QRZ! Ham Radio 8/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 8.iso/mac/files/p_msys/msys116.exe/HAPNMSYS.COM/HAPNMSYS.DOC

Text File | 1991-03-03 | 8KB | 175 lines

MSYS Support for HAPN-1 and DRSI PC-Packet Adapters

by Jack Botner, VE3LNY             March 3, 1991

(C) Copyright HAPN Hamilton and Area Packet Network 1991

Jack Botner                        H. A. P. N.
222 Divadale Drive                 Box 4466, Station D
Toronto, Ontario                   Hamilton, Ontario
Canada   M4G 2P7                   Canada   L8V 4S7

Compuserve: 73327,176 (private mail only, please)

───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
1st Release:         August, 1990
Maintenance release: February, 1991
                     Fixed bug in HAPNKISS that caused it to transmit
                     without regard to carrier on the channel.
2nd Release:         March, 1991
                     1. Increased support to 8 ports from 4.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Support for the HAPN-1 and PC-Packet adapters is available in MSYS
version 1.09 and later. This support is made up of the following
components:

1. An interface built into MSYS. Until version 1.09, MSYS would talk
   only to KISS TNCs attached via serial port. Mike added an interface
   to optionally talk to any other device using a software interrupt
   vector. The alternate interface is selected by a certain specification
   in the port name.

2. The use of a HAPN device driver for either the HAPN-1 adapter or the
   PC-Packet adapter. These device drivers provide hardware support for
   the adapters and a programming interface for applications.

3. A KISS application interface that works between the new MSYS software
   interrupt interface and the HAPN device driver. The HAPN device
   driver provides a simple block-oriented interface to the application
   program; this module converts this interface to the KISS standard
   used by MSYS.

With these components in place and the proper port specification in the
MSYS.OPT file, MSYS will use the HAPN-1 and PC-Packet adapters like
another port.


MSYS Interface

You must have version 1.09 or later. To specify a HAPN-1 or PC-Packet
adapter, you must set up a PORT statement in MSYS.OPT with a port
name beginning with an *. For example,

    port 0 at $0 int 4 speed 1200 name *HAPN-1

For a system with 2 HAPN-1 adapters or 1 PC-Packet adapter,

    port 0 at $0 int 4 speed 4800 name *port0
    port 1 at $1 int 4 speed 1200 name *port1

Please note that the information normally used by MSYS to access a
serial port, the interrupt level, and the serial port line speed are
irrelevant. The port number is important for the reasons stated in the
MSYS documentation, and the port name beginning with * is critical to
the port being recognized as using the alternate software vector
interface; however after the * the name may be anything you like.


HAPN Device Driver

If you own a HAPN-1 adapter, you are already familiar with the device
driver HAPN1.SYS used with the software package. (If you have an old
version, you should know that the current HAPN-1 software supports
multiple connects and multiple ports. Software updates are available
for $10 US for registered customers, and $35 US for others.) HAPN
has also developed an 8530 device driver, called HAPNDRSI.SYS, that
works with the PC-Packet adapter and provides the identical function. You
need one or the other of these device drivers depending on which adapter
you are using. The specification for loading one of these device drivers
may be found in a separate document for each driver. Hardware-related
parameters such as adapter address, interrupt level, etc. are specified
on the command line in CONFIG.SYS. The driver will be loaded when you
boot your system. Watch your screen when you boot up. The device driver
will display a number of messages indicating that it has been loaded, or
an error message if a parameter is in error.  If the driver does not load,
the port cannot be used.

Further documentation on the HAPN-1 device driver may be found in file
HAPN-API.DOC (supplied with the HAPN AX.25 program diskette), and on the
PC-Packet driver in file HAPNDRSI.DOC.


HAPNKISS Interface Module

Finally, before running MSYS, load HAPNKISS.COM. It is a small TSR
program that searches out the HAPN-1/PC-Packet device drivers then
sets up the software interrupt for MSYS to use. The default interrupt
is D0 (hex). Loading HAPNKISS is as simple as typing HAPNKISS and
pressing enter, but the following things should be kept in mind:

1. MSYS uses vector D0 by default, and so does HAPNKISS. However if
   it is necessary to use a different vector, the vector can be
   specified on the command line as follows:

        HAPNKISS 9E

   The 2-digit hexadecimal number (upper case not necessary) will be
   interpreted as the interrupt vector to use instead of D0. (Don't
   ask me how to make MSYS use a different vector 'cause I don't know.)

2. HAPNKISS expects the vector (4 bytes in low memory) to contain all
   zeroes. If it does not, another program could be using this vector,
   or it just may not have been initialized properly. If you determine
   that it is ok to use the vector even when it does not contain zeroes,
   add /f to the command line, for example:

        HAPNKISS /F

   You will know if there is a problem because when /f is not present,
   HAPNKISS will not load, and displays an error message when the vector
   is not zeroes. Adding the /f parameter overrides the error and
   HAPNKISS will load.

3. You cannot load HAPNKISS twice. If you try, an error message will
   be displayed. One copy of HAPNKISS can support up to 8 ports made up
   of HAPN-1 and PC-Packet adapters. To get rid of HAPNKISS, re-boot.

4. When it loads, HAPNKISS reports all the ports it recognizes. You
   could have up to 8 ports made up of HAPN-1 and PC-Packet adapters.
   The report will give you the information you need to set up the
   PORT statements for MSYS.OPT. So, if you are using more than one
   of these ports, set up the device drivers, boot your system, and
   load HAPNKISS to see what the ports are, then use the information
   to set up the MSYS PORT statements.

5. HAPNKISS uses the timer tick interrupt for timing purposes. It
   takes over interrupt 8, and when it is done, calls the previous
   int 8 address. If desired, HAPNKISS can be made to use interrupt
   vector 1c (hex) instead, by adding the switch /a or /A on the
   HAPNKISS command line. The HAPN-1 adapter manual contains more
   information on the use of the timer tick interrupt by the HAPN-1
   programs.


Terms of Distribution

The HAPN device drivers and the KISS interface are currently distributed
with the MSYS optional package.

This software is distributed under the following conditions:

1. It may be used for Amateur Radio purposes only.

2. It may be re-distributed to other amateurs for use with MSYS only.
   In this case, it should be distributed as a package including this
   documentation.

3. The programs are Copyright HAPN (Hamilton and Area Packet Network).
   THEY MAY NOT BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE BY ANY COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATION,
   OR REDISTRIBUTED BY ANYONE FOR A PRICE. HAPN has put a lot of work
   into these programs that we are distributing for free, and we don't
   want anyone else profiting from them.

4. The programs are distributed "as is". HAPN will endeavor to provide
   support to users experiencing problems with them, but time can only
   be allocated as available. In addition, the multitude of PC
   configurations in use is not available to us, so we may not be able
   to reproduce your problem.

   If you have a problem with this software, please report it to us.
   Messages can be sent to VE3LNY @VE3NUU or private mail on Compuserve
   ID 73327,176 or to the address above.