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G8BPQ.DOC
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1992-12-31
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G8BPQ.DOC IMPROVED Hints on Using the G8BPQ Switch with ARES/Data
ARES/Data V. 1.5 and beyond implements a new type of interface, called
"BPQ", that allows a G8BPQ switch to act as the TNC for the ARES/Data
program. This means that any TNC that can operate in the KISS mode can
be used with ARES/Data, including PK-232, KAM, and others, for the first
time.
This has been made possible by the G8BPQ's new software interface,
DEDHOST, which makes the switch look like a DED TNC to the ARES/Data
program. At the same time, ARES/Data looks like a "BBS" application to
the BPQ switch.
The BPQ switch code is very complex and powerful. It is like a very
sophisticated translator program that attaches to hardware (TNCs) on one
side and provides virtual software TNCs to applciation programs, all the
while acting like a NET/ROM-style node on the radio channel(s).
It is easy to set it up wrong so that nothing works and reboots are
required. Moreover, the BPQ switch code MUST be working correctly
before you can even think of starting ARES/Data. With these warnings
in mind, here is a quick and dirty way to set up the BPQ switch to
operate with ARES/Data. Don't change any of the parameters unless you
know what you are doing! This description assumes you want to just use
one TNC in the KISS mode to act as the hardware part of the G8BPQ
switch. You must read the BPQ documentation files if you want to do
anything else. In fact, you should read the documentation in any case,
especially if you have trouble.
0. First of all, you must get a copy of the G8BPQ switch code. It is
NOT supplied with ARES/Data, since you should get the latest and
greatest to get the bug fixes. We have tested ARES/Data with Version
4.05 so far. If you don't have the BPQ code already, here is a
good source in addition to Compuserve:
Tucson Amateur Packet Radio
P. O. Box 12925
Tucson, AZ 85732-2925
phone 602-749-9479 fax 602-749-5636
1. First, get your TNC operating in the KISS mode, 4800, N, 8, 1.
You can do this with a terminal emulator, using commands found in
the manual of your TNC, which should be something like "KISS ON".
Exit the terminal emulator.
2. After unpacking the G8BPQ switch code, edit BPQCFG.TXT to specify
the callsign and alias you want for the BPQ switch. A SAMPLE BPQCFG.TXT
FILE THAT WORKS WITH BPQ V. 4.05 IS INCLUDED WITH THIS RELEASE OF
ARES/Data. Be sure you are editing the version sent with ARES/Data,
not the BPQCFG.TXT that comes with the BPQ switch code. Keep the two
files separate! You may need both.
3. Run BPQCFG.EXE, which makes the binary file BPQCFG.BIN from
BPQCFG.TXT. This only needs to be done once.
4. Run the batch file STARTBPQ.BAT, which actually loads the BPQ code
and the additional DED driver DEDHOST, which is used by ARES/Data. A
SAMPLE VERSION OF STARTBPQ.BAT IS INCLUDED WITH ARES/DATA. (IF you have
the file DEDHOSFE.COM, DO NOT USE IT. This file works only with V.
4.01 of the BPQ switch, and NOT with any later version.)
5. Test the switch. You can do this in several ways. One way is by
doing a remote connect - it should act like any normal NET/ROM node,
except you have to specify the port number (1) when connecting out via
the switch. Another way is to run the program PAC4.EXE included with
the BPQ code, which is a simple terminal program which talks directly to
the switch. Start PAC4 by typing "PAC4 1". With PAC4, you can initiate
a connection to another station, which is a good two-way test of the
connections between the switch and your TNC. Just type "C 1 w6abc".
Another userful command is "stats", which causes BPQ to give you the
current values of many of his counters. To exit PAC4, type "<ctl>y".
IF THE SWITCH IS NOT WORKING, DON'T EVEN TRY TO GO ANY FURTHER.
Check BPQCFG.TXT in detail.
6. Be sure that ARESDATA.CFG has been edited to specify the BPQ
interface, for example
attach bp1 type=bpq bpqvec=254 users=9 deleteon
The bpqvec parameter must match the software interrupt vector address
specified as the last parameter when you called DEDHOST (in
STARTBPQ.BAT).
7. Finally, start ARES/Data using the batch file ARESDATA.BAT, with
the lines loading and unloading TNCTSR-S and MBBIOS commented out. You
don't need either of these TSR's, as all the direct communications with
your serial port hardware are handled by the G8BPQ switch code.
WARNING: we have tested ARES/Data with BPQ and DRSI, with DRSI and
MBBIOS (DED) TNCs, but NOT with MBBIOS and BPQ. Don't expect this to
work. It may, however, under certain conditions.
USERS CONNECTING TO ARES/DATA THROUGH THE SWITCH:
The user connects using either the call or alias for the switch. The
user can then do any usual switch command such as "PORTS", "USERS", etc.
If he types ?, he sees that an application is listed "aresdata". He
then simply types "aresdata" to get into the ARES/Data system.
On the other hand, if the user connects using the call or the alias for
the ARES/Data application, the user gets directly into ARES/Data.
SYSOPS CONNECTING OUT USING THE BPQ INTERFACE:
From the ARES/Data sysop screen, type
<esc>sn select channel n, where n is an unused channel number.
F2 F2 press F2 twice to get into chat mode for this channel.
You should see a small "x" next to the channel number.
NOTE - if you don't do this, ARES/Data will assume
that the connection is to another database user
rather than the switch, so that all the ARES/Data
prompts look like INVALID COMMANDS to the switch!
<esc>c xxx where xxx is anything; the switch will respond saying
"CONNECTED to 0:SWITCH", no matter what "xxx" is.
Now you talk to the switch to issue more commands:
<esc>ninfo gets the switch info (note the number n is required, because
this is not really a command, but a string to be sent to
ARES/Data channel n, which is now connected to the switch).
<esc>nc p w6abc initiates a connect to w6abc on port p of the switch.
(again, this is really text sent to the switch).
NOTE: DEDHOST only implements a portion of the the real WA8DED command
set, specifically, the commands C, D, L, @B, G, JHOST. You send
COMMANDs, rather than text, to the switch using <esc><command>, with no
channel number. All other WA8DED commands (as opposed to text) that you
might try to send to the switch are rejected as INVALID COMMANDS. Often
you get an INVLAID COMMAND message without reason - this is a bug and
can be ignored.
This is a highly flexible switch program, so be patient. Again, if you
change many parameters, be sure that ARES/Data still works.
Thanks again to John Wiseman for making this possible.
END G8BPQ.DOC