Shareware Grab Bag/Shareware Grab Bag.iso/090/gw2_19.arc/GW2-19.LTR

Text File | 1988-02-26 | 18KB | 407 lines

This report is brought to you courtesy of Scott, W3VS, Roy, AA4RE,
HAMNET (a feature of COMPUSERV) and the Garlic Valley Packet Society.
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Gateway: The ARRL Packet Radio Newsletter is published by the

American Radio Relay League          Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU
      225 Main Street                       Editor
    Newington, CT 06111

Larry E. Price, W4RA                    David Sumner, K1ZZ
     President                       Executive Vice President

Vol. 4, No. 11                               February 19, 1988


70-CM, 23-CM AND 33-CM BAND PLANS ADOPTED

At their January meeting, the ARRL Board of Directors voted to
adopt the packet-radio frequency recommendations of the ARRL
Committee on Amateur Radio Digital Communications for the 70-cm
and 23-cm bands.  Also, the Digital Committee's recommendations
for the 33-cm band were adopted as interim guidelines for packet
radio frequencies pending conclusion of a study by the Membership
Services Committee on revising the current interim 33-cm band
plan.

On 70-cm (420-450 MHz), the Digital Committee recommended the
following frequencies, if they are available in a given area:

o  100 kHz-wide channels at 430.05, 430.15, 430.25, 430.35,
430.45, 430.55, 430.65, 430.85, and 430.95 MHz.  (430.75 MHz is
not recommended to minimize interference to/from distant ATV
aural carriers.)

o  25 kHz-wide channels at 440.975, 441.000, 441.025, 441.050,
and 441.075 MHz plus an additional narrow-band channel at 431.025
MHz which could serve as a buffer for the wide-band packet radio
channels listed above.

On 23 centimeters, the recommended frequencies are:

o  2 MHz-wide channels at 1249.0, 1251.0, and 1298.0 MHz.

o  100 kHz-wide channels at 1299.05, 1299.15, 1299.25, 1299.35,
1299.45, 1299.55, 1299.65, 1299.75, 1299.85 and 1299.95 MHz.

o  25 kHz-wide channels at 1294.025, 1294.050, 1294.075,
1294.100, 1294.125, 1294.150 and 1294.175 MHz.  1294.100 MHz is
designated the 23-cm national packet radio calling frequency.
(These frequencies are available to Novice operators.)

On 33-cm (902-928 MHz), the recommended interim packet radio band
plan allocates two 3 MHz-wide channels (to accommodate 1.5 Mbit/s
links) with 10.7-MHz spacing.  This allocation may be
accomplished with channels at 903-906 and 914-917 MHz.

In another packet radio matter, the Board of Directors has asked
the Digital Committee to prepare draft rule changes for Part 97
to facilitate HF packet radio, particularly with reference to the
experiments being conducted currently under Special Temporary
Authorization (the HF automatic message forwarding PBBS network).


OSCAR 10 OFF THE AIR

AMSAT-OSCAR 10 (AO-10) has been showing symptoms of insufficient
power production  during the past several days.  There have been
reports of the general beacon and transponder FMing and of the
beacons and transponder operating in random states.  As a result,
AO-10 has been removed from service.  All user access should stop
immediately.  AO-10 may be back in service in a few months.

from AMSAT NA News Service (ANS)


ROBOT 6-METER METSCAT STATION

A robot 6-meter packet-radio meteor scatter (METSCAT) station was
on the air in central Iowa during the January 23-25 ARRL VHF
Sweepstakes.  Robot QSO functions were provided by SAREX 2 TNC
software developed by Howard Goldstein, N2WX, as part of the
project headed by Tom Clark, W3IWI, to fly packet-radio
capabilities in a space shuttle.  In the future, METSCAT
operation is planned for grid square DXpeditions during June and
September ARRL VHF contests.  It is not known if the robot
station won the Iowa Section Award!

For further information concerning these events, contact Ralph
Wallio, W0RPK, at 1250 Highway G-24, Indianola, IA 50125 or @
WA0JFS-1.

from The ARRL Letter


DIGIPEATER FREQUENCY COORDINATION...YOUR INPUT IS WANTED!

The ARRL Committee on Amateur Radio Digital Communications is
studying whether packet-radio digipeaters should be sanctioned or
coordinated by local frequency coordination councils and the
Digital Committee is soliciting comments from packeteers
concerning how digipeater frequency coordination does work, does
not work or ought to work in their area.

If the Digital Committee determines that digipeaters should be
sanctioned or coordinated, the Digital Committee will develop
suggested or recommended guidelines for use by local frequency
coordinators to sanction or coordinate such digipeaters.

Besides packeteers, the Digital Committee is also seeking input
from the VHF Repeater Advisory Committee (VRAC) and the VHF-UHF
Advisory Committee (VUAC).  Your comments on this matter should
be sent to Chairman, ARRL Committee on Amateur Radio Digital
Communication, ARRL headquarters, as soon as possible.  This
study is being undertaken as a result of the ARRL Board of
Directors meeting last month.


PHASE-3C LAUNCH EFFORTS CONTINUE

Momentum is increasing on several fronts leading to a launch of
AMSAT's Phase 3C spacecraft in late spring.  While the actual
launch date has apparently slipped a month into late May or early
June, preparations to support the launch activities are
proceeding well.  These support activities include planning for
the launch support team from AMSAT NA and AMSAT DL in Kourou and
launch activity coverage by the AMSAT Launch Information Network
Service.

AMSAT NA's launch support team met recently in Boulder, Colorado
to map out plans for their activity in Kourou.  Together with the
AMSAT DL team, they will accomplish the final preparations on the
Phase 3C satellite after it has arrived at the Kourou launch site
of the European Space Agency.  They will apply thermal blankets,
install the antennas, fuel the spacecraft and integrate it with
the SPELDA, the large container which sits atop the Ariane 4
launcher to support and contain the payload.

After integration, a minimum support team will remain on site to
monitor the spacecraft telemetry sent through the umbilical to
the monitoring facility.  A 24-hour watch team will assure that
all telemetry values remain within tolerance.  This watch will
continue to launch.

Major launch-related activities will be broadcast on a worldwide
ALINS prior to, during and after the launch.  Local repeater
groups are encouraged to rebroadcast Phase 3C ALINS traffic.
Special landline ports will be available for repeater operators
to patch into for live launch coverage.  Additional details
regarding frequencies and schedules of the various nets will be
announced as soon as the schedules are firmed.  Interested
parties should contact Ralph Wallio, W0RPK, at 1250 Highway G-24,
Indianola, IA 50125.

With activity levels increasing on many fronts, AMSAT
headquarters is encouraging all its Area Coordinators and members
to take an active part in helping make Phase 3C a success in
terms of membership as well.  It is especially important to
promote new membership now since launch preparations and related
expenses tax AMSAT's budget.  New and renewing members are
urgently needed to help offset rising expenses.  AMSAT's
financial managers advise that it is certain a cutback in
services will be necessary if membership and donation trends
remain below necessary levels.  Donations are always welcomed and
may be tax-deductible.

from AMSAT NA News Service (ANS)


LETTER FROM LIBERIA

I would like to give you an update on packet-radio activity in
Liberia.

We presently have five active packeteers in Liberia: Reinhard,
EL2BB, Mark, EL5G, Lee, EL2FE, Bassam, EL2BN, and myself.  I sent
off for WB4APR's PBBS software and Reinhard has it on line 24
hours a day on 145.5 MHz.  We find that it is perfect for our low
volume of activity.

Mark and I have KAMs and are on HF, as well as on VHF.  Mark is a
missionary doctor located in a remote village in the interior of
Liberia (he has a solar powered station) and we regularly work
40-meter packet radio.  He also gateways through me to the VHF
PBBS.  We are active on other HF bands, but we find that 20
meters is practically useless because of QRM.  HF packet radio
really needs to spread out!  Fifteen meters is pretty good and 10
meters should be even better when it starts humming.

As an interesting sidelight, Reinhard, Mark and I have been
working with the Liberia Rural Communications Network, a series
of low power AM broadcast stations, to develop an HF, AX.25
packet radio based narrative data network.  This is an excellent
example of how amateur experimentation and development makes a
real contribution to the state of the art.  It is particularly
significant that this new technology is being applied in the
Third World where low cost is a must.

That is the word on packet radio in Liberia.  I am on my way back
to 6-land, so I regret that I will no longer be involved in
Liberia's packet radio infancy.  As with all amateur modes, this
is a great place to be a ham!

One last thing, please pass the word that EL is active on packet
radio.  I have seen several lists in the last few months that did
not mention us.

from Jim DeLoach EL2GA/KB6EH


COLOR COMPUTER TERMINAL SOFTWARE

Two new versions of the Radio Shack/Tandy Color Computer packet
radio terminal program, COCOPACT, are now available.  Version 2.1
is designed for use with the Deluxe RS-232-C Pak, while version
5.0 is for use with the computer's built-in four-pin serial port.
Extended Color BASIC and 64-kbyte RAM are required for either
version.

The two programs share many features including true split-screen
operation with 11 receive lines and four transmit lines, a
46,000+ character buffer, the ability to load any kind of file
from disk or tape, recognition of the ASCII bell  character
<CTRL-G> on receive, a disk command menu, on-screen stream or
channel indicator for multiple connection operation and a screen
hold key.

COCOPACT's buffer includes an editor with insert, delete and
change character functions.  Operations with the buffer allow the
user to transmit, print or save the entire 46,000-character
buffer or a selected block of the buffer to disk in ASCII format.
Typical save time for 10 kbytes of data is approximately 20
seconds with VERIFY ON.  Typical load time for a 10-kbyte file is
10 seconds or approximately one second for each 1000 bytes of
data.  Tape operations do not support block commands and are
limited to the first 18 kbytes of the buffer.

Both versions have on-screen status indicators while in the
terminal mode for the buffer open/close status and for the screen
hold status.  The buffer can be easily toggled open or closed
while in the terminal mode.

Version 5.0 provides menu selectable 300 or 1200 baud operation.
When transmitting the buffer to the TNC, hardware flow control
is supported with proper connection of the serial cable.

Version 2.1 has several additional features.  Most significant of
these are real time printer echo of incoming data with an
additional indicator to show printer on/off status, machine
language format file receiving and saving to disk (disk version
only), selectable 300, 1200, 2400, 4800 or 9600 baud terminal
operation and menu-selectable word length, parity and number of
stop bits.  Version 2.1 also supports full hardware flow control
and allows the user to transmit a file directly from disk without
the need to load it into the buffer first.  This version also
allows user-definable defaults for many operational parameters.

Each version of the program is $19.95 plus $2 for shipping and
handling.  Specify disk or tape version and serial printer port
or RS-232-C Pak version.  Note that tape and disk versions will
only work on the specified system.  If you wish to order two
versions of the program (a disk and a tape version or a serial
printer port and RS-232-C Pak version), the second version is
available for $5.  (This discount does not apply to purchases of
two copies of the same version.)  Upgrades from one version to
another are also available for $5 plus $2 for shipping and
handling.

To order, send a check or money order to Monty Haley, WJ5W, Rt.1,
Box 150-A, Evening Shade, AR 72532.


OBTAINING TNC 2 VERSION 1.1.5 CODE

A number of folks have asked how to obtain the 1.1.5 TNC 2 code
from the Tucson Amateur Packet Radio Corporation (TAPR, PO Box
22888, Tucson, AZ 85734, telephone [phone]).  Blank EPROMs
(27256) cost $10, although you are encouraged to send in your
own.  If you send in your own EPROMs, include $2 for programming
costs plus a prepaid return mailer.  If you choose to buy the
EPROMs from TAPR, a mailer and the postage are included in the
purchase price of the blank EPROM.

TNC 2 Version 1.1.5 (like 1.1.4) requires 32-kbyte RAM in your
TNC 2. If you require RAM, chips are available for a limited time
from TAPR for $20 postpaid.

from Dave Toth, VE3GYQ, for TAPR via CompuServe's HamNet


WHAT IS AN LAN?

There has been much written and spoken about LANs in amateur
packet radio.  Just what is an LAN anyway and how is one "built"
and maintained?

The initials stand for Local Area Network and the nomenclature is
drawn from the commercial networking environment.  By definition,
an LAN is "..a  communication system that connects devices within
a constrained area..."  In the amateur packet radio world, the
term and concept of LAN has been abused and misused.  The true
implementation LANs in the amateur packet radio should be done
exactly as the definition proclaims... a system that  operates
within a constrained area or more precisely, on frequencies that
are selected on a noninterference, non-adjacent criteria.  These
LANs should then be connected to each other by some other Wide
Area Network.

This should not be something new.  It is a theme that has been
suggested for quite some time and implemented in various areas
with great success.  Why is it then that we still see
"authoritative" coordinating bodies still proclaiming certain
frequencies as LANs and then issuing maps detailing the LAN
coverage from Maine to Maryland?  That is certainly not a
constrained area, nor is it a nonadjacent assignment of
frequencies!

I  am speaking of the recent proclamation of 145.05 as an LAN,
supported by a detailed map of half the East Coast.  The majority
of our PBBS forwarding  still takes place on 145.01 MHz with UHF
backbones slowly emerging.  There is still the overpowering need
for local implementation of LANs, but  selecting a frequency such
as 145.05 MHz as an LAN is a bit ludicrous.   In many sections of
the East Coast, 145.05 MHz emerged as a secondary Wide Area
Network.  It has wide coverage digipeaters, NET/ROMs, COSI-
switches, high  volume PBBS traffic, uucp gateways and a couple
of dead cats for good measure.   If the coordinating bodies want
to really do some good then they should  take into account the
network topologies involved, the activity of the  various PBBSs
and the overall goal of the area in question.  Declaring 145.05
MHz as an LAN defies description.  Next someone will claim 145.01
MHz as an LAN as well!

Folks, there are plenty of frequencies to be shared on a
nonadjacent, noninterference basis.  Let us keep the Wide Area
Networks in place, improve the backbones, customize the links and
the coverage areas of the existing systems.  Multiport the high
volume PBBSs to maintain good user activity.  Support your system
providers and help whenever and wherever you can to promote, not
hinder, the advance and growth of this art of our hobby.

from Tom Teel, KB3UD @18013


220-BBS Port for Novices

WA2EXE-4 Woodside, NYC, BBS now has open and running a port on
223.420 MHz for Novices.

from Bob Clayton, WA2EXE


BACK ISSUES OF GATEWAY ARE AVAILABLE

All back issues of Gateway are available from ARRL headquarters
for $.50 per issue postpaid.  When ordering a back issue, request
it by its volume and number (for example, "Volume 4, Number 11")
or by its issue date (for example, "February 19, 1988").

Also, all of the issues of Gateway that were published in its
first year (Volume 1, Numbers 1-25) are available in one volume
along with the papers presented at the first four ARRL Amateur
Radio Computer Networking Conferences for $18 plus $2.50 for
shipping and handling (order ARRL publication #0224).


GATEWAY CONTRIBUTIONS

Submissions for publication in Gateway are welcome.  You may
submit material via the US mail to:

   Gateway
   Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU
   75 Kreger Drive
   Wolcott, CT 06716-2702

or electronically, via CompuServe to user ID 70645,247.  Via
telephone, your editor can be reached at 203-879-1348 on evenings
and weekends, and he can switch a modem on line to receive text
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