000 UTC
              Saturday, June 21, 2025 - 2359 UTC
HOW: This net will accept check-ins via BBS Bulletins only. Send a check-in via any participating BBS, with active forwarding, any time during the week.

 
This month, net control has asked participants to use the packet HTML "Check-in form", available at:

https://vden.org/pktnet/check_in.html

In the comment section of the form please enter whether or not you used RF for your check-in and if so what station you connected to?

 
SB PKTNET@USA
Subject: Your Name, Your Call, Your Town, Your State
Message: (Form contents from the above link with comments)
 

PKTNET INSTRUCTIONS:

All of the TPRFN Hub Stations offer Packet BBS & Winlink RMS access. I would like to ask that when checking in this week that as many of you as possible use one of the TPRFN Hubs to check-in! Info on these Hubs can be found at this link:
https://www.tprfn.net/tprfn-hub-station-profiles-pg-1-of-2

For this month's net we are requesting you check in with the Packet html form "Net Check-In" the form can found at:
https://vden.org/pktnet/check_in.html

There is also access for you 300bd ax.25 users on some of the Hub's as well using the same frequencies that TPRFN uses for VARAHF, only difference for 300bd is we are not using 1500 spacing we are using 1000. I know the following Hub's offer 300bd.

N3MEL BBS & RMS
KP3FT BBS & RMS
KN4LQN BBS & RMS
K5DAT BBS & RMS

Check our website for others.

If you can not reach one of these Hub Station's then please use any available Packet BBS or Winlink Gateway available to you. Please again use RF if it's available!

Packet Bulletin Format:
Address to: SB PKTNET@USA
Subject: Your Name, Your Call, Your Town, Your State
Message: In the comment section of the form please enter whether or not you used RF for your check-in and if so what station you connected to?

Winlink Format:
Address to: tprfn@winlink.org
Subject: Your Name, Your Call, Your Town, Your State
Message: In the comment section of the form please enter whether or not you used RF for your check-in and if so what station you connected to?

Winlink Users: Please also use this form:
https://vden.org/pktnet/check_in.html

Check-in by copy & pasting it into your Winlink message. DO NOT USE the standard Winlink Net Check-in Form!

We will also take APRS check-ins see format below:
Send Message To: ANSRVR
Message Text: CQ TPRFN your name, your town, your state.

You will receive credit for each mode used!

The participant map will be updated throughout the duration of the net at: https://www.qsomap.com/QSOmapProduction/qsomapforQRZ.php?call=n3mel

Don't feel obligated to enter a detailed message if it's difficult; the important part is the Subject line!

The VDEN website (https://vden.org) includes information about the Central Virginia BBSes, how to send personal mail and bulletins, and methods for connecting over RF (Packet / Vara via Terminal / Winlink / Outpost).

Bulletins created on the N4VEM BBS will be forwarded over Vara FM to the KN4LQN BBS, which will then forward over Vara HF to the N3MEL BBS and the wider regional packet network.

Reach out if you have any questions!
 
73,
David KN4LQN
kn4lqn@arrl.net
kn4lqn@kn4lqn.#rich.va.usa.noam

(View as PDF)

Table of Contents:

1. Central Virginia BBSes with active forwarding
2. WIP Quick run-down on RF methods
• Radio (getting audio and PTT)
• TNC (hardware vs software)
• Application (Keyboard Terminal, WLE, Outpost)
• Special note, if wanting to use Winlink Express and receive bulletins, need BBS forwarding config
3. Quick example using Keyboard Terminal
4. BPQ BBS commands
5. WIP Connecting via Packet Terminal (EasyTerm, AGWTerminal, etc)
6. Connecting via Vara Terminal (FM, HF)
7. WIP Connecting via Winlink Express (packet, vara fm, vara hf)
8. WIP Connecting via Outpost Packet Message Manager (packet, and ??)
9. Additional resources

Central Virginia BBSes with active forwarding:

Quick example using Keyboard Terminal:

CONNECT N4VEM-1
*** Connected to N4VEM-1
[BPQ-6.0.23.1-B1FWIHJM$]
Hello David. Latest Message is 419, Last listed is 323
de N4VEM>

:> SB PKTNET@USA
Enter Title (only):
:> KN4LQN, David, Virginia, N4VEM
Enter Message Text (end with /ex or ctrl/z)
:> 1. Various Packet/VaraFM Winlink gateways are in the area, with one well-positioned central standalone digipeater
:> 2. Regular daily HF NTS voice nets but not much on VHF in Central VA
:> 3. Still using mainline UZ7HO Soundmodem but will give QtSoundModem a try for IL2P
:> /ex
Message: 420 Bid: 420_N4VEM Size: 232
de N4VEM>

:> BYE
*** Disconnected Fm N4VEM-1

In this example, the lines in bold are typed in by the operator and ":>" is the BBS prompt.

Practice by sending private messages to other local operators or bulletins to ALL@N4VEM, ALL@KN4LQN, etc!

BPQ BBS commands:

Connecting via Vara Terminal using Vara FM / HF

Vara is a newer mode that is robust and fast, using scaling speeds with OFDM modulation.

Vara FM can use WIDE audio bandwidth signals for faster speeds, depending on hardware setup, and includes digipeating functionality similar to AX.25 Packet.

Vara offers an optional $69 license for the use of faster speeds and FM digipeating.

The Vara Terminal application uses either TNC to connect to a remote BBS to give keyboard terminal access.

Download Vara FM and HF TNCs and Vara Terminal:
https://rosmodem.wordpress.com/

Click here for full instructions

Additional resources:

PKTNET Packet Radio Forms:
https://vden.org/pktnet/

BBS spec:
https://www.scc-ares-races.org/data/packet/docs/BBS_Specification.pdf

AX.25 Packet spec:
https://www.ax25.net/AX25.2.2-Jul%2098-2.pdf

Automated Packet Reporting System (APRS) spec:
http://www.aprs.org/doc/APRS101.PDF

Improved Layer-2 Protocol (IL2P):
https://tarpn.net/t/il2p/il2p.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improved_Layer_2_Protocol

BPQ mail user commands:
https://www.cantab.net/users/john.wiseman/Documents/BBSUserCommands.html

Kenwood-style TNC commands:
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/424067/Kenwood-Tm-D710a.html?page=33

Kantronics-style TNC manual:
https://kantronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/KAM-XL-Manual-RevE.pdf