Freaks Macintosh Archive/Freaks Macintosh Archive.bin/Freaks Macintosh Archives/Ham⁄GPS/SoftKiss.src.1.8 Folder/SoftKiss.src.1.8.sit/SoftKiss.src.1.8/docs/SoftKiss.UserManual.text

Text File | 1993-07-09 | 18KB | 413 lines

**** DRAFT DRAFT *** please send corrections

Version 1.8 July 9 1993 update since 1.6
KD6PAG found a bug in quoting recieved escape and end characters
is
sofktiss 1.6.  The bug and the fix and patch are all correct, thanks for
some great detective work.

Update phone number
Overview
This document tells you how to get your Mac on packet radio for less
than $50.  Some friends are working on a modem for less than $30.
Written by Aaron Wohl
6393 Penn Ave #303
Pittsburgh PA, 15206
Phone [phone] (note: new phone)
AppleLink: A0361 (seldom checked)
Internet: [e-mail]
Compuserv:  76516,2677 (note: new address)
Packet: [e-mail]


Things you need to get started
IP ADDRESS
You need an "IP" address.  This is a 32 bit number issued by your
local ip coordinator.  It is expressed as 4 numbers separated by
periods.  It should look like 44.112.0.200.
My call sign is N3LIW so I sent a request to my coordinator: "My host
is called n3liw I need one IP address.  It is located in Pittsburgh PA".
I asked around to find the coordinator in my area.  I have attached
the current list of IP coordinators as Appendix 1.
HOST TABLE
There is a file that lists all the folks around you that also have ip
addresses.  It must have your ip address and hostname (call sign) at
least.  You can get this from your coordinator.  It looks like this:
44.112.0.1    unix.n3cvl
44.112.0.2    w3vc
44.112.0.3    darth.wa3yoa
44.112.0.4    unix.w2xo
44.112.0.5    n3igw
44.112.0.6    wa3hgw
NET
This is the software than emulates a "normal" TNC.  It is available
from the internet on host akutaktak.andrew.cmu.edu via anonymous
ftp in the /aw0g directory. On compuserve in the hamnet forum
library 9.  MAC/Net expects a TNC in kiss mode, which is what
Softkiss emulates.
Softkiss
This software emulates a really dumb TNC in kiss mode.  It is
available on the internet from host akutaktak.andrew.cmu.edu
[128.2.35.1] in the /aw0g directory.  It is also available on
compuserv hamnet forum in library 9.
Software Compatibility Switch
If you are using a Mac fx or quadra (or newer har har) get the
"software compatibility switch" control panel from compuserv
Macintosh Developers sig library 8 (Apple System Tools) and is called
FXSRSW.SIT.
MODEM
All of the above stuff is free.  The modem you have build or buy.
Stas at A&A engineering sells BayCom kits based on the 7910 modem
chip, the phone is 714 952 2114.  I have been using two of his kits in
development.  This kit supports 300 baud for HF work [untested by
n3liw].
A quote from Dexter Francis: "Sigma Design Associates [Dexter Francis
KD6CNT] has a modem specifically for the macintosh that should cost
about $30.  It comes with a HyperCard stack with useful tips on
building and hooking up a modem. 408-733-8985 AppleLink:
Francis4 Compuserv: 70611,1340 XXX"
I have been using a prototype of this modem.  It is line powered
which saves having an extra power cable.  Softkiss supports the line
powered option which is handy on a power book or portable.
John Olson at Tigertronics sells a little line powered modem model
BayPac-2 built into a DB25 connector.  The cost is $49.  He is sent me
one to hook up and try out.  It is working well.  There is a wireing
diagram in the wireing section.  Tigertronics can be reached at
[phone].
The 1992 ARLL handbook has some planes for a modem on page 29-
13 if you want to build one.
73 Magazine had an interesting article published in August 1991
'Poor Man's Packet' by F. Kevin Feeney WB2EMS and Andy Payne.
Installing The Hardware
Wiring
Radio
Sorry no help here, the modem kit probably came with some hints?
Power
Unless the modem is specially designed to be low power there isn't
enough juice to steal power from the Mac.  If you have such a
modem set "line_power true" in Softkiss to leave the transmit drivers
on even in receive mode to power your modem.  Currently the
default is line_power true.  Comments? are most of you using line
powered or externaly powered modems?
Macintosh
See Inside Mac Volume IV page 249.
See below the pinout for the A&A Baycom modem
There is no standard for Mac cable color codes, so when you get
yours working telling a friend the colors won't help
The Softkiss software currently ignores the CTS (Mac pin2) signal.
If your modem supplies it you can hook it up to be ready for a future
version.  Sigma's MacPacketModem provides this signal.
The Mac has two transmit data lines, ignore the TXD+(Mac pin6)
signal and use the TXD-(Mac pin3) because that is closer to being
RS232.
The Mac has two receive data lines, hook the RXD+(Mac pin8) to your
circuit ground. Send data in RXD0 (Mac pin5)
The DTR (Mac pin 1) signal is used to key the transmitter.  It is
active high
Mac PIN 4 is ground.
Don't hook anything to the GPI (Mac pin 7)
Pinout for Sigma modem
The Sigma modem uses a mini db-8 which is the same thing used on
a Laserwriter so you can use a standard cable.
Pinout for A&A Baycom modem
Mac Pinout    DB9 Pinout    Function
Mini DIN8    Baycom

1    7    DTR push to talk
2    5    MAC CTS in unused
3    4    TXD- transmit data out -
4    5    Ground
5    8    RXD-
6    NC    TXD+ transmit data out+
7    NC    Not connected
8    5    RXD+ / Ground
NOTE: This is *NOT* a standard cable you can buy.  I asked A&A and
they may carry this cable made up in the future.


Starting Softkiss
Hook up the modem as described above to either Mac port but not
yet to the radio(it might key up due to the last terminal emulation
program leaving DTR on).
Get whatever might be using the port on the Mac to stop using it.  If
you are connecting to the printer port be sure that AppleTalk is
turned off.
If you are using a Mac fx or quadra you need to set the serial ports
to compatibility mode.
Place the SoftKiss control panel in the System Folder (system 6) or
Control panel folder (system 7) and reboot.
Bring up the SoftKiss control panel and select "KISS mode TNC" for
the port you want to use for a radio.
Possible Problems
If the control panel says the port is busy, maybe it is (is appletalk off
if you are using port b?)
If it says that there is "no scc chip" then you have an fx, quadra, or
newer and need to follow the compatibility section above.
Hook up the radio, something is wrong if it keys up right now...
Using Net
You did get the host table and ip address talked about above in the
steal this stuff section right?
Put the hosts.net file in the same directory as the NET/Mac
application. It must have at least your own ip address and hostname
(call sign) listed.  Sample minimal file:
44.112.0.200    n3xyz

Now the fun part [sic].  There is this file called "autoexec.net" you
need to put the same information in it in ten different ways and set
some strange settings, so be patient.

Copy the file Autoexec.TEMPLATE and name the copy Autoexec.net
Replace all occurrences of my_callsign with your actual  in lower
case.
Replace the one occurrence of IPADDRESS with your actual ip
address.  Afterwards that line should look like:ip addr [44.112.0.200]
Search for the string QST-0 (that is a zero at the end).  On this line it
kind of looks like a call sign but the last two bytes are zero.  So you
need to change the second number which is 112 where I live to be
the second number from your ip address.
Search for the line hostfile "boot:macnet:Hosts.net", this needs to
name Hosts.net file.  I don't think it likes spaces much so you may
need to rename a directory if it has them.
Search for "attach asy 1 a" if you are using the modem  port you are
all set.  If you are using the printer port change the a to be yielding:
attach asy 1 b
Now, finally run the net program, leaving Softkiss running.
If net hangs at startup it is usually because the port (modem or
printer) is not running Softkiss and doesn't have anything attached
to it, check your configuration
If net give some error messages at startup check your autoexec.net
To monitor packets and see if everything is setup ok. Give net the
command "trace ax0 111" this opens a window and shows all the
packets going by.  When you are done quit net and restart it as it
seems to drop connections when the trace window is open.
To connect to my favorite bbs (w2xo) I use:
c ax0 w2xo

There is built in help in net and a sub directory with more
documentation.
Overall the system needs work and is under construction.
When it doesn't transmit
To make adjustments to Softkiss you need to do:
Run any terminal emulator program such as Red Ryder, White
Knight, Mac Terminal, Kermit and select the same port you picked in
the control panel.
You will get the modem> prompt or printer> prompt depending on
which port you are using.  The help command will give a list of
commands and their usage.   Typical command sequence
online false
-- make changes
online true
Changes are not saved yet (sorry)
Times are in microseconds
To have finer control for high speed radios Softkiss thinks of time in
microseconds.  Most TNCs measure time in milliseconds but express it
in milliseconds/10.  You thought you would never need to use that
stuff from the exams on micro->milli right?

An example, my kam [Kantronics All Mode, a common TNC] manual
says the default time for txdelay is "30".  But it internally multiples
by 10, it has a default txdelay of 300 milliseconds.  To convert to
microseconds for Softkiss add three zeros to yield 300000
tx_delay
This is the delay for your transmitter to key up, squelch to break on
the receiver and the receiving end to synchronize.  The default is
300000 microseconds (which is 3 tenths of a second).  If it is too
short it won't work.  If it too long it wastes air time.
Once you have things working you can make this number smaller till
it breaks and back off a little.
If you are using a tx_delay as small as possible, then it makes a
difference how the other end is set up.  If they using a "DCD detector"
to run open squelch then when you switch to talk to someone else
you would need to up the time.
Ask around to see what folks in your area are using for your kind of
radio.
tail_delay
After Softkiss transmits all of your data to the serial chip it waits
while the SCC hardware transmits the final data byte to the radio
then the checksum and a closing flag.  This time is how long it waits.
This time does not vary according to your radio, or the radio at the
other end.
Softkiss should figure it out itself but it doesn't yet.
tail_delay defaults to 50000 microseconds.
If it is too small the receiving end won't understand your packet.
It it is too big you waste air time.
If you are using 300 baud on HF 50000 wont be enough, it needs to
be large enough for about 4 characters.  I haven't tried it but 150000
should be enough for 300 baud.
Fairness, xmit_dwait, xmit_slottime, xmit_persist
Softkiss tries to transmit when nobody else is transmitting so that it
doesn't interfere.  So does everyone else.  These parameters
(xmit_dwait xmit_slottime, xmit_persist) teach Softkiss the rules that
the hams in your area use to play fair in transmitting.
If Softkiss is too wimpy it will not transmit because it is being to
deferential and everyone else will go.
If Softkiss is too aggressive it will transmit on top of other people
and not give them a chance.
Ask around your area to find what hams are using for dwait, slottime
and persist.
dwait
This is how long to wait to give digipeaters a chance to go first.  It
not used in my area anymore since slottime and persist where
invented so I set it to zero.  Again, remember times are in
microseconds (see time section above)
xmit_persist
When Softkiss wants to transmit it plays dice.  It takes out it's 1000
sided die and rolls it.  If the number it rolls is bigger than what you
picked for xmit_persist it goes to sleep for xmit_slottime then tries
again.  Being a computer it's die is labeled from 0 to 999.
My kam defaults to 63 for persist but it is 63 on a 256 sided die
which gives it about a 25% chance of transmitting when it wants to.
The same chance would be 'xmit_persist 250' to SoftKiss.
If it xmit_persist number is too small everyone else will go and you
wont take a shot at it.
If it is too small you will jump in and not give everyone else a
chance.
xmit_slottime
If die roll above for xmit_persist says to take a nap this is how long
to sleep for.  It defaults to 90000 microseconds which is 90
milliseconds.  Ask around what folks in your area are using.  Again,
see the section on time above a kam setting of 90 is 90000 to
Softkiss.
Future Softkiss Wish List

• Interface to Virtuoso to have a better user interface than macnet
• AppleTalk (printing, AppleShare) over radio
• MacTCP (apple's TCP system)
• AfterDark packet monitoring module
• A built in connect command in SoftKiss
Appendix 1

    AMPRNet IP address coordinators as of 15 January 1992

44.002    Bob Meyer        K6RTV    Calif: Sacramento
44.004    Douglas Thom        N6OYU    Calif: Silicon Valley -
San Francisco
44.006    Don Jacob        WB5EKU    Calif: Santa Barbara/Ventura
44.008    Brian Kantor        WB6CYT    Calif: San Diego
44.010    Terry Neal        AA6TN    Calif: Orange County
44.012    Steven King        KD7RO    Eastern
Washington,Idaho
44.014    John Shalamskas        KJ9U    Hawaii & Pacific
Islands
44.016    Jeff Angus        WA6FWI    Calif: Los Angeles - S F
Valley
44.017    Dana Myers        KK6JQ    Calif: Antelope
Valley/Kern County
44.018    Geoffrey Joy        KE6QH    Calif: San Bernardino &
Riverside
44.020    Fred Schneider        K0YUM    Colorado: Northeast
44.022    John Stannard        KL7JL    Alaska
44.024    Dennis Goodwin        KB7DZ    Washington state:
Western (Puget Sound)
44.026    Ron Henderson        WA7TAS    Oregon
44.028    Don Adkins        KD5QN    Texas: Dallas
44.030    J Gary Bender        WS5N    New Mexico
44.032    Bdale Garbee        N3EUA    Colorado: Southeast
44.034    Jeff Pierce        WD4NMQ    Tennesee
44.036    Doug Drye        KD4NC    Georgia
44.038    Mike Abbott        N4QXV    South Carolina
44.040    Jeff Jacobsen        WA7MBL    Utah
44.042    Phil Akers        WA4DDE    Mississippi
44.044    Ed Thorne        WB1FEM    Massachusetts: western
44.046    William Simmons        WB0ROT    Missouri
44.048    Jacques Kubley        KA9FJS    Indiana
44.050    Ron Breitwisch        KC0OX    Iowa
44.052    Gary Grebus        K8LT    New Hampshire
44.054    Ralph Stetson        KD1R    Vermont
44.056    Don Hughes        KA1MF    Eastern Mass
44.058    Rich Clemens        KB8AOB    West Virginia
44.060    Howard Leadmon        WB3FFV    Maryland
44.062    Jim Dearras        WA4ONG    Virginia (not DC)
44.064    Dave Trulli        NN2Z    New Jersey: northern
44.065    Bob Applegate        WA2ZZX    New Jersey: southern
44.066    John DeGood        NU3E    Delaware
44.068    Bob Foxworth        K2EUH    New York: Long Island
44.069    Paul Gerwitz        WA2WPI    New York: upstate
44.070    Gary Sanders        N8EMR    Ohio
44.072    Ken Stritzel        WA9AEK    Chicago - North Ill.
44.074    James Curran        KA4OJN    North Carolina (east)
44.075    Charles Layno        WB4WOR    North Carolina (west)
44.076    Kurt Freiberger        WB5BBW    Texas: south
44.077    Rod Huckabay        KA5EJX    Texas: west
44.078    Joe Buswell        K5JB    Oklahoma
44.080    John Gayman        WA3WBU    Pennsylvania: eastern
44.082    Steven Elwood        N7GXP    Montana
44.084    Bob Ludtke        K9MWM    Colorado: Western
44.086    Reid Fletcher        WB7CJO    Wyoming
44.088    Jon Bloom        KE3Z    Connecticut
44.090    Mike Nickolaus        NF0N    Nebraska
44.092    Pat Davis        KD9UU    Wisconsin, upper peninsula
Michigan
44.094    Gary Sharp        WD0HEB    Minnesota
44.096    Don Bennett        K4NGC    District of Columbia
44.098    Garry Paxinos        (waiting)    Florida
44.100    Ken Adkisson        WB4FAY    Alabama
44.102    Jeff King        WB8WKA    Michigan (lower peninsula)
44.104    Charles Greene        W1CG    Rhode Island
44.106    Tyler Barnett        N4TY    Kentucky
44.108    James Dugal        N5KNX    Louisiana
44.110    Richard Duncan        WD5B    Arkansas
44.112    Bob Hoffman        N3CVL    Pennsylvania: western
44.114    Steven Elwood        N7GXP    N&S Dakota
44.116    Tom Kloos        WS7S    Oregon:
NW&Portland,Vancouver WA
44.118    Jon Andrews        WA2YVL    Maine
44.120    unassigned
44.122    Dale Puckett        K0HYD    Kansas
44.124    David Dodell        WB7TPY    Arizona
44.125    Earl Petersen        KF7TI    Nevada
44.126    Karl Wagner        KP4QG    Puerto Rico
#
# 44.128 is reserved for testing.  Do not use for operational networks.
# You may safely assume that any packets with 44.128 addresses are
bogons
# unless you are using them for some sort of testing
#
44.128    TEST
#
# International subnet coordinators by country
#
44.129    Japan        JG1SLY    Tak Kushida, JH3XCU Joly
Kanbayashi
44.130    Germany        DL4TA    Ralf D Kloth
44.131    United Kingdom    G6PWY    Chris ?
44.132    Indonesia    YB1BG    Robby Soebiakto
44.133    Spain        EA4DQX    Jose Antonio Garcia.  Madrid.
(EA4DQX @ EA4DQX)
44.134    Italy        I2KFX
44.135    Canada        VE3GYQ    David Toth
44.136    Australia    VK2ZXQ    John Tanner
44.137    Holland        PA0GRI    Gerard Van Der Grinten
44.138    Israel        4X6OJ    Ofer Lapid
44.139    Finland        OH1MQK    Matti Aarnio
44.140    Sweden        SM0RGV    Anders Klemets
44.141    Norway        LA4JL    Per Eotang
44.142    Switzerland    HB9CAT    Marco Zollinger
44.143    Austria        OE1KDA    Krzysztof Dabrowski
44.144    Belgium        ON7LE
44.145    Denmark        OZ1EUI
44.146    Phillipines    DU1UJ    Eddie Manolo
44.147    New Zealand
44.148    Ecuador        HC5K    Ted
44.149    Hong Kong    VS6EL
44.150    Yugoslavia    YU3FK    Iztok Saje
44.151    France        FC1BQP    Pierre-Francois Monet
44.152    Venezuela    OA4KO/YV5    Luis Suarez
44.153    Argentina    LU7ABF    Pedro Converso
44.154    Greece        SV1IW    Manos
44.155    Ireland        EI9GL    Paul Healy
44.156    Hungary        HA5DI    Markus Bela
44.157    Chile        CE6EZB    Raul Burgos
44.158    Portugal    CT1DIA    Artur Gomes
44.159    Thailand    HS1JC    Kunchit Charmaraman
44.160    South Africa    ZS6BHD    John
44.161    Luxembourg    LX1YZ    Erny Tontlinger
44.162    Cyprus        5B4TX    C. Costis
44.163    Central America    TI3DJT    Chuck Hast
44.164    Surinam        PZ2AC    Otto Morroy
44.165    Poland        SP5WCA    Andrzej K. Brandt
44.166    Korea        HL9TG    Gary ?

44.193    Outer Space-AMSAT    W3IWI        Tom Clark