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PACFAST for Amateur Radio
Copyright 1992 By Van Flynn, N5ARU
Documentation for Ver 1.1
by Minnie, KB5JM
PACFAST is a high speed packet terminal program. It is designed
to work at baud rates up to 115200. It was written in "C" for
fast execution. It can utilize the 16550 UART with a screen
display indicator for this high speed UART chip. It is able to
maintain log files, and will shell to DOS. It will work under
windows V3.0. This program will work on most MS-DOS or IBM com-
patible machine. It is a very simple and easy program to work
with and relies on the operators knowledge of the TNC's Firmware
rather than a complicated and unwieldy software program. For the
packet experimenter it offers the benefit of being one of the few
programs for packet radio that is designed for high speed as well
as the utilization of the 16550 UART Chip. As an added feature
in this version, it will look up Amateur Radio Call Signs from
within the program if you have RT Systems' SAM Program installed
on your computer. This program will also indicate if you don't
have SAM loaded in your machine. You do not have to have SAM in
order to use this program; it will operate as well without it.
With SAM, however, you can get callsign information fast while
working packet contacts.
There are many other more sophisticated programs for packet
radio. However, the simplicity of this program will appeal to
the average packet user who just does not have time to engage in
a higher learning curve type of program. Some packet programs
take months to learn; this one only takes minutes.
To use PACFAST insert the original disk in the drive slot and
make a backup first. Then if you wish to have the program in-
stalled on your hard drive, copy all of the files over to the
hard drive. To run the program merely type PACFAST at the
prompt. The program will come up under its default settings of
COM1 1200N81. If you need different parameters, for instance COM
2 at 9600 Baud, with no parity, 8 data bits, and 1 stop bit; You
would then type PACFAST COM2 9600N81. On the original disk there
is a file called SAMPLE.BAT. You can change it and rename it to
reflect your own set of parameters if they are different from the
default. You can also change the parameters from within PACFAST
by using ALT P. You cannot change the com port from within the
program.
Once PACFAST is running F1 gets the help screen which is listed
below. From then on to receive and transmit packet, use the
normal TNC commands like C for connect, etc. If you have a 16550
high speed UART Chip in the Com Port you are using on your com-
puter, the digits "16550" will appear on the bottom line of the
screen (towards the right side). If you don't have a 16550 UART,
then nothing will appear there.
PACFAST works very nicely under Windows v 3.0. While in Windows
use the Program Manager go to the drive and directory with PAC-
FAST and click on PACFAST.EXE or PACFAST.PIF. Note that the
files PACFAST.EXE and PACFAST.PIF must be on the same drive and
directory for the program to function under Windows. PACFAST,
while not a windows program, will work as a window and will run
as part of a multi-tasking environment. This means that you can
have PACFAST running in the background while you are doing some-
thing else in Windows.
The following commands are available in PACFAST:
Alt C: Clears the screen
Alt E: Toggle Echo - If you type something and don't see
it appear on the screen then turn echo on by typing
ALT E.
Alt L: Toggle Line Feed - If each line of text you receive
in packet seems to be overwriting the previous line
then turn on Line Feed by typing ALT L.
Please note that both line feed and echo can be
toggled with commands to the TNC also.
Alt P: Changes Parameters - This command allows you
to change the baud, parity, data, and stop bit
settings from within the program. Normally the
parity, data, and stop bit would be left at
N81.
Alt S: Shell to DOS - This command enables you to leave
PACFAST in a "status quo" setting and go to the
DOS prompt and perform some DOS command such as
DIR, TYPE, etc.
F2 : Open a Log File - F2 will toggle a Log File named
PACFAST.LOG. If the file is open anything received
via packet will be saved to disk.
F1 : Help Screen - A help screen will be display
the above commands.
F10 : This will open a small window and prompt you for
a callsign. Type in the callsign, hit return, and
the information will appear in this same window.
You must have the SAM program installed on your
system and the SAMAPI loaded resident in
your systems memory. A message will appear in the
window indicating if SAMAPI is not loaded. Refer
to SAM Documentation for details.
Alt X: Exit - This will exit you from the program.
This program was written using Borland C Compiler and the MCOMM5
Library and is copyrighted February 1992. As such it is share-
ware and not in the public domain. The author makes no represen-
tations or warranties with respect to the contents here of and
specifically disclaims any implied warranties of fitness for any
particular purpose. The SAM Callsign Program is a product of RT
Systems, Laceys Spring, Alabama.
If you like the program, and would like a future update; there
is a $14.50 registration fee which will entitle you to one
upgrade (if there is one - this is the second update). Please
make checks or money orders payable to: Van H. Flynn, N5ARU
P.O.Box 24816 New Orleans, Louisiana 70184. Also any sugges-
tions, reports of bugs, etc. will be graciously received. If
you like this documentation, and would like to let me know how
much you enjoyed reading it, please send E-Mail via Packet---
kb5jm@n5uxt.la.usa
de Minnie, KB5JM 2/28/92