HAM Radio 1/HamRadio.cdr/misc/goldtd/multimod.doc

Text File | 1991-01-16 | 13KB | 262 lines

                      Using Packet-GOLD with
                    with Multi-Mode controllers.


INTRODUCTION

    Operating the PK-232 or HK-232 in modes other than Packet requires
some special attention to parameters.  We recommend careful reading of
the AEA manual prior to using any operating mode (including packet) to
reduce the possibility of misunderstanding and frustration.

    Considerable improvements to non-packet operation have been added
with Packet-GOLD 1.21. For example, we now have a split screen, to show
text that has been released to the TNC. This appears at the top of the
screen. You can Zoom In/Out using the [Alt-Z] key.  The size of this
window is set in the Monitor Settings area of the setup menu.

    AMTOR operation has been completely revised. You now have status
information about whether your station is the Sending or Receiving
station, whether RQ has been sent (for retransmission), and if your
TNC is in the IDLE state, or is handling traffic.  Also, you can end
your AMTOR session using [Alt-F7] and selecting a method. Check out
AMTOR (if you have the PK232 or equivalent), it's a great mode for
low power, reliable qsos.


Switching Modes:

    To change to a non-packet mode, all that is absolutely required is to
type the mode name on the command/text entry line, and hit the CMD key [F10].
This will indeed shift the TNC into another operating mode.

    Alternatively, use [F10] without a parameter name on the command line.
This will bring up a "pick list" of .TNC files. Highlight the TNC filename
corresponding to the desired mode and hit enter. You may use the TNC file
editor (in the ALT-S menu area) or any ASCII text editor to modify or
create TNC files with the parameters needed for each mode.

    Parameters should be checked in the other modes to assure that the TNC
will operate as expected.  Some of these parameters will be suggested in
the text that follows.

    The Packet-GOLD software works well in these other modes, but it can be
crippled by improperly set parameters.  If you are having difficulty with
non-packet modes, you should check the relevant parameters.  As an
alternative, if all else fails, RESET the TNC as follows:

         1.    Enter Direct Terminal mode using [Alt-F3].

         2.    At the "cmd:" prompt, type "RESET" followed by the [Enter]
               key. This will cause the TNC to clear all buffers, and
               select default parameters. If this doesn't work, turn off
               the TNC and turn it on again, and go to step 3.

         3.    After the reset command, the tnc is waiting for you to
               depress one or more asterisks (*) in order to "autobaud"
               and establish a communications link with the computer.
               Autobaud success is evidenced by the opening ROM
               message naming the TNC, and ultimately presenting you
               with another "cmd:" prompt.

         4.    Leave the Direct Terminal Mode using [Alt-F3].
               At this point, your callsign is entered as MYCALL, the
               TNC is placed into HOST mode, and the Network View
               screen will be presented.

         5.    Hit the command key [F10] and select STARTUP to load
               the startup.tnc parameters. This will include the
               EAS ON (echo as sent) so that you can see what is
               being transmitted.

Basic Operation:

    First, set Echo as Sent to ON. This is imperative!   EAS ON [F10]
or put the EAS ON command in your startup.tnc file. The program echoes
characters to the screen as they are sent (in Non-packet modes) so without
the EAS (Echo As Sent) command ON, you won't see what's being sent.

    All of the non-packet modes supported by Packet-GOLD use essentially
the same keystrokes. This makes it easy to remember what to do when
using these other modes.  All modes use WORDOUT which means you can
edit a word that is misspelled as long as you do not hit a [space] key.
After the [space] key, the text is either sent immediately, or queued
up for transmission, and is no longer available for editing.

    The [ESC] key is the transmit/receive TOGGLE.  This is an important
key to remember in non-packet modes. It operates by placing a toggle
in the outgoing text buffer to unkey (or in ARQ mode, to send the
changeover characters).

    You type ahead, and what you type will go into a transmit buffer
and get sent when possible. If your station is not keyed down and
transmitting, the text is just queued up for sending.  If you have
already keyed your transmitter (hit the [ESC] key to transmit) the
text is sent and echoed to your screen as it is being transmitted.

    AMTOR:    ARQ: In this mode, the [ESC] key is used as the changeover
              character. The program inserts the changeover (+?) sequence
              into the outgoing text buffer at the next position in
              the outgoing text buffer.  In this way, you can "queue" up
              a changeover by typing (or sending a file of) text and then
              depressing the [ESC] key.

              To END an ARQ session cleanly, type just "R" (for Receive)
              on the text entry line, and hit [F10]. You can also use the
              [Alt-F7] key to initiate a "disconnect" similar to packet.

    FEC:      The [ESC] key is used to Key down/up in this mode. It is
              not a changeover sequence but rather, an indication that
              the transmitter should key or unkey.  When AMTOR is showing
              as the mode, and you type a few words or lines, then hit
              [ESC] to key down, your text will be transmitted in FEC
              mode.

    Others:   In BAUDOT, ASCII, MORSE the meaning of the [ESC] toggle
              is shown on the screen as a <<K>> (key down) or <<U>> (key
              up pending) in the status line.  In AMTOR, the meaning
              is similar, but there is no status indication. You will
              have to use the [ESC] key carefully. When you hit it,
              the changeover (or unkey in the case of FEC) is inserted
              but not shown explicitly.

              We have found that DIDDLE ON causes problems in ASCII mode
              on some version of the AEA ROM. If you experience problems
              in ASCII, set DIDDLE OFF.

Making contacts:

    BAUDOT:   Enter the Baudot mode using the BAUDOT.TNC file or
              by just typing BAUDOT [F10].

              Set DIDDLE ON if you want to make it easy for other
              stations to tune in your signal. DIDDLE will send
              mark/space tones without actually affecting the remote
              receiver/printer. The PK232 sets DIDDLE OFF by default,
              meaning your station simply transmits a steady SPACE
              tone when no characters are being transmitted.
              Note: DIDDLE is not available on early AEA ROM releases.

              Set the baud rate and shift using the "Fn" keys
              according to the suggestions in the AEA manual.

              Use (1) the "Brag" file facility or (2) the File transfer
              facility for TEXT file transmission or (3) the Alt-N key
              assignment, or (4) the cut/paste buffer editor as a
              source for your CQ message or simply type your CQ
              "on the fly" as you're keyed down.

              Key down using [ESC], send your message or file, then
              hit [ESC] again. The "unkey" command is queued up and
              will take your system off the air when the buffer
              is empty.

              When another station sends text, you will see it on
              your screen. You can "type ahead" any responses as you
              think of them. They will not be sent until you hit the
              [ESC] key to toggle the transmitter to the ON state.
              When you have finished typing your transmission, hit the
              [ESC] key. The text you are sending will finish transmitting
              and your station will then unkey.

              Usage of the [Alt-n] messages is a great idea for BAUDOT
              and other modes as a place to store short lines, like

              THANKS FOR NICE QSO, 73 73 73   SK DE WA4EGT WA4EGT KKKK

    AMTOR:    You can send a CQ using FEC. When the AMTOR mode is shown,
              and you are not "connected" to another station (not in ARQ)
              you can type a CQ message, hit the [ESC] key to transmit
              and your station will automaticaly go into FEC mode to send
              your CQ.  Hit [ESC] a second time to unkey (you will see no
              special indication that an "unkey" is in progress, but
              it will occur after your text is transmitted).

              If you include your SELCAL in your CQ, another station can
              use ARQ to "connect" to your station.

              To get to another station, type ARQ followed by the SELCAL
              and hit [F10] key.

              Use the [ESC] key to switch from Transmit to Receive.

              To "disconnect" and turn off your transmitter, type
              R [F10] or AMTOR [F10] (the former is preferred).

    MORSE:    Set the morse speed and send a CQ. Hit [ESC] and your
              station will key down, and start sending the CQ. Hit [ESC]
              again and your station will unkey after sending the text.

    SIAM:     If you hear a signal and want to "lock" on to it, use
              the SIAM key [Alt-F5].

              The SIAM key toggles to an "OK" key while the TNC analyzes
              signals. If you agree with the analysis, a depression of
              the SIAM key (now the OK key) will "lock into" that mode,
              baud rate, etc.  If there is no analysis yet, hitting the
              OK key will produce an error response, trying to tell you
              that no mode has been guessed, so OK is premature.

    Be sure to hit the CTRL key by itself when in NON-Packet modes. It will
display a line of commands that can be useful in your non-packet operation.
For examle, the ARQ key can be used if you want to type in just the SELCAL
and then hit the ARQ function key combination. Or, you can type ARQ SELCAL
and hit [F10].  The function keys are "short cuts" for your use.

Using the Callsign/Name log in NON-Packet modes:

    Some other keys of interest: The [Alt-C] key in all modes will allow
you to enter a callsign for the session.  For non-packet modes, since
callsigns are not necessarily "known" to the TNC, you have to enter them
manually.  Using [Alt-C] you can "force" a callsign to anything. At that
time, the program will lookup information it may have about that callsign
including the name of the remote operator.

    If a callsign is showing, you may use the [Alt-N] key to add/edit the
name of the remote operator. This is helpful for future reference. You
can also edit the "QSL card" information using [Alt-E] once the callsign
is shown.

    The [Alt-P] key shows the results of "previous modes" such as packet.
This can be useful if you wish to "cut/paste" text that you might have
received from a packet BBS into a RTTY contact.  When you leave a
non-packet mode (or the direct terminal mode) all text is sent to the
previous connects screen.  In this way, you can change modes and have
access to text received/sent in other modes.  You could receive an
ARRL bulletin, or a NAVTEX bulletin, switch to another mode, select
the text and send it using the new mode.


Summary:

    To change modes, we suggest that you use TNC files rather than
just typing in the mode name and hitting [F10].  This will assure
that relevant parameters are properly set.

    Differences exist between HF and VHF operation. You might create
a VHFAMTOR.TNC and HFAMTOR.TNC file, or VHFBAUDO.TNC and HFBAUDOT.TNC
files, etc., depending you what you do routinely.  This way, all that
you do is hit [F10], and pick the right TNC file from the "pick list"
presented to you. Look over the TNC files we've provided.

    For CQ messages, you can edit the [Alt-N] key assignments and/or
setup .BRG files in the packet directory with your CQ message. You can
also use the TextOps function (F5) to edit a CQ message in the "cut/paste"
editor buffer. This message can be sent numerous times by simply
hitting [F5] and selecting "copy to current session."  Then hit [ESC]
to start transmitting, and when the text begins going out, hit [ESC]
again to queue up the unkey command.


                           A note about FAX

    The only mode NOT supported by Packet-PLUS and Packet-GOLD is FAX,
due in part to the "SWL" nature of FAX, and in part to the availability
of more appropriate hardware and software for this mode.  The Black/White
discrimination offered in the AEA product does not support the multi-level
resolution inherent in many FAX transmissions (e.g. photographs).  We have
tested other programs that offer 16-level resolution, using both dithering
and color substitution for the various levels, and have found the resulting
"pictures" to be excellent.  The PK-FAX program is adequate for black and
white drawings (weather maps).