llh@drutx.UUCP (HaymakerLL) (01/24/85)
Gateway: VIA K0ZCO The ARRL Packet-Radio Newsletter Electronic Edition Volume 1, Number 11 January 15, 1985 PACKET NETWORK COORDINATION The frequency-coordinating body for Northern California, NARC, has officially coordinated the following frequencies for packet radio: 145.01, 145.03, 145.05, 145.07, 145.09, 223.56, 223.58, 223.6, and 441.000 MHz. It is unclear what this means for current activity on 146.58 MHz. NARC has also requested that all "mountain-top digipeaters placed on the assigned frequencies be coordinated through NARC, to insure proper record keeping." This brings up the question of where the jurisdiction of the frequency-coordinating council ends. Hank Magnuski, KA6M, of the Pacific Packet Radio Society makes the following suggestions: "The [frequency-coordinating councils] are dealing with very real problems of crowded frequencies, overlapping repeater coverage, intermod, etc. It is a good idea that packet frequencies be coordinated through such councils. "However, once frequencies have been allocated to packet radio, the jurisdiction of the frequency-coordination council ends, and another type of advisor is needed. This advisor must help track and promote the rational growth of packet radio equipment, repeaters, gateways, and protocols on the assigned frequencies. The advisor may eventually supervise the growth of the packet network. "Therefore, I would like to propose a new term for amateur radio: 'Network Coordinating Agent' (NCA). The NCA for a region deals with the problems mentioned above, and also represents its area in national discussions of protocols and other issues. "The Pacific Packet Radio Society, because it is the oldest and largest packet-radio club in the Bay area, has become the Network Coordinating Agent for the San Francisco area." The need for NCAs has also been recognized on the East Coast. Groups from New England and from the Mid Atlantic states agree that congestion on 145.01 MHz must be dealt with in an organized manner. The first EASTNET NCA is the newly-formed Mid-Atlantic Packet Radio Council. This council will coordinate for MD, DE, Southeastern PA, Southern NJ, Northern VA, and Washington D.C. Send Gateway any comments that you have on the need for NCAs. From KA6M. HIGH-SPEED PACKET PROGRESS At the January 12 meeting of the Chicago Area Packet Radio Association, Steve Goode, K9NG, demonstrated his 9600-bit/s, 220- MHz modems. When the plans for Steve's modems become available (perhaps early this spring), it should be possible to reduce some of the congestion on 2-meter metropolitan packet networks. The modems are built around inexpensive Hamtronics FM-5 transmitter and receiver strips. The addition of a "data filter" in the modulator gives the FSK signal desirable spectral characteristics, while a corresponding circuit in the demodulator converts the data back to something that a TNC can understand. Congratulations to Steve for spending the great amount of time necessary to design and debug the modems. The entire packet-radio community will benefit from his work. Ed. ACTIVITY ON THE UoSAT DCE There has been a lot of activity with the Data Communications Experiment (DCE) aboard the UO-11 satellite this week. In preparation for a possible demonstration of the PACSAT store-and-forward "mailbox" concept, software for a prototype message handling system has been uploaded to the satellite. Monitor UO-11 bulletins to look in on the action. Via NK6K. HDLC ADD-ON AVAILABLE Those of you experimenting with level-3 packet networking should note that a High-Level Data Link Controller (HDLC) add-on is now available for the Xerox 820 computer. This piggyback "FAD board" performs many of the complicated tasks involved in transmitting and receiving AX.25 frames. This development is particularly important because the ARRL Ad Hoc Committee on Amateur Radio Digital Communication agreed that the Xerox 820 with the HDLC add-on would be the standard computer system for level-3 software development and testing. TAPR now has a limited number of the add-on boards available, intended primarily for those doing level-3 experiments. Each pc board comes with a parts list, a schematic, and a brief survival guide. All told, there are only 2 pages of documentation; this unsupported product is offered only as a service. Parts for the board are not available from TAPR at this time. If you are still interested, the price is $25. Via WA7GXD. 220-MHZ DIGIPEATERS Scott Miles, WB6PQM, is establishing two new 220-MHz digipeaters in the San Francisco Bay area. The new simplex machines will be running on 223.58 MHz, and are intended to serve the needs of RACES in Contra Costa county. The digipeaters will be based on GLB PK-1 TNCs. Rich Collins, NT6V, reports that he and David Bly, WD6EVM, have installed a digipeater on 220.58 MHz in San Leandro, CA. This site, made available by the Alameda County RACES group, provides good coverage of the Bay area. Via KA6M. VADCG AX.25 DIGIPEATERS Those of you who are using VADCG TNCs as digipeaters should be interested to know that Les McClure, W3GXT, and Mike Bruski, AJ9X, have fixed many of the program bugs that make these digipeaters fail regularly. In addition, they have installed some software and hardware timers which make certain that the program can recover from any faults that occur. Mike and Les would like to hear what other groups around the country are doing with the venerable old VADCG boards. If you want a copy of their "bullet proof" VADCG AX.25 digipeater code, send an 8" SSDD disk to Tom Clark, W3IWI 66388 Guilford Rd. Clarksville, MD 21029. Via DRNET. MAIL FORWARDING IN EASTNET Several more stations have joined those capable of automatically forwarding and receiving messages via packet radio. In the Mid-Atlantic section of EASTNET, Gary Hoffman, AK3P, is operating W0RLI's MailBox program. From Gary's station in Hummelstown, PA, traffic is forwarded through 3 digipeaters to the W3IWI MailBox that serves Baltimore and Washington. The W3IWI MailBox is able to forward messages to WB2MNF in southern New Jersey. At a recent meeting, members of the Mid-Atlantic Packet Radio Council (MAPRC) agreed that "the linked PBBSs are providing a very ncessary communications conduit for MAPRC." In the northern portion of EASTNET, Jerry Koniecki, WA2RKN, located in Hyde Park, NY, is providing MailBox service to stations from Long Island up the Hudson River valley. The W1AW packet bulletin-board system has been made fully compatible with the W0RLI forwarding software and is in communication with both WA2RKN and W0RLI (in Boston). A long-standing goal of EASTNET is to link New England with the Mid-Atlantic. It looks like a well-placed station in Northern New Jersey would be able to complete that connection. For further information on the message forwarding protocol being used, contact Gateway or Hank Oredson, W0RLI. Via W3IWI, Ed. CENTRAL STATES PACKET NET The Central States Packet Radio Users Group Net, sponsored by the Central Iowa Technical Society (CITS) has moved from 40 meters to 75 meters. The new frequency for the net is 3865 kHz, and the time remains 1500 CST on Sundays. The net will continue to discuss items of general interest to packet-radio operators, but will concentrate on discussions of linking and networking in the Midwest. The first session of the net on its new frequency was January 13, and Ralph Wallio, W0RPK, reports that stations checked in from Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. Experimenters from Nebraska would like to encourage stations from the Rocky Mountain area to check in, and stations in Illinois would like to hear from packet operators in Indiana. Ralph suggests that Midwestern packet enthusiasts adopt 3865 kHz as an informal "calling frequency." Operators who want more information on packet radio, or who are having trouble with their packet equipment could just give a call on 3865 kHz and get their questions answered. From W0RPK. NTS NETS AND PACKET RADIO Eastern Massachusets Section Manager Luck Hurder, WA4STO, adds these facts to the ongoing discussion of NTS recognition for packet-radio traffic nets: "I was startled to see the article regarding NTS packet nets in the December 4 issue of Gateway. "According to the article, the STM of the Southern Florida section has stated that monthly net reports are the key criteria for acceptance of a packet net as a NTS net. "I certainly don't wish to be a wet blanket about all this; please understand that I am an active packet operator. To be fair to anyone wishing to attempt to have their packet net become an official part of the National Traffic System, however, there are a few ground rules that must be taken into account. Some of them are: "1. The Net Manager must be appointed by the Section Manager or his Section Traffic Manager. "2. The Section net must adhere to section boundaries. "3. The net must function on the basis of a prescribed, orderly traffic flow. "4. The net must interface in a prescribed manner with the higher and lower echelons of NTS. "Points 3 and 4 are the real stumbling blocks for a packet net. Regular interfacing to NTS is a chore! Stations must be available at prescribed times on a reliable, regular basis in order for the traffic flow to be effected properly. "None of the above is to insinuate that a packet network cannot become officially affiliated with NTS. I just wanted to point out that a monthly net report is NOT the sole criterion for NTS affiliation." From WA4STO. DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS BOOK Gateway received the following book review from Pete Eaton, WB9FLW: "While browsing through the bargin table at the local Radio Shack, I happened to glance at their rack of tutorial books. To my suprise, one of the titles was Understanding Data Communications. For the last several years, newcomers to packet radio have been asking for some introductory reference material written in plain language. Understanding Data Communications, developed and published by the Texas Instruments Learning Center, comes close to filling the bill. "Each chapter introduces you to a fundamental concept in digital communications. Topics covered include an overview of data communications, data terminals, types of messages and transmission channels, asynchronous and synchronous operation, and satellite communications. "Of special interest to amateur packet operators are chapters covering 'Protocols and Error Control,' 'Local Area Networks,' and 'Network Design and Management.' A special treat is Chapter 9, 'Architecture and Packet Networks,' which uses X.25 as an example of a packet-switching network protocol. "The whole book is written in clear, down-to-earth language. Once a novice has read all the chapters, I'm sure that he will better understand and appreciate the potential of Packet Radio in the Amateur Radio Service. If you are getting confused by all the talk of 'protocols,' 'LANs,' 'FSK,' 'PSK,' and 'level 3,' give yourself a present from Radio Shack." [Remember that a thorough introduction to packet radio and several projects of interest to packet operators appear in the 1985 edition of The ARRL Handbook for the Radio Amateur. -- Ed.] From WB9FLW. PACKET RADIO IN JAPAN Using a TAPR TNC as a debugging aid and compatibility tester, several Japanese amateurs are implementing their own TNC. The TNC will use a Z80 CPU and an 8273 HDLC chip. JA1MIR reports that JI1BXM is writing the AX.25 software for the TNC and that it should be complete by the end of January. The Japanese group will be building an OSCAR 10 station to communicate with U.S. packet experimenters. They are particularly interested in internetwork (level-3) protocol development and high-speed modem research. Look for them on the satellite. Takemi, JA1MIR, notes: "Designing our own TNC through understanding the AX.25 specification is great fun. I haven't been involved in such an exciting amateur-radio project for more than 10 years!" Via NK6K. PACKET RADIO IN ENGLAND The following report on packet-radio activity in England was sent to us by Reg Brake, G8QR: "In Norwich, there are now five stations equipped with TAPR TNCs. Those stations are G3LDI, G3PMQ, G4RSP, G6JTH, and myself. In addition, there are about fifteen local stations equipped with the software packet-radio program that runs on the BBC microcomputer. This program was developed by G6GIX and G8WJL at the Cambridge University Computer Laboratory. ""All of the stations equipped with TAPR boards have worked successfully on VHF. G3PMQ and I have also made contact with Ipswich. This activity is on 144.68 MHz, using 1200 bauds, 1000-Hz shift. In the last month, however, we have modified the TAPR boards to switch from wide shift to narrow shift at the touch of a button. The physical arrangement for this was designed by G6JTH and it functions very well. Since that time, we have been doing some HF packet operation. "On 14.103 MHz, we made the first England-to-Germany packet-radio QSO, with DL2MDE. As I speak German, I initiated the contact, but both G3PMQ and I maintained an hour-long QSO with solid copy both ways. We have heard the American packet station [W0RLI] at 14.080 MHz, but signals were weak at the time, and we were not equipped with a tuning indicator. Since then, two stations have built the TAPR LED tuning indicator and use this very successfully on HF. We are looking for contacts on 14 MHz, although we are uncertain of the preferred frequencies. None of us is yet on OSCAR 10, so we are anxious for contacts on HF." The winter copy of DATACOM, the journal of the British Amateur Radio Teleprinter Group (BARTG) contains a packet-radio column by Ian Wade G8NRW. In that column, Ian provides a list of about 60 stations active on packet radio in England. If you are going to be in England this spring, note the following (also from BARTG DATACOM): At the RSGB VHF Convention at Sandown Park on March 23, 1985, Ian Wade, of BARTG, is presenting a talk entitled "How Packet Radio Works." For more information contact Ian Wade, G8NRW 7 Daubeney Close Harlington, DUNSTABLE Bedfordshire, LU5 6NF ENGLAND. From G8QR and DATACOM. SOFTNET WORKSHOP The SOFTNET User's Group (SUG), in cooperation with Linkoping University, will hold its third SOFTNET Workshop on Sunday May 11, 1985, at Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden. Technical papers are solicited on high-speed packet-radio hardware and propagation, distributed routing in packet-radio networks, SOFTNET applications, and SOFTNET specification issues. Camera- ready summaries consisting of less than two standard A4 pages should be received by SUG by MAY 1st. Proceedings from the workshop will be available through SUG. For more information contact: Per Lundgren SUG, Department of Electrical Engineering Linkoping University S-581 83, Linkoping SWEDEN. From Softnet News. REPRODUCTION OF GATEWAY MATERIAL Material may be exerpted from Gateway without prior permission, provided that the original contributor is credited and Gateway is identified as the source. Gateway: The ARRL Packet Radio Newsletter is published by the American Radio Relay League 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 Jeffrey W. Ward, K8KA Editor Larry E. Price, W4RA