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Virginia Digital Emergency Network (VDEN)

March 9, 2024


(View as PDF)

Packet Bulletin Net - PKTNET@USA
March, 2024

Net Control:
   Glenn N3MEL
   n3mel.epa@gmail.com
   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, March 17, 2024 - 0000 UTC
              Saturday, March 23, 2024 - 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 Radiogram available from the html to text Packet Radio forms. The form is available at:

https://vden.org/pktnet/radiogram.html
https://vden.org/pktnet/pktnet-forms.zip

 

NCS INSTRUCTIONS:

Use the Radiogram form (see example below) as your check-in for this month. As we promote Packet Radio and an RF backbone, the NTS messaging ability of Packet is just one of its strengths.

For using NTS, having the ability to fill out the Radiogram form is an important part of the process.

Please fill out the form as if you were sending it to yourself! You can disregard the phone section and use your Packet HA address as the email.

DO NOT SEND AS A "ST" message only send your form as follows:

 
SB PKTNET@USA
Subject: (Use the top line created by the form, and include the words "(THIS IS A DRILL)")
Message: (Form contents from the above links)

 

Add any additional info in the message space and send.

Have fun with it!

For additions form instructions see link below:

The Standard ARRL message format (Radiogram):
https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/MPG104A.pdf

Origination, Relay and Delivery of Radiogram-ICS213 Messages from Radio Relay International:
https://radiorelay.org/files/training/Instructions-for-Radiogram-ICS213-Relay-and-De.pdf


 

EXAMPLE MESSAGE:

42 TEST R HXC N3MEL 19 DOWNINGTOWN PA 2005Z MAR 9
GLENN ALLISON N3MEL
SHADYSIDE RD
DOWNINGTOWN PA 19335
N3MEL ATSIGN N3MEL DOT NUMBERISGN EPA DOT PA DOT USA DOT NOAM
BT
THIS FORM IS VERY USEFUL
X IF USED CORRECTLY X
WE WILL WORK ON PROPER
ADDRESSING IN APRIL X
BT
GLENN OPS N3MEL
OP NOTE N3MEL IS ALSO NCS
AR


 

The participant map will be updated throughout the duration of the net at:
 
https://www.qsomap.org/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



Previous net reminders, results and maps:

PKTNET@USA - February 18-24, 2024
PKTNET@USA - January 21-27, 2024
PKTNET@USA - November 19-25, 2023
PKTNET@USA - October 22-28, 2023
PKTNET@USA - September 17-23, 2023


(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:

BBS Callsign Mode Freq (Dial) Hours (ET) Via Digipeaters
N4VEM-1 (VA) Packet AX.25 1200bd 145.730 0000-2359 KN4LQN-3
N4POW-10
  Packet AX.25 1200bd 145.090 0000-2359 KN4LQN-3
  Vara FM Wide 145.090 0000-2359 KN4LQN-10
N4POW-10
W4IIA-10
KN4LQN-2 (VA) Packet AX.25 1200bd 145.730 0000-2359 N4VEM
N4POW-10
  Packet AX.25 1200bd 145.090 0000-2359 N4VEM
  Vara FM Wide 145.090 0000-2359 N4VEM-10
N4POW-10
  Packet AX.25 300bd 7103.2 USB
3596 USB
0800-1600
1600-0800
@ 1000c
  Vara HF 7103.2 USB
3596 USB
0800-1600
1600-0800
@ 1500c
N3MEL-2 (PA) Packet AX.25 300bd 7103.2 USB
3596 USB
0800-1600
1600-0800
@ 1000c
  Vara HF 7103.2 USB
3596 USB
0800-1600
1600-0800
@ 1500c


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:

Command Description
? or Help Displays a list of commands.
B or Bye Disconnects from the BBS.
N Enters or modifies your name (max 12 characters allowed).
Home Enters or modifies the Home BBS. A point deletes the current Home BBS.
Q Enters or modifies QTH.
Z Enters or modifies the Zip Code.
I callsign Gives the information on callsign taken from the white pages database. Callsign can include wildcards.
OP <# of lines> Enables or disables the paging of output.
A Abort the BBS output while paging.
L Lists the new messages since the last usage of this command.
LM Lists the personal messages to you.
LB Lists bulletins.
R msg# msg# Reads the messages by their numbers.
RM Reads new messages to you.
S[type] callsign Sends a message or a bulletin. If the type is not specified, sent as private.
SP callsign Sends a private message.
SB category@route Sends a bulletin. eg, SB ALL@N4VEM
SR Msg# Replies to a message.
S callsign @ BBS Sends a message to a station AT another BBS. The message must be terminated by a Ctrl/Z or /EX followed by a return.
SC Msg# Call @ BBS Copies a message or bulletin to the specified callsign.
K msg# Deletes a message identified by its number.
KM Deletes all the messages addressed to you, that you haven't yet read.

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


For more information about Winlink in Virginia, please see the Virginia EmComm public Facebook group.

For more information about the Central Virginia digipeater, N4VEM, please see VDEM Amateur Radio Communications Auxilliary (ARCA).