karn@mouton.UUCP (10/12/84)
Gateway: The ARRL Packet-Radio Newsletter
Volume 1, Number 5
Oct. 10, 1984
Electronic Edition
IOWA SECTION TECHNICAL SEMINAR
There was not enough room in Gateway #4 for a report on my trip
to Iowa, September 21 and 22, for the Central Iowa Technical
Society's Iowa Section Technical Seminar. The seminar covered
many technical topics, but concentrated on packet radio.
Lyle Johnson, WA7GXD, president of Tucson Amateur Packet Radio
(TAPR), gave a well-received presentation on packet-radio linking
and the outcome of the ARRL Digital Committee meeting. One of
Lyle's points bears repitition: We have begun to experience an
unfortunate problem in packet radio. People who would otherwise
be experimenting with protocols, or modems, or TNCs are not,
because they have heard that "TAPR is going to do it." Lyle is
worried that the success of the TAPR TNC project is keeping
others from experimenting in packet radio. It must be stressed
that packet radio needs experimentation. The question of what
networking protocol is best for amateur packet radio is not going
to be answered by the Digital Committee, TAPR or any other single
organization. The question is going to be answered by
experimentation. If you want to experiment, do it. Who knows?
It might be your software or hardware that answers a critical
packet-networking question.
While I was in Iowa, I got to look at the CITS club station that
is taking part in packet meteor-scatter experiments. It is
interesting to note that there was no expensive equipment used in
the station. A crew from CITS salvaged an old, surplus Motorola
VHF rig, built and erected a six-meter beam, and interfaced it
all to a TAPR TNC. The only parts that had to be purchased for
the project were six-meter crystals. That is ham radio.
VHF AND UHF EXPERIMENTATION
Giving a talk at the Mid-Atlantic States VHF Conference, I was
reminded that packet radio, while it makes heavy use of digital
technology, has a lot to offer amateurs who are not interested in
computers. If you are a VHF or UHF experimenter, you will find
that packet radio is fertile ground for VHF and UHF applications.
In many parts of the country, the two-meter band is full, and the
220-MHz band is not far behind. This crowding, and transmission
speed restrictions on the lower VHF bands, will force packet
radio into the UHF and microwave spectrum. So, if you are
interested in VHF and UHF design, maybe your local packet group
can give you some project ideas.
EASTNET KEEPS GROWING
The east-coast packet radio link has taken one more step
toward reality. The MD/DC/VA to Philadelphia link is improving
by the day. Joe Fisher, KC2TN, should get a new antenna up this
weekend which will make the path as solid as a rock. We have
been linking the packet bulletin board systems (PBBSs) at W3IWI
and WB2MNF almost nightly. Until we get Level 3 protocols up
and running, it looks like linked PBBSs will provide a store-
and-forward capability not unlike what we will have with PACSAT.
Both Tom Clark, W3IWI and Jon Pearce, WB2MNF, are running PBBSs
with Xerox 820 computers and W0RLI PBBS software. From W3IWI
NETWORKING IN THE MIDWEST
In late September, Chicago, IL, and St. Louis, MO were connected
by VHF packet radio. The path is in excess of 300 miles, and
there are no mountain tops to take advantage of. Congratulations
to the more than half-dozen stations involved in the digipeating.
Via WB9FLW
UO-11 DATA COMMUNICATIONS EXPERIMENT
During the week of October 1, the UoSat command station in
Surrey, England conducted tests and experiments on the data
communications experiment (DCE) aboard UO-11. Tests of the VHF
uplink and UHF downlink for the DCE culminated with successfull
reception of 9600-bit/s data on Friday, October 5.
Congratulations to the team at Surrey and the rest of the crew
responsible for the DCE! We also would like to wish UoSat-OSCAR
9 a happy third birthday. UO-9 was launched on October 6, 1981,
and is still in service.
PACKET RADIO FOR EMERGENCY COORDINATORS
The new ARRL Emergency Coordinator's Handbook, with a 20-page
chapter on packet radio, is available for $5.00 from the ARRL.
This book is "intended to help you acquire, develop and refine
the skills which you need to function effectively in serving the
public through Amateur Radio communications." The chapter on
packet radio should make those in the Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES) aware of the traffic handling and organizing
capability of packet radio. If your packet club is looking for
somewhere to put on a demonstration, try an ARES meeting. If you
are an ARES organization looking for an interesting meeting
program, contact a nearby packet club.
MORE ON A POSSIBLE PACKET WEATHER NET
Fred W. Decker, W7ANX, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Education, has said previously that he believes packet radio and
amateur meteorology can be united to form a packet-radio weather
network [See Gateway #3.]. Such a network would provide some
users for the growing amateur packet network, and perhaps
generate some interest in amateur radio among amateur
meteorologists. In a paper delivered at the First International
Conference on School and Popular Meterological Education, Dr.
Decker goes on to say:
"(1) Packet radio communication has emerged for amateur use as
new manufacturers offer equipment enabling amateurs to
communicate using their computers and [VHF radio equipment]. (2)
Repeaters have recently carried packet signals 400 miles in 5
repeater jumps. This opens the possibility of local networks
exchanging data at substantial distances. (3) Weather sensors
feeding computers and thereby archiving data for interrogation by
packet radio have come on the market from at least two firms
seeing the potential in computerized popular meteorology (Heath
Co. and Vaisala). (4) The drive to "Save 220" among radio
amateurs seeks to populate the allocated 220-MHz amateur radio
band and thereby fend off commercial intrusion, and the belief
grows that weather amateurs and schools can help this cause by
adopting this band (1 1/4 meters) for packet radio exchange of
computerized school and amateur weather station data. With basic
technical innovation completed, it remains necessary only to
adopt conventions...to maximize the ease of data intergchange..."
This is an interesting project, and the fact that Dr. Decker has
been discussing it with his colleagues has undoubtedly brought
packet radio to the attention of many people in academia. Dr.
Noel Petit, WB0VGI, of Augsburg College, has proposed to build a
computerized weather network that would communicate via
telephone. The cost of his weather stations, including computer,
sensors and modem, is about $300. Perhaps, with the help of some
packet-radio enthusiasts, Dr. Petit's weather network can use
packet radio.
If you are interested in this project, or in giving an
educational demonstration of packet radio, contact:
Dr. Noel Petit
Suite 220-B
511 11th Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55415,
or
Dr. Fred W. Decker
Deputy Assistand Secretary for Education
Suite 722, Brown Bldg.
1200 19th Streed, NW
Washington, DC, 20208.
SOFTNET NEWS
We recently received an issue of Softnet News, the newsletter of
the Softnet Users Group (S.U.G.). S.U.G. is a group
experimenting with packet radio in Linkoping, Sweden. "The main
concept behind SOFTNET is that all packets are considered to be
programs in a network language. These programs are interpreted
in the nodes as soon as they arrive... This approach makes it
possible for a user to define his own high level services like
datagrams, virtual calls, file transfers and mailboxes." [From
"SOFTNET - An Approach to High Level Packet Communication",
Second ARRL Computer Networking Conference.]
The SOFTNET approach could be used, with the AX.25 link protocol,
to provide network services in the growing North American packet
network.
SOFTNET nodes are currently implemented on four PC boards, a
SOFTNODE computer board, a SOFTMEM memory board, a SOFTLINK link
and modem board, and a radio board. S.U.G. is now selling PC
boards, PROMS, and software for SOFTNET nodes. The builder must
supply the other components needed to populate the boards. Total
cost is about $600 per node. Of particular interest to those of
us who operate on 1200 bit/s local networks is the fact that
SOFTLINK radios/modems run at 100 Kbit/s.
The SOFTNET concept is primarily concerned with network and
internetwork functions. The SOFTNET News contains two articles
on network routing, searching and addressing. S.U.G. is a
growing group, moving forward quickly with packet-radio network
experimentation. Their progress is sure to help packet
experimenters worldwide.
For information, contact: SOFTNET Users Group
Dept. of E.E.
Linkoping University,
S-581 83 Linkoping
SWEDEN
Via SOFTNET News
TELEPORT STA INFORMATION
The waiver for automatic teleport operation requested jointly by
the ARRL and AMSAT should be issued about October 17. This
special temporary authority (STA) allows the operation of
unattended digital gateway stations for store-and-forward or
real-time satellite links. For a complete description of the
STA, see Gateway issue 2. Two more stations, N2EKH and Theodore
Harris, N6IIU, have been added to the list of participants,
bringing the total number of authorized stations to 21. From
W1UED
TECHNICAL COORDINATORS AND PACKET
The ARRL Technical Coordinators (TCs) answer technical questions,
put on technical talks, and perform many technical functions
within their ARRL section. Several notes in the fall issue of
the Technical Coordinator newsletter indicate that many TCs are
interested in packet radio. Richard Regent, K9GDF, editor of the
newsletter, has received the following comments from other TCs:
"[Our] greatest successful TC program is talking about data
communications," and "[we have been] getting packet radio started
by helping hams assemble and operate kits, and holding 2-meter
packet nets."
If you are interested in finding out more about packet radio,
contact the ARRL to get the name of your section's TC. Via
Technical Coordinator.
NEBRASKA PACKET GROUP?
Lyman Nelson, WB0IEN, is interested in forming a state-wide
packet radio group in Nebraska. Contact:
Lyman Nelson, WB0IEN
Rt. 2
Hooper, NE, 68031.
Via Technical Coordinator.
MODEM FILTER FROM EXAR
"Preliminary" data from the EXAR IC company about the XR-2103 FSK
modem filter has just arrived at the ARRL. The device is
designed to "perform the complete filtering function necessary
for a Bell 103 compatible modem." The chip uses switched-
capacitor technology to implement two 6-pole band-pass filters.
One of the filters is centered at 1170 Hz, and one centered at
2125 Hz. This chip might prove useful to those using the Bell
103 protocol for packet radio on HF. Perhaps, by changing the
time-base crystal, the passbands could be moved to other
frequencies. If you experiment with this chip, send us a letter
describing your results. Via W4RI.
PACKET FREQUENCY COORDINATION
We have received word from AMRAD president, Terry Fox, WB4JFI,
that The Middle Atlantic Amateur FM and Repeater Council (TMARC),
on September 24, designated the frequencies 145.01, 145.03 and
145.05 MHz for primary coordination as packet-radio channels in
their jurisdiction. TMARC covers Maryland, Delaware and Northern
Virginia.
Via W4RI
PACKET DISCUSSION AT THE TROPICAL HAMBOREE
If you are going to be in Florida this spring (planning ahead?),
be sure to attend the 1985 Southeastern Division Convention/25th
Annual Tropical Hamboree in Miami, Florida on February 2 and 3.
An all-day Packet Radio Seminar is tentatively planned for
Sunday, the 3rd. Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, Manager of the ARRL
Technical Department, and Lyle Johnson, WA7GXD, president of
Tucson Amateur Packet Radio, are scheduled to attend the seminar.
More information, and a firm schedule for the seminar will be
available in December. Via Dade Radio Club, Inc.
DATA BASE OF PACKET USERS
Dear Packet Radio Enthusiasts;
Several local Amateurs and I, representing Central
Illinois Packet Radio User Society (CIPRUS) have started a to
compile a directory of all stations who are also active on
this fantastic new mode. After great acceptance and
encouragement from the midwest as well as other areas, what
initially was to be only a regional effort has been expanded to
include the entire country.
After giving a great deal of thought as to what the best
method would be to compile such a data base, we decided to
contact you, the packet radio clubs and other leaders in the
area of packet radio. Most of what we have compiled to date
has come through direct contact with individual stations. We
learned that this method involved a lot of unnecessary paper
work and correspondence that could be eliminated by contacting
large organizations and groups.
In order to contact as many stations as possible and to keep
the costs down as much as practical we would like to propose
the following: If you would send us a listing with all of
the required information concerning your member stations along
with a large manila s.a.s.e (several stamps please), we will,
in turn, send out a compiled listing of active packet stations
that you can photocopy and distribute to your membership. If
you have your membership list in an IBM PC or compatible data
base you can submit a diskette with the required information and
have the compiled list returned on diskette. The data base
is being maintained on an IBM XT in a dBase II file that can
use data from nearly any standard ASCII or WordStar text file
(comma delimited prefered).
Since many of us are not able to offer our services to the
technical aspect of packet development, we view this project as
one that will allow us to make a small contribution to the field
of packet radio. We do not wish to become involved in the
publishing business but rather to act only as a central point
to compile and distribute data from you. We have been in
contact with TAPR and have discussed the possiblity of enclosing
a preprinted post card with every TAPR TNC shipped. This would
allow the individual station to merely fill out the necessary
blanks and return the card to us for inclusion in the
directory. If you are aware of any other manufacturer of who
would like to help this project, please have them contact us.
In closing I would like to present the following points for
your consideration and comment:
1. This project is still in its infancy, with only about 250
stations listed to date; therefore we are open to
suggestions as to what you feel should be included in such a
directory. Speak up now while it is still relatively easy
to modify the data base!
2. We are not aware of any other group or individual who has
decided to attempt a similar venture. If you know of
such a group, please put them in contact with us so that
we do not duplicate efforts. We don't care who does it,
just so long as it gets done by someone!
3. The directory is currently being printed on a letter quality
printer and duplicated on a photocopier. As the directory
continues to grow so do the costs involved -- we are already
making over 50 copies per month, with over 20 pages each.
Professional printing is just around the corner.
Therefore, since we are a nonprofit amateur radio club, we
will not turn down any donations that you would like to
make toward paper costs.
4. The format that we are using is flexible but is being
currently printed as follows:
Listing #1 -- Alphabetic, by callsign:
Callsign; Name; Address; Misc. Info(1)
City, State, Zip; Misc. Info(2).
Listing #2 -- Numeric, by zip code:
Callsign; Name; City; State; Zip Code
The "Misc. Info" columns may contain any items (approx. 15
characters) of special information that you may wish to
include. Some ideas that have been used: frequency,
OSCAR, mailbox, digipeater, 24-hour operation, grid
square, and gateway operation.
Thank You
Gregory L. Smith - N9AGC
c/o CIPRUS
P.O. Box 4143
Peoria, Illinois 61607
[The above letter has been reproduced in full. Send any comments
to Mr. Smith, and Gateway.]
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