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1991-10-03
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(*****************************************************************************)
(* *)
(* MSATCOM(tm) - MicroSat Ground Station Terminal *)
(* *)
(* Version 1.0 *)
(* *)
(* (c) Copyright 1990 by Claudio M. Zanella LU4AEY *)
(* Released For Public Distribution *)
(* ALL RIGHTS RESERVED *)
(* *)
(*****************************************************************************)
USE
Digital communications protocol FTL0 (File Transfer Level 0)
SOFTWARE REQUIRED
- MSATCOM.EXE Main program (english version)
- README.COM Program to read file THUNDER.DOC
- MSATCOM.DOC User documentation in Spanish
- MSATENG.DOC User documentation in English (this document)
- MSATCOM.CNF System configuring file
HARDWARE REQUIRED
MSATCOM can be used on PC, XT, AT and Compatibles. It requires for its
functioning TNCs with TAPR type commands and the complete connection of
the RS232 port, fit 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,20. Take special care in fitting:
8 (Data Carrier Detect), 4 (Request to Send), 5 (Clear to Send).
With a PacComm TNC 220 & 320 set JP-C to CONN (Default is HIGH)
The addition of the following in your CONFIG.SYS file is recommended:
FILES = 20
BUFFERS = 20
MSATCOM was tested with the following HARDWARE:
TNC types:
PACCOMM TINY 2
PACCOMM TNC 200
PACCOMM TNC 220
PACCOMM TNC 320
MFJ-1270/1278
AEA PK 232
AEA PK88
Computer types:
PC AT 80386 20/25 MHz
PC AT 80286 16/20 MHz
PC AT 80286 12/16 MHz
PC XT 80286 8/12 MHz
PC XT 8088 4/10 MHz PC XT NEC V20 10/12 MHz
SETTING THE TNC
This programm uses Hardware Handshaking. Set its TNC on NO PARITY and
WORD LENGTH OF 8 BITS.
CPactime OFF
CR ON
SEnd $0D
DCD ON <-- External Carrier Detect in PK232
Enable the Hardware Handshaking of your TNC as follows:
START 0
STOP 0
XFLOW OFF
XON 0
XOFF 0
The following parameters are recommended:
TXDEALY 20
AXDELAY 20
PRIOACK ON <-- Release TAPR 1.1.7 only
FLOW ON
SUMMARY OF COMMANDS
The following commands can be used in MSATCOM:
F1 - Request reception of directories.
F2 - Request reception of files (DOWNLOAD).
F3 - Request send files (UPLOAD).
F4 - Activate/De-activate the printer in Directory mode.
F5 - Review downloaded directories by screens.
F6 - Adjust time of General directories request (HIGHTIME..PG).
F7 - Adjust time of Personal directories request (HIGHTIME.MY).
F8 - Adjust time of Bulletin directories request (HIGHTIME.BUL).
F9 - Change the current satellite.
F10 - Gateway to DOS.
Alt-B - Send of break signal to TNC to put it into command mode.
Alt-D - Change level of Data Carrier Detect (DCD pin 8 v24).
Alt-H - Help screen (HELP).
Alt-R - Re-organize directory files.
Alt-T - Toggle modes: Terminal or Server.
Alt-X - End MSATCOM (Return to DOS).
DESCRIPTION OF USE OF COMMANDS
KEY F1 (DIRECTORY):
By pressing F1 you get to DIRECTORY options. There are four options
for the mode:
ALL - Receive the File Headers since last request.
PERSONAL - Receive the File Headers sent to 'mycall' since last request
BULLETIN - Receive the File Header sent to 'ALL' since last request
SEARCH - Receive the File Header that contains the search criterion
specified by you taking as reference the time since the
last request to ALL.
To correct the times since the last request (hightime.xx), see options
F6, F7 and F8; these are contained in files MSTIME.ALL, MSTIME.MY and
MSTIME.BUL in UNIX Hexadecimal format.
KEY F2 (DOWNLOAD):
Through this key we DOWNLOAD. Its use is very simple and consists of
indicating the HEXADECIMAL number of the file we are interested in
receiving.
This will be memorized until the DOWNLOAD concludes, satisfactorily or
not. If by any chance the DOWNLOAAD of the file did not end and the
contact with the server is lost, the next time the satellite is in view
press F2 and the programm will automatically reinitiate the DOWNLOAD
from the offset where it lost contact.
ATTENTION: this will repeat as long as the program doesn't receive the
COMMAND DATA END or the DOWNLOAD_ERR_RESP that gets you off the PDL
status to the DOWNLOAD file. If you want to abort this download
request, ERASE from your DOS the current DOWNLOAD file.
File status:
xxxxxx.PDL : File being downloaded (This hasn't ended).
xxxxxx.DL : File downloaded successfully
xxxxxx.XDL : Rejected file (An error occurred during the download).
xxxxxx : Hexadecimal number of requested file.
KEY F3 (UPLOAD):
By pressing this option you can UPLOAD -- sending of FTL0 format
files -- to the server of the Micro satelite. As with DOWNLOADs, the
option UPLOAD remains memorized until it concludes satisfactorily or
not.
If the sending is incomplete because the contact with the server was
lost, we can reinitiate the upload from the offset where the process
has been interrupted the next time the satellite is in view.
The UPLOAD is immediate. Once thithe programm s option is chosen,
initiates the connection procedureif files to be
sent are found, .
File status:
mmmmmm.OUT : File in initial process of sending.
xxxxxx.PUL : File in process of sending (It has been interrupted).
xxxxxx.UP : File has been uploaded successfully.
xxxxxx.XUL : Rejected file, an error occurred during uploading.
mmmmmm : Initial name of file.
xxxxxx : Hexadecimal number assigned by the server
KEY F4 (PRINTER TOGGLE):
This option enables to put the printer on or offline. The same will be
used during the DIRECTORY procedure, this means we can obtain a copy on
paper of the directory of the server while we are receiving it, by this
the DOWNLOAD operation is greatly speeded up.
KEY F5 (RELOAD/REVIEW DIRECTORY):
The function of this option is to enable to load and sort (Reorganize)
on memory the directories received from the current server, at the same
time they are shown on screen from the newest to the oldest.
By the keys PageUp and PageDwn you can skip these directories pagewise.
By the keys UP and DOWN we can go up of down by lines. The HOME key
positions the screen at the beginning of the directory. The End key
positions the screen at the end of the directory. The W key enables to
save the screen directories on a file.
The messages directed to our licence will be highlighted to indicate
the presence of these on list.
A subprocess is executed while running this option. It consists in
loading the diretories on a sublist.
This subprocess assures that the File Header received during the
DIRECTORY process are not repeated, so that no duplicate directories
are generated. If the presence of a duplicate directory is detected,
this is indicated on screen but is not saved on the master file.
KEYS F6, F7, F8 (TIME ADJUSTMENT):
From these options depend the times of request of directories. MSATCOM
performs all directory requests taking as reference the present time in
the MSATCOM.BUL, MSATCOM.ALL or MSATCOM.MY files.
These files will be updated after having concreted a request of
directory, for this the time of the last File Header in the server is
taken as reference.
Once updated, this time can be altered by these options. It consists
in indicating the program the difference in hours of our GMT hour.
The format of these files is HEXADECIMAL and corresponds to time in
UNIX. The same will be created for the first time by the programm,
taking as reference the present time of the programm.
KEY F9 (CHANGE COURRENT SATELLITE):
This option, of immediate access, enables to change instantly the
current satelite of the program.
In this way the configuration of the program can be changed for the new
satelite without leaving it to perform changes to the configuration
file by loosing time and making it's use complex.
KEY F10 (DOS GATEWAY):
Enables to performa a DOS shell to execute external commands of
programs to MSATCOM.
KEY ESC (ABORT & DISCONNECT):
This key enables to abort any operation started immediately performing
a total resetting of the status of variables of the program.
KEY ALT-B (SEND BREAK):
Enables to send a break signal of 350 ms when we are in terminal mode
with the target of putting the TNC in COMMAND mode.
KEY ALT-D (DCD LEVEL):
Enables to change the logical state of the DCD, this option was
introduced to enable the TNC's use which use as VALID DCD a high state,
being the Low state the commonly encountered in the TNC's.
KEY ALT-H (HELP SCREEN):
This option gives us access to a small onscreen help of the commands of
the programm.
KEY ALT-R (REBUILD DIRECTORY):
Used to reorganize the directory file of the current satelite.
This reorganization consists in cleaning the file directory of possible
duplicate directories by erasing at the same time the old ones after an
amount of days we indicate.
KEY ALT-T (TERMINAL/SERVER MODE):
By this option we can switch from mode SERVER to mode TERMINAL
instantly and quickly.
KEY ALT-X (EXIT TO DOS):
End the execution of MSATCOM (Return to DOS).
--- ** ---
Configuration of file MSATCOM.CNF
-------------------------------------
As we saw at the beginning, this file is in charge of configuring the
system, it is divided in four sections (Serial SetUP, Misc Function,
Top_Cmd_Start/End_Cmd_Setup y Top_Cmd_End/End_Cmd_Setup). The first
and second one serve to send different commands to the proper programm
and the others have as mission to send commands to the TNC to set it in
its initial and by leaving the program, the last ones can be configured
by the user.
Typical configuration
---------------------
In the first section (Serial SetUP) we find as start the setting of
speed for communication of the computer to the TNC, it is necessary
that both coincide in this speed, the TNC in this case must be set on
9600 Baud. The length of word, parity and the stop bit must coincide
with the previous setting of the TNC. There are three options for teh
Handshake and these are the following: H (hardware, RTS/CTS) , S
(software, XON/XOFF) y N (none). The recommended is the Hardware.
It is also possible to set the communications port to be used in our
computer by the option Com_Port and it is necessary to do it indicating
an hexadecimal number, attaching in the following setting (IRQ_Com) the
corresponding interruption number, for example:
Port 1 = $03f8 IRQ4
Port 2 = $02f8 IRQ3
Port 3 = $03e8 IRQ4
Port 4 = $02e8 IRQ3
#
# MSATCOM version 1.0 -- Configuration FILE --
#
# Serial SetUP
#
#
Baud_Rate = 9600
#
Word_Lenght = 8
#
Parity = N
#
Stop_Bit = 1
#
Handshake = H
#
Com_Port = $03F8
#
IRQ_Com = 04
#
#
In the second section (Misc Function), we have both first instructions
that correspond to the tipe of video plate that is used normally Not
and Yes are the most used, but sometimes it is necessary to change
NOT/YES for a better functioning depending on the video plate.
SYSOP_NAME: as the word says, it is necessary to indicate the name of
the system operator.
MYCALL: operator license.
GMT_ZONE: thought to be used by the program with universal coordinated
time, taking for it the computer hour, therefore we must take care to
maintain the hour of our machine and in this case we must indicate if
our station is east of west of Greenwich as follows: EST o WES
GMT_HOURS: this command operated parallel to the aforementioned and it
is necessary to indicate the time difference that exists between our
QTH and the Greenwitch time allways in positive numbers.
SATELLITE: The license of the satelite to which we want to connect
must be put, without omitting the number that corresponds after the
dash and in this case it is number 12, that for all satellites
identifies the BBS during the execution of the program can be changed
of satellite (F9) withouth changing the configuration DCD_LEVEL:
logical level of the DCD L (low) or H (high)
SORT_TYPE: This instruction is used by the option F6 to perform the
classification of the directory, in this case it will be performed by
time (TIME), this means it will be seen on screen since the most recent
date to the oldest. It is also possible to make the classification by
another parameter, for example SIZE (size).
# Misc Function
#
#
Snow_Check = Not
#
Direct_Video = Yes
#
#
Sysop_Name = Ruben
#
Mycall = LU6DYD
#
GMT_ZONE = EST
#
GMT_HOURS = 3
#
SATELLITE = SIMSAT-12
#
DCD_LEVEL = L
#
SORT_TYPE = TIME
#
#
In the third section we have possibility to put the TNC parameters we
think adecuate to send at starting the program. These parameters will
be sent automatically to the TNC and can be modified by the user for a
better operation with the satellite
*** Top_Cmd_Start
#
#
FULLD ON
FRAC 2
CONOK OFF
MAX 7
PAC 255
TXD 25
AXD 25
UN SIMSAT V SIMSAT-1
BT SIMSAT Earth Simulator of Micro Satellites - Buenos Aires ARGENTINA.
B E 5
M ON
CONMODE TRANS
#
*** End_Cmd_Setup
#
In the fourth section it is identical to the third but the parameters
are sent to the TNC when we get off the program (ALT-X) These
parameters can also be modified by the user mainly those that use the
same TNC for satellites operation and earth
#
*** Top_Cmd_End
#
#
FULLD OFF
CONMODE CONVERSE
MCOM ON
UN CQ
B E 0
BT %
CONOK ON
MON OFF
#
*** End_Cmd_Setup
#
--- ** ---
ERROR REPORT
Due to that the programm is still being developed, it may be possible
that some error occurs. If this happens, please pay attention to the
following:
Some error in the momento of execution make that the program visualizes
an error message and ends.
Run time error: nnn at xxxx:yyyy
nnn : Number of error.
xxxx:yyyy : Location of error (segment and displacement).
The errors in time of running are divided in 4 types:
Errors of D.O.S. : Del 1 al 99.
Errors of Entrance/Exit (I/O) : Del 100 al 149.
Critical Errors : Del 150 al 199.
Fatal Errors : Del 200 al 255.
Please take note of this information and send it so as to evaluate and
correct the possible error.
--------------------------------------------------------
*** ATENTION ***
Ham Radio:
-----------
For the distribution no charge is asked. If you are owner of MSATCOM,
please let me know so as to keep a statistic of use as well as any type
of error you may detect or suggestions to improve it.
Therefore, please mail via Packet Radio to:
LU4AEY @ LU4AEY.#VDP.ARG.SA Claudio M. Zanella
By satellite:
LU4AEY @ UOSAT3, PACSAT, LUSAT
By mail to:
Claudio M. Zanella
Av. Alvarez Jonte 3353 Piso 1 Dto 2 Villa del Parque
CP (ZIP) 01407 Buenos Aires - ARGENTINA. TE: 001-01-567-1239.
* * * * * * * *
ENJOY IT!
... Claudio