Subj : Re: Packet Radio To : Vk3jed From : dejavu Date : Fri Jun 19 2020 12:25:38 On 19 Jun 2020, Vk3jed said the following... Vk> -=> On 06-17-20 08:36, dejavu wrote to Vk3jed <=- Vk> Vk> de> I believe where I had left off last on building a packet interface wa Vk> de> to use the TNC-Pi, however I never ordered one. If I can remember ba Vk> de> in memory that far I believe it was because they were on the brink of Vk> de> releasing a 9600 version at that time and I was holding out. Does Vk> de> that sound about right for the TNC-Pi? Vk> Vk> I think there was, but the TNC-Pi is no more now. :( I'm glad I got one Vk> while I could. :) Vk> I'll keep my eyes open on the used market for a TNC-Pi, just to see what I missed out on... Vk> de> I have quite a few Kantronics TNC's, including the KAM-XL, etc, I fin Vk> de> them fantastic for stability and running in KISS mode and using Vk> de> software versus their built in OS, such as APRS. I don't believe I'v Vk> de> tried to use BPQ with the Kam XL. Vk> Vk> I could never affoed the Kantronics TNCs, but they were the bees knees. I bought them recently on the used market, so prices are what you would pay for a TNC-Pi, as an example, however yes back in the day they were very expensive. Vk> Vk> de> If someone handed you a couple Kantronics KAM-XL and SCS Pactor III Vk> de> units and a TNC-PI, which unit would you prefer to use for BPQ for a Vk> de> packet interface into Mystic, and if possible, some use cases for the Vk> de> TNC-PI over a traditional hardware TNC? Vk> Vk> Hmm, a mixed bag there. The Pactor unit would be a no brainer for Vk> Winlink. The TNC-Pi, if you wanted to save space, and the Kantronics for Vk> reliability and performance, though it's probably overkill. :) And Vk> another option is a software TNC like Direwolf, which is said to offer Vk> excellent (possibly better than hardware) performance. Vk> This is where things get a bit cloudy. I have all of these devices, I use the SCS for Pactor III on Winlink, however I'm band limited to 10 meters, since I haven't had the time to study to upgrade to General. I keep failing the General practice exams, and it's a struggle between other studying, family life, attempting to setup a BBS, and at least 100 other projects. You know how it is. The studying for the General just isn't on my top priority list right now and I'm starting to see it's more of a thing when I retire I'll be able to get to it, or at least I keep telling myself that. When we talk about implementing packet integration into Mystic for example I'm looking to use the best tool for the job. I prefer hardware devices such as Kantronics, AEA, SCS, and most likely would like the TNC-X and the PI-TNC over the name brand vintage TNC's for the ability of customization, one thing I know is the built in "JunOS" type BBS on the Kantronic's doesn't allow any customization, at least not without customizing the ROM. I'm going to research and purchase the additional addons to setup the PI TNC and experiment with it, something tells me I already went down this path and probably have it toss in a drawer or box somewhere. Way too many projects and not enough time. Vk> de> The KAM-XL has VHF and HF support, as well as the SCS Pactor III unit Vk> de> I see one justification with the TNC-PI is that it has, at least from Vk> de> memory a 9600 baud interface. That would be one advantage that I can Vk> de> see for 9600 UHF user connections. Vk> Vk> I don't know if 9600 ever eventuated. Kenwood's TNC support 9600 baud natively, and there were 9600 baud UHF packet stations on Packet systems in the Virginia/Washington DC/Maryland area a couple years back used for user access. I don't know the current status, however I do want to get one on the air, I believe not having a tower is what I've let this hold me back. I might just climb up in a tree and screw a j-pole in as high as I can get :) That is the amateur way :) Vk> Vk> de> Nothing else is coming to mind, other than open source... However I'm Vk> de> extremely rusty on the topic and I don't own a TNC-PI, at least I don Vk> de> believe I have one, LOL :) Vk> Vk> I do, just have to hook it up to the radio sitting next to it!. :D Got Vk> so many projects happening now. Just got AllStar working, and now it Vk> can connect to my existing tlb based system. I added SvxLink for voting Vk> and SDR inputs last week. :) Vk> I had Allstar at one point with the external parallel interface I believe it was, that project is benched and in a box somewhere for sure. I replaced it with D-Star, P25, Fusion, everything except DMR. SvxLink is ringing a bell, I believe that was the linux port of Echolink? Vk> Vk> ... The only thing wrong with immortality is that it tends to go on Vk> forever. === MultiMail/Win v0.51 Vk> --- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux Vk> * Origin: Freeway BBS Bendigo,Australia freeway.apana.org.au (21:1/109) -Dejavu --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Linux/32) * Origin: 1984 BBS [1984bbs.net:23] Washington, DC (21:3/114) .