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Packet Bulletin Net - PKTNET@USA
July, 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, July 21, 2024 - 0000 UTC
              Saturday, July 27, 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 send two messages:

1. Send a private message (command SP)
2. Send the normal bulletin (command SB)

 
SP N2MH@N2MH.#NNJ.NJ.USA.NOAM
Subject: Your Name, Your Town, Your State, Your Grid
Message: (Enter the outbound BBS you are using)

 
SB PKTNET@USA
Subject: Your Name, Your Town, Your State, Your Grid
Message: (Enter the outbound BBS you are using)

NCS INSTRUCTIONS:

Part 1 is to send a Private Message as follows:

To: SP N2MH.#NNJ.NJ.USA.NOAM
Title: Your Name, Your Town, Your State, Your Grid
Message: (please enter the outbound BBS you are using)
                 Example, N3MEL

Part 2 is to send your Buletin check-in as follows:

To: SB PKTNET@USA
Title: Your Name, Your Town, Your State, Your Grid
Message: (please enter the outbound BBS you are using)
                 Example, N3MEL
               Please also comment in your check-in if you sent a private message as well,
               so we know to be looking for one!

Feel free to add any comments you would like to share with the group!

 
PURPOSE:

As we continue to show that Packet Radio still has a role to play in today's digital world and promote the importance of bring RF back in support of the backbone/forwarding to reduce the dependency of the internet to pass the traffic. For this net we would like to see how the current Packet Network is routing traffic.

The idea is to better understand US BBS routing. Starting with the HA paths, there should be no reason why any message should be unroutable. And return a message to the sender saying that. At the very least, NOAM (or SOAM, EURO, etc.) should get a message out of a BBS and on its way.

The importance here is to make sure that traffic is not getting stranded and reducing the reliability of Packet Radio. We would like to look at the path and time that each of these private messages takes to be delivered to Mark N2MH.

This net is more than just sending a check-in, its about the health of the network so that we as a community can help each other to make Packet Radio the most reliable it can be!

I ask that everyone who is reading this bulletin PLEASE take a few minutes to send these two quick messages start on Sunday July 21st, the larger the response the better the data will be.

Thank You All!

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