The Datafile PD-CD 5/DATAFILE_PDCD5.iso/utilities/t/tnc_arc/!Tnc/!Help/ReadMe

Text File | 1992-12-13 | 13.5 KB | 292 lines

Help file for !tnc Version 2.10   © 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.

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.

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 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 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].

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 then use !Palette to choose the caret colour 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.   To set 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 !

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.

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.   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.

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 will reveal a third stream (C) 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.


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 per registered copy, but UNWILLING TO ANSWER ANY
TELEPHONE CALLS.   Answers of general interest will be sent to ARCHIM.