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World of Ham Radio 1997
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1997-02-01
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7KB
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116 lines
EzPacket is written for use with a Poor Man's Packet (PMP) modem. The
original PMP software was written by Andrew C. Payne. I used that code as
a model for this program. More than 95% of EzPacket has been written from
scratch. Only a few small pieces of code remain nearly the same as Mr.
Payne's code. Those pieces perform the low-level bit I/O and they will
hopefully be replaced sometime soon.
EzPacket updates will be available on a BBS at (708) 980-9544 prior to
April 20, 1996 and at (847) 985-9544 after April 20, 1996. The file
will be named EZPKT???.ZIP where ??? is the version number. Also, I prefer
to get all questions and comments by mail or via the above BBS's sysop
(not by phone - lots of you, only 1 of me). Thanks.
I've tried to make this new program more friendly than PMP.EXE and give it
a lot of new features. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to write
to me at my address in the latest Callbook. (As of 1/27/96, my address is
3101 Chastain Drive, Atlanta, GA 30342, but I expect it to change by 4/96.)
Getting started with EzPacket is very simple. The first time it is run,
it creates a configuration file (EZPACKET.CFG) that defaults nearly
everything, assuming that it is to work with a PMP modem using LPT1. When
the configuration file is created, it automatically places you in the
configuration screen so that you can enter your call sign. DON'T FORGET
TO DO THIS. Everything else should work as-is. If you wish to customize
the configuration, it is done on-line and most of the screens are pretty
self-explanatory. Also, as with PMP.EXE, ALT-H from the main screen will
give help on keys and running EzPacket with /? will give command-line
options. A DETAILED 20+ PAGE USER'S MANUAL IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM ME FOR
ONLY $5.00 (TO COVER LASER-PRINTING AND POSTAGE COSTS).
Also, you may be wondering what the included EZPACKET.ICO file is for.
If you are a Microsoft Windows user, this is an icon you can configure
Windows to use for EzPacket. Please note, however, that EzPacket does NOT
run correctly in a 386-enhanced mode window. It must be run as a
foreground task, full-screen, to allow it to do critical I/O timings.
EzPacket also does not work well in a DOS session under OS/2, again due to
timing constraints.
I hope you enjoy the program and find it usefull.
Frank Domina (N9MXI)
****************************************************************************
HISTORY: Version 1.5 has a minor bug that has been fixed in version 1.6.
The bug was that the configured TX_PORT, TX_BIT, RX_PORT and
RX_BIT were not being used. Some older debugging code that had
them hard-coded to the defaults was accidentally left in. This
caused a problem when trying to use a serial port to communicate
with a Baycom modem. Sorry 'bout that.
Version 1.6a added a display of the COM and LPT port addresses to
make configuration easier.
Version 1.7 adds a crude mailbox facility via a new remote command,
adds a help screen for the remote commands, and a constant carrier-
detect with no data will no longer cause a lock-up.
Version 1.7a updated the phone number for the BBS that is listed in
the "about" screen (ALT-A) to the latest number. No other changes
were made from 1.7 to 1.7a.
Version 1.8.x beta releases:
- Fixed BUG that did not display the session number correctly
when prompting for the session's upload file name.
- Removed prompt when FORCING an in-progress disconnect.
- Added display of found LPT and COM ports when editing config.
- Remembers and uses the last video mode (25 vs 43/50 line mode)
unless told otherwise on the command line (run EzPacket /?
for help)
- Updated the ALT-A "about" screen again
- Fixed bug that could cause nodes or stations heard lists to
become corrupted after clearing the lists.
- Added monitoring station include/exclude filters. The list is
"H" in the ALT-O options, and it is enabled for each window
under "D" then "window number" in the ALT-O options.
- Added clearing scrollback buffers (see ALT-H help for key)
- Added TAB/BackTAB to switch windows
- Added ability to take action on key pressed when exiting
Help Screen
- Fixed failure to write scrollback buffer or current window
(ALT-F & ALT-W) I think this bug was only in previous beta
releases.
Version 2.0:
- Added optional message types to filter when monitoring
- No longer tries to display data from unknown packet
tranport formats
- Added more config options for sound [(1) off, (2) on,
(3)only within text (typed or received), and (4) only from
user interface.)
- Most control chars are now changed to printable chars in the
scrollback buffer (i.e. CTRL-A displays as ^A, etc.):
+ Tabs still get translated to the appropriate number
of spaces.
+ Backspace now overwrites the previous character on the
same line.
+ Other printer control characters such as <VT>, <CR>,
<LF> and <FF> are NOT translated to printable
characters.
+ Bell chars beep (if enabled in configuration) when
FIRST "displayed" AND are STRIPPED from scrollback
buffer so quiet when scrolling.
- When typing in data, BELL chars (CTRL-G) display as "ß",
TAB chars (CTRL-I) display as "≈", and all other control
chars will DISPLAY as the character representing the typed
char + hex 80, BUT the true typed characters will actually
be taken as the input. For example CTRL-A, which is hex 01,
will be DISPLAYED as the character that is hex 81, which
happens to be "ü", but the typed CTRL-A will be taken as the
input. This is to simplify the user input line and make
normally undisplayable characters visible when typing.