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Text File | 1993-12-26 | 17.2 KB | 380 lines

________________________________________________________________________________ MANUAL tt ttt nnnn cccc tt nn nn cc cc tt nn nn cc tt t nn nn cc cc ttt nn nn cccc Release 2.20 (26-Dec-93) © Garry Orford, G4FRO ________________________________________________________________________________ Getting started =============== Make sure you have your tnc set at the same baud rate and word length as required by !tnc. The program default is 2400 baud, 8n1 but this will be over-ridden by the parameters that you save from the SETUP dialogue box. Make sure you have wired the Arc/tnc correctly, including the curious Acorn hardware handshake arrangement. This software is supplied on the understanding that you are a Radio Amateur interested in experimentation. The most sophisticated professional programs have bugs (99% OK is considered adequate) - what chance do we have ! You MUST solve problems to give Radio Hams a bit of cred. It is very difficult to start with both a new tnc and new software. If you do so, well good luck but you WILL have problems. Bear in mind, you will have to wire the Arc/tnc together correctly, learn to drive the tnc and work this software. Speak nicely to a local ! This software has been extensively tested on various Arc/tnc combinations and has proved popular as it offers DeskTop facilities. Eat your heart out PCs, Amigas and Ataris ! More details ============ (1) Click SELECT on iconbar, opens the main window. (2) Click MENU on iconbar, brings up menu. (3) Click ADJUST on iconbar, brings up WimpKeys window. (1) Main window Received text will be displayed in the upper part of the window. Holding down SHIFT/CTRL or <Scroll Lock> will pause the display. Holding down SHIFT and clicking on a message number (obtained by Listing from a BBS) will send 'r <message number><cr>'; careful when fast scrolling is taking place ! Click SELECT in TX window, puts caret on line in TX window (and highlights the task if not already active). This can be done at any time, allowing input line to be re-sent. Normal editting works, ie CTRL/U (delete line), left/right/up/down arrows etc. Note line is not sent to tnc until <Return> is typed. Typed lines are limited to 80 characters as the receiving computer may get upset with a greater number. Setting WRAP will cause a <cr> to be sent after a maximum of 77 characters, breaking your typed line intelligently. Control codes are sent by enclosing the ASCII value in square brackets; example, [03] represents CTRL/C or ASCII 3; widely used to enter command mode. Typing CTRL/V or CTRL/Z will automatically append a <Return> to the control code. Note, this works in fkey/wkey definitions also. Hitting <Esc> will force a disconnect on the current stream. If KAM is set, this will be achieved by sending a 50 mS BREAK level (for command mode), then d[13]. If KAM is not set, [03]d[13] will be sent. The reason for this difference is owing to the fact that some KAM Ver 5.0n users, experience KAM crashes with the latter method. Click MENU in main window brings up the filing menu with options to SPOOL to a filing system (usually a disc) or receive YAPP (described later). The dialogue box from SPOOL allows saving to a named file in the usual way; a tick will appear when spooling. Clicking on a ticked SPOOL will close the file. The small box in the top right-hand corner allows Appending to or Overwriting of an existing file. Filter (on) removes non-printable codes from the SPOOLed file; these codes are still removed from the RX window. Filter off is required when SPOOLing 7plus files. Alternatively, clicking SELECT/ADJUST on SPOOL is a toggle to spool (save) the incoming file to the default spool file shown in SETUP. Again, a tick appears on the menu when spooling. The number of bytes in the SPOOL file is updated after each line. CANCEL closes the SPOOL box with no action. The following commands may be used in the TX window, fkeys or WimpKeys with the exception of {peckoff} which MUST be used from a WimpKey or fkey. Note the use of curly brackets. Commands should be entirely in upper case or entirely in lower case. {time} Sends the current time in the format defined in SETUP. {date} Sends the current date in the format defined in SETUP. {upload}<file> Sends the file !tnc.Uploadfile.<file> {peckon} Causes typed characters to be immediately sent to the serial port {peckoff} Reverses the effect of {peckon} {break} Sends a 50 mS BREAK level {peckon} and {peckoff} are intended for use by non-KAM tncs on non-packet modes; example, for use by the PK232 on AMTOR. Packets will be received by the Arc from the tnc whenever !tnc is running, whether or not the main window is open. Also, packets can be SPOOLed in this state. You may review up to 1000 lines by the standard Wimp controls. HOME toggles between the TX lines out/in sight, provided no other window hold the caret; PageUp/Down work in the usual way. Drag a file to window and UPLOAD window appears. You may then SEND file or ABORT. You can ABORT at any subsequent time but note part of file will have already been sent to the tnc for tx'ing. Files can be dragged from a Filer window or, if less than 1024 bytes, direct from another !Application. Function key f11 may optionally be sent after the file. A nice feature is that hitting PRINT will bring up a standard save box which can be used to save the entire current RX window. This is handy if you forget to SPOOL or suddenly notice something interesting going by. (2) Menu INFO shows the version and date of this copy of !tnc. SETUP brings up a dialogue box for customising !tnc to your own use. TNC BAUD and WORD FORMat alter the serial link parameters between the Arc and the tnc. By clicking on the appropriate up/down arrows, the baud rate and word format of !tnc can be adjusted to various values that should cover most tncs. The parameters are immediately used following a Save, so ensure that your tnc is set correctly. Abort will abandon the serial link parameters adjustment and continue as before. SPOOL and GRAB are the default names for SPOOL (to disc) and GRAB (from RX window) files respectively. BEEPS disables received beeps. Typed CTRL/Gs will still be heard but you may send [07] instead. WRAP enables the wrap feature on packet. KAM permits or otherwise the selection of KAM on the MENU. CARET. Selection of CARET will, against Acorn advice (they call it esoteric!), forces the caret to be red on a non-white background. This works fine for certain combinations of MEMC and mode. However, other combinations are slightly uncomfortable. It also slows !tnc down. Non-selection of CARET will restore the Acorn acceptable green on grey and not cause MEMC problems. You may use !Palette to choose colours of your choice. DATE and TIME formats set the style of {date} and {time} when typed or added to WimpKeys or function keys. You have to read your User Guide for the full range of options. ABORT abandons your changes and resets parameters to the previously selected. USE makes immediate use of your changes without saving to disc. SAVE makes immediate use of your changes and saves to disc CTEXTS provides intelligent CTEXTs. To enable this feature, click SELECT on the MENU item Ctexts, so that CTEXTS becomes ticked (this option is SETUP/SAVEed). To alter the ctexts, follow the right arrow on the MENU item Ctexts and click SELECT on Open. This will open a dialogue box showing callsigns and associated ctext. You may set the last callsign to OTHER, which will send the associated ctext to any station whose callsign is not specifically listed. If you have set your tnc to send its own ctext, this will continue to work as normal. After writing to the ctext window, use MENU on the window to UPDATE or SAVE. {commands} and [control codes] may be used in the definitions. Following typing in the TX window or using an Fkey or WimpKey, the CTEXT feature will be disabled for 30 seconds. This has two purposes; one, to avoid sending the CTEXT to a station in which you initiate a connect and two, to avoid sending a 'Sorry, I'm not here Fred' style of message to a station who plainly can see you are ! KEYS brings up the sub-menus for Fkeys and Wkeys: Fkeys allows the opening of any of the four function key set; fkeys alone, SHIFT/fkey, CTRL/fkey and SHIFT/CTRL/fkey. After writing to the fkey window, use MENU on the window to UPDATE or SAVE. {commands} and [control codes] may be used in the definitions. <Print> saves the RX window as a file (see above). f12 is not programmable as it is used by RISC OS. Wkeys (WimpKeys) are the RISC OS version of function keys. The WimpKey definitions are set in directory !tnc.WimpKeys. You may have as many sets of definitions as you like; they should be numbered 1 upwards. Click SELECT on the number at the left side of the WimpKey window to advance to the next WimpKeys, ADJUST to revert to the previous set. WimpKey definitions are in line pairs. The first line is definition itself; the second line is WimpKey text. You may have up to eight definitions (16 lines) per set of WimpKeys. {time}, {date} and [control codes] may be used in the definitions. You may also use {upload}<filename> to send !tnc.UploadFile.<filename> when clicking on the WimpKey. Using SELECT on the WimpKey sends the text; ADJUST sends the text and closes the WimpKey window; MENU provides a means of OPENing the directory viewer and after !Edit'ing/saving the relevant file, UPDATEing the WimpKeys for immediate use. {commands} and [control codes] may be used in the definitions. CLOCK sets the tnc clock to that of the Arc. STREAM brings up the stream changing dialogue box. Click SELECT or ADJUST on the required stream to swap streams and replace the stream letter with the callsign of any connected station. TOGGLEing the dialogue box to full size to reveal three streams for two ports, for the really keen. Avoid clicking on the stream toggles when receiving a packet ! In practice, this method works well. QUIT does the usual. Alternatively you may QUIT from the Task Manager. KAM (where enabled) provides support for the non-packet modes of the KAM. It currently supports Amtor, Rtty and CW. The necessary hf parameters should be set from command mode. For details on the KAM, read the manual ! When moving between modes, the KAM will respond with various messages which will be seen in the RX screen. Clicking on AMTOR produces the small Amtor dialogue box. Clicking on the various Modes, selects that mode; use Listen for monitoring. To establish an ARQ contact, enter the SELCALL of the other station in the ARQ box and click on Link. The Mode box will swap to ARQ and TX will commence. Break the link by clicking on Listen (or FEC) in Mode. Inv RX swaps the RX tones over (not TX tones). RTTY provides a quick way to swap data modes whilst tuning the band. RX/lets is used to return to RX in FEC or forces a letter shift in any mode. TX/Sze is used to TX on FEC or seize the link in ARQ. Toggling the AMTOR window full size reveals the Shift/Mark/Space controls. These are straightforward and rarely used assuming the KAM is set up correctly. It is suggested that the WimpKeys are used for +? and {upload} files (these files could contain station details, CQs (including the TX/RX switching) and so on. Clicking on RTTY is produces the small RTTY dialogue box. It is self- explanatory - RTTY is simple ! The full-size dialogue box provides Speed/Shift//Mark/Space controls. Clicking on CW produces the CW dialogue box. The Speed box gives the CW speed at which cw mode will be entered. Lock TX locks the TX and RX speeds together (no auto-tracking); this toggles with Unlock. RX and TX changeover between RX and TX. Speed makes the KAM show what speed is currently being received. Hitting <Esc> in a non-packet mode will return the KAM to packet mode. YAPP ==== !tnc also supports the YAPP protocol. This is special protocol for transferring binary (that is, non-text) files over a radio link. GENERAL ------- YAPP is fussy; the fussiness is part of YAPP and is quite essential. After all, the file has to be received in its entirety with no other data embedded. Therefore it is essential to stop monitoring the frequency and prevent any other station subsequently connecting. This includes prevention of '***connect request' type messages. YAPP will abort if this happens. YAPP will also abort if nothing happens for a while (Timeout). For Kantronics tncs, use MONITOR OFF[13] CMS P[13] For Tiny 2's (TNC200s), use *** [G0SOQ to suggest] ***. In the event of something going wrong, the tnc may be left in transparent mode. The easiest way to get back to normal is to send {break}<cr> togther with putting MON ON etc. It is probably easiest to define suitable Fkeys/Wkeys with these definitions. Despite all the above warnings, YAPP is simple to use. Much easier than UU/7plus/UPLOADing. RECEIVEing (downloading) a YAPP file ------------------------------------ If connected to a remote server (example, your local BBS): 1. Type the appropriate command to make the BBS send (download) a YAPP file. 2. Wait for a prompt (just in case the syntax was incorrect). 3. From MENU on the main window, SELECT YappRx. 4. !tnc and the remote server will have an initial exchange, then require the file icon to be dragged to a directory viewer. 5. Watch the YAPP file being received - do NOT type anything in the TX window. 6. At the end of the YAPP transfer, the BBS will send a prompt and the YAPP window may be closed. If connected to another attended Arc station, omit steps 1 and 2. SENDing (uploading) a YAPP file ------------------------------- If connected to a remote server (example, your local BBS): 1. Type the appropriate command to make the BBS receive (upload) a YAPP file. 2. Wait for a prompt (just in case the syntax was incorrect). 3. Holding down SHIFT, drag the required file to the main window and SELECT on SEND. 4. !tnc and the remote server will have an initial exchange, then the data will be sent. 5. Watch the YAPP file being sent - do NOT type anything in the TX window. 6. At the end of the YAPP transfer, the BBS will send a prompt and the YAPP window may be closed. If connected to another attended Arc station, omit steps 1 and 2. Before step 3, be sure that the other station is ready to receive a YAPP file. SPECIAL ------- The YAPP protocol permits the use of an optional field in one of its headers. This has been utilised such that with Arc-Arc transfers, the filetype is exchanged, automatically swapping the icon as it does so. If the filetype is unknown, the usual blank square will be used. RISC OS environment ------------------- You will need the ColourTrans (Colours) module which is supplied with your computer on Applications 1 disc in !System if you have RISC OS 2; RISC OS 3 provides this module in ROM. You may like to use !Palette to change to mode 84 which will then give you full 80col viewable plus vertical scroll bar. If you change mode after !tnc window is open, you will need to toggle the window full size for maximum number of columns. This program is substantially enhanced by the use of !Edit. Files can be SPOOLed and later read with !Edit. Files can be directly dragged from !Edit/Save and dropped into !tnc. The UU coding programs (G8FSL via G4BLT) and !Spark (David Pilling) are also very useful accompanying utilities. Running the !PCEmulator will set the serial port to 2400 baud. If you do not use this serial speed, you should use MODE <parameters> in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, as described in the MS-DOS manuals. Quitting the PCEm does not affect !tnc. Packet environment ------------------ There are very many parameters that you will need to set for satisfactory operation which are peculiar to each type of tnc. This program is helped with the following set (Kantronics/Tiny 2/others): AUTOLF OFF (utilises bottom line of RX window) ECHO OFF (prevent repeating tx packets to rx window) Naturally, you will have to set your tnc serial link parameters to match those of !tnc. Some tncs require a hard or soft reset after changing serial parameters. Registering ----------- The status of this software is Shareware. That is, feel free to try the software out and pass it to your fellow radio amateurs at no cost. If you like it, then you are under obligation to register your copy. You may register your copy by sending a formatted disc absolutely crammed with useful utilities and other amazing programs, complete with a STAMPED, addressed, large envelope and all the packing considered necessary to G4FRO QTHR stating: Your name ) Your address ) Write very clearly ! Your callsign ) Conclusion ---------- Get multi-tasking ! Garry G4FRO @ GB7IMB -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note that G4FRO is only too happy to answer one or two TECHNICAL questions @ GB7IMB but UNWILLING TO ANSWER ANY TELEPHONE CALLS. Answers of general interest will be sent to ARCHIM.