Hi Doug, Before you commit a lot of effort to learning about how to use "dumb digipeating", i.e. using "via", try to find out if there are still operational "nodes" in your area. These are generally much more efficient at moving traffic, because they are less dependent on every single packet transmission being received and passed along, through the potentially several digipeaters.
Nodes work by first accepting a connection from your station, then you commmanding them to either connect to another node, or to a destination station. They maintain internal tables of the means to reach other nodes, and unless disabled, can be commanded to list the other network nodes that they know how to reach. When you command a node to connect to another station, be it a node or an end user, the node manages that connection as a separate AX.25 connection from the one it's maintaining for you - so any retries happen without direct digipeating - which reduces the retry interval, and greatly enhances the reliability of the data transfer. In the hey day of packet, some nodes would know how to reach as many as 100 other nodes. And by using dedicated linking channels, the end user you reach might not be on the same frequency as you are. There's less interested in creating and maintaining packet networks these days, probably as a result of the ease and ubiquity of the internet, at least as one significant factor. I was pretty involved with creating the packet network that started from the Seattle area, and eventually reached into British Columbia, SW Oregon, and as far east as the Rockies, or so, in Montana. On that network, one of the operating precepts was that user access nodes be on different frequencies, so that they didn't hear (and hence interfere with) other stations at a distance. A "backbone" was created to tie all of the user access nodes together. We also made good use of repeaters for packet - they help in that everyone can hear everyone else, to know when the channel is busy, and allows everyone to use a beam, to hit the repeater with the best signal possible. We did this at 1200 baud as well as 9600 baud. Then we did some of these projects all over again, as we moved to using TCP/IP over AX.25 - uaing automated routing based on the RIP protocol, and having as many as 20 IP lans in Western Washington. 'Twas a fun time. Now packet here is mostly used by Emergency Communications support activities. 73, Bob, KD7NM -----Original Message----- From: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of wizhippo Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 2:41 PM To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Subject: [digitalradio] Re: newbie wanting to make first packet contact Thank you. I found one of my problems was my TNC. Have that fixed now. Now I just have to get the hang of how using via's work to get to a destination. --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "Patrick Lindecker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hello Doug, > > >> I would love an example of how to go about making a qso or > >> connecting to a BBS or doing email. > If you have the BBS callsign + SSID, the most simple is to use Mixw or > Multipsk. > > In Multipsk 4.9, after selecting Packet+APRS: > * put yout callsign in the "Sender" field , > * put the BBS callsign (+SSID) in the "Destination" field (VA1XYZ-5 > for example), > * push on "Connect" and wait for the automatic connection, > * when connected, type "H" (for "Help") and then type a carriage Return to > have the list of the commands. > > Then for details go to the Multipsk help (apart to this basic use, you have > many options and possibilities). > > 73 > Patrick > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "wizhippo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <digitalradio@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 9:51 PM > Subject: [digitalradio] Re: newbie wanting to make first packet > contact > > > > Sorry i should have added this. > > > > I am VA3DJX Doug, located in Brantford, Ontario > > > > --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Moore" <tnetcenter@> wrote: > >> > >> From the info you provided, it's kinda hard to tell exactly what it > > is you want to do. > >> > >> Do you want to try 2m packet? HF packet? Satellite Packet? > >> > >> Who you are and where you are would be helpful also. > >> > >> Jeff -- KE7ACY > >> CN94ib > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: wizhippo > >> > >> > >> I love digital modes. I have worked psk31, rtty, sstv etc but never > >> packet. > >> > >> I have installed awgpe and UISS and have it working from what I can > >> tell. I can monitor the packets. > >> > >> Now I want to make contact. I have read lots of articles on the net > >> but none that have been clear enough or modern enough to get me a > > contact. > >> > >> I would love an example of how to go about making a qso or > >> connecting to a BBS or doing email. > >> > >> If there is anyone willing to help me out that would be great. > >> Unfortuanlty no one in our local club does any packet work to help. > >> > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Announce your digital presence via our Interactive Sked Page at > > http://www.obriensweb.com/sked > > > > Check our other Yahoo Groups.... > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxlist/ > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/contesting > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themixwgroup > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ Announce your digital presence via our Interactive Sked Page at http://www.obriensweb.com/sked Check our other Yahoo Groups.... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxlist/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/contesting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themixwgroup Yahoo! Groups Links
