Subj : Re: Packet Radio
To   : dejavu
From : Vk3jed
Date : Sat Jun 20 2020 16:41:00

-=> On 06-19-20 12:25, dejavu wrote to Vk3jed <=-

 de> I'll keep my eyes open on the used market for a TNC-Pi, just to see
 de> what I missed out on...

I haven't looked at the secondhand market, hope you find a TNC-PI going for a
good price.

 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.

 de> I bought them recently on the used market, so prices are what you would
 de> pay for a TNC-Pi, as an example, however yes back in the day they were
 de> very expensive.

Might be worth shopping around for some Kantronics TNCs now.

 de> This is where things get a bit cloudy. I have all of these devices, I
 de> use the SCS for Pactor III on Winlink, however I'm band limited to 10

Yeah, the Pactor modem for Winlink is a no brainer.  And I'm band limited to 20
and 40m ATM, due to antenna limitations.  But I play more on VHF/UHF anyway.

 de> meters, since I haven't had the time to study to upgrade to General.  I
 de> keep failing the General practice exams, and it's a struggle between
 de> other studying, family life, attempting to setup a BBS, and at least
 de> 100 other projects.  You know how it is.  The studying for the General
 de> just isn't on my top priority list right now and I'm starting to see
 de> it's more of a thing when I retire I'll be able to get to it, or at
 de> least I keep telling myself that.

Yeah, you have to prioritise what's important, which usually means things like
family, and other things have to take a back seat.  Very understandable,
especially in the current circumstances.

 de> When we talk about implementing packet integration into Mystic for
 de> example I'm looking to use the best tool for the job.  I prefer
 de> hardware devices such as Kantronics, AEA, SCS, and most likely would
 de> like the TNC-X and the PI-TNC over the name brand vintage TNC's for the
 de> ability of customization, one thing I know is the built in "JunOS" type
 de> BBS on the Kantronic's doesn't allow any customization, at least not
 de> without customizing the ROM.

I look for openness and choice.  In other words, such work shouldn't be
dependenent on a particular piece of hardware, so Mystic will need to be
interfaced to the AX.25 layer (and optionally other protocols, such as IP -
hang on, Mystic can already do that! ;) ).  So all you need is a working AX.25
stack on your system, and what TNC is used is a matter of preference, whether
it's a Kantronics, TNC-X or even a software TNC.

 de> I'm going to research and purchase the additional addons to setup the
 de> PI TNC and experiment with it, something tells me I already went down
 de> this path and probably have it toss in a drawer or box somewhere.  Way
 de> too many projects and not enough time.

I'd be interested how you go. :)

 Vk>  de> The KAM-XL has VHF and HF support, as well as the SCS Pactor III unit

I think HF packet is pretty much dead and buried.  The Internet has taken over
long haul packet links (and does it well).  And non packet protocols such as
Winlink have filled in some of the gaps, even though working in a slightly
different problem space.

 de> Kenwood's TNC support 9600 baud natively, and there were 9600 baud UHF
 de> packet stations on Packet systems in the Virginia/Washington
 de> DC/Maryland area a couple years back used for user access.  I don't
 de> know the current status, however I do want to get one on the air, I
 de> believe not having a tower is what I've let this hold me back.   I
 de> might just climb up in a tree and screw a j-pole in as high as I can
 de> get :)  That is the amateur way :)

Haha, wouldn't been the first time I've seen an antenna in a tree.  Done that
myself at times, even for "permanent" installations.  Tree climbing could be
considered an essential skill for an amateur. :D  As for 9600, I stayed away
from it for years, because it was a lot of money and effort for relatively
little gain back in the early 1990s.  I didn't have the money for either the
TNCs, or the radios that were 9600 ready.  And the other choice was to hack a
radio, but many cheap surplus radios of the day weren't suitable, because they
used phase modulation, rather than true FM.

Today, 9600 is _much_ easier and cheaper, and chances are there's a couple of
9600 ready readios kicking around in everyone's shack. :)

 de> I had Allstar at one point with the external parallel interface I
 de> believe it was, that project is benched and in a box somewhere for
 de> sure.  I replaced it with D-Star, P25, Fusion, everything except DMR.
 de>    SvxLink is ringing a bell, I believe that was the linux port of
 de> Echolink?

With DVSwitch, you can link AllStar to any of the DV modes, or gate from one DV
mode to another. :)


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