Summary of the NERG Meeting 13th June 2002

Our June Meeting was held to the Greenhills Community House and was well attended with about 30 members present.

Guest speaker for the evening was Ron Daniels VK3AEO from the Melbourne Packet Radio Group. Ron gave us a run down on Packet including:

What equipment is needed

There are a number of systems that can be used to get on the air - "Baycom" - software on a simple hardware base; Or a TNC this has more hardware and a processor - more of the work is done in the TNC. In both cases you also need a computer and software TPK - this has a keyboard focus. WINPAC -- windows based. A computer sound card based solution is also available and only need simple interfacing to the radio to operate - software is still required. Of Course a radio is required as well - Most of the operation is con two metres and an FM box required - a hand held is fine.

Setting up

In setting up a TNC Ron recommends that operators do a factory reset then set your callsign (MYCALL). If you can get a PK232 handbook this can be a good guide to packet operating.

Once you can receive packets you are well on the way. To connect to the radio focus on one function at a time PTT then MIC then Phones get one going then the rest. Make adaptors for each radio to a common connector. Make cable from radio long , from TNC short.

Uses of packet

What can packet be used for? Put out messages requesting assistance, Ron gave examples of this - also operates as an e-mail like system. Can also be used for DX spotting and communicating around a group of hams - DX cluster is an example. Ron has been around the world twice taken packet around the world with him all that is required is a Lap top TNC & hand held.

Communications overseas

Overseas traffic can go via HF, satellite or the Internet,

Learning the commands

How do you know what commands to use? Using intelligent software means data compressed - all commands are now automated and so do not have to use old commands.

Speed

Most user traffic is at 1200 baud on 144MHz some 432MHz traffic is at 9600baud. Range of frequencies are used and we will publish these shortly on this web site.

Further information

www.mprg.org.au (A bit light on) or the yahoo group vk-paket (not used much)

 

Other packet sites I have found since this meeting include:

Australian Amateur Packet Radio Association http://www.aapra.org.au/

List of NSW packet BBS and other stations and their frequencies http://members.ozemail.com.au/~vk2wi/html/Packet.html

(Something similar for Victoria would be great)

Packet radio site in the US with lots of stuff http://www.tapr.org/tapr/html/pktf.html

Packet radio site with lots of good gear from Buck K4ABT http://www.packetradio.com/

 

Conclusion

The meeting closed with the usual hot drink, biscuits and discussions on Dxing, Dog-Piles, foxhunting, ARDF, new gear, QSLing and the non arrival of cards for new counties etc.

Next Month's meeting will be on the 2nd Thursday in the month - July 11th 2002 at the Greenhills Community House.

 

73

Greg VK3VT

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