PACKET RADIO – AN OVERVIEW

1. PACKET RADIO – AN OVERVIEW Reasons for Learning Packet Radio Packet Station Components TNC, Airmail & My Elmers Airmail Software Setup Packet Network Nodes Callsigns, SSIDs, & Node Alias Names Virginia Digital Emergency Network (VDEN)

2. PACKET RADIO – AN OVERVIEW • VDEN stations and Map of locations • VDEN Bulletin Board System (BBS) • VDEN Operations – Connection Modes • Peer-to-Peer Operations – Connection Modes • Local Packet Nets and Stations • Not covered: Details of Airmail or Winlink 2000

3. Reasons for Learning Packet Radio • Emergency Management concerns about loosing internet connectivity with VA EOC and other EOCs • Packet radio provides essentially error free digital communications via two networks • Virginia Digital Emergency Network (VDEN) – all RF (no connection to internet) • Winlink 2000 (WL2K) – Packet may be able to jump over an internet outage to send & receive standard emails via a RMS Gateway station

4. Packet Station Components Dell Laptop and Airmail program Kenwood TM-71VA Dual-band

5. TNC, Airmail Program & My Elmers • KPC-3 Plus – Amodem, data processor, mailbox & digipeter for other stations • translates audio signals into digital & vice versa • performs control & info storage functions • communicates digitally to computer • Software – Airmail ver 3.4.062 – free download www.siriuscyber.net/ham • My Elmers – Earl (KR4MA) & Lou (KI4LWS)

6. Airmail Software Setup* • Menu Driven - may need help - suggest (1) Winlink 2000 FAQ (Airmail setup), (2) Airmail Help and/or (3) an Elmer • Setup Wizard – enter call sign, lat & long, TNC, Com Port #, Baud Rate with computer, etc. • Air Mail Options – enter options for Connections, Settings, Folders, Modules (Packet Client, Internet Access), etc.

7. Packet Network Nodes • Nodes (operate on simplex) • Nodes form the infrastructure of a packet network like VDEN • Serve as connection points into networks • Relay digital communications to extend user range • May have multiple ports as well as multiple frequencies • Node Types • Digipeters – first networking scheme; requires end-to-end confirm • KA-Nodes– slight improvement; confirms transmission at each node; user directs each node connection (still dumb but more reliable). Set of commands available in Keyboard Mode. • Net/ROM Nodes - Net/ROMs listen & at interval transmits to other Net/ROMs a list of Net/ROMs it hears. Routing Table developed for automatic routing. No need to direct each node connection (smarter than KA-Node). Set of commands available in Keyboard Mode.

8. Callsigns, SSIDs & Node Alias Names • Callsigns – identify Packet stations • Secondary Station Identification (SSID) • Many Packet stations have more than one device using one callsign; SSIDs are used to differentiate (KR4MA, KR4MA-1, KR4MA-2, KR4MA-7, etc.,) • VDEN nodes have a callsign & SSIDs assigned: Net/ROM Nodes use SSID -2, KA-Nodes use SSID -7, and RMS Gateways use SSID -10 • Alias Names – VDEN stations have alias names assigned (HAMPD for W4HPT, VAEOC/VDEM for N4VEM). Intent to help amateurs remember the various nodes.

9. Virginia Digital Emergency Network (VDEN) • VDEN.org website provides • General Operational Guidelines • Digital Traffic Format Guidelines • Listing of all VDEN packet station alias names, BBS, RMS Gateway stations, their lat & long, and trustee callsigns. • Various maps show VDEN network station locations • Nodes are “connection points” into VDEN - 52 node stations listed on VDEN website. Others added by ALL@VANET messages • User callsigns must be registered in VDEN for station you connect to – contact Earl Moore KR4MA

10. Virginia Digital Emergency Network (VDEN) - continued • Many VDEN stations have more than one radio port to provide service on multiple frequencies. • Virginia Digital Emergency Network • 145.730 MHz (1200 baud) primary user frequency • 441.050 MHz (9600 baud) “high speed” backbone • 446.075 MHz (1200 baud) “low speed” backbone (also used by HPT for packet shelters/Hampton EOC) • High-speed “backbone” passes large amounts of data without competing with end-users

11. VDEN Stations (Partial Listing)

12. Map of VDEN Stations

13. VDEN Bulletin Board System (BBS) • A Full Service BBS – is both a message center and information store. Connect to a BBS to • Send & retrieve VDEN messages; provides auto-routing • Read bulletins and announcements (ARRL, ARES, RACES, VDEN, VANET bulletins, etc.) • Conduct nets/conferences: use “c” command to check-in • Standard commands available in Keyboard Mode such as: • “h” – list of all commands; b, c, d, f, h, I, etc. • “i” – hardware configuration of packet station • “id” - station port #s, with callsign and SSIDs heard, & frequencies • “j”- list of all stations heard by BBS and station ports Note: Use “?” before each command provides a complete description.

14. VDEN Operations - Connection Modes • Handshake Mode – used primarily to • Connect and send messages via a BBS for automated routing • Example message address - N4VEM@N4VEM, KJ4TJT@KJ4TJT • Keyboard Mode - used on • BBS: Conduct QSOs, nets/conferencing and obtain info available on BBS using available commands • KA-Nodes and Net/ROM nodes: Obtain station info using available commands and to direct connections to other nodes.

15. Peer-to-Peer Operations- Connection Modes • Two stations connect directly without using network infrastructure (e.g., KJ4TJT to KI4LWS) or via an intermediate station • Handshake Mode - send/receive messages (e.g., HPT shelters messages to/from Hampton EOC) • Keyboard Mode – conduct QSOs/real-time text conversations between two stations

16. Local Packet Nets and Stations • LPEN Net – Hosted by KR4MA at KR4MA-1 BBS station every Tues at 8:15 PM (local) • VA State Net - hosted by various operators at N4VEM BBS station every Weds at 8:15 PM (local) • Examples of Local Stations (active 24/7) • KR4MA – RMS Gateway (York County) • KR4MA-1 – BBS (York County), KR4MA-2 Net/ROM Node KR4MA-7 KA-Node • KE4FYV – BBS (LPEN), KR4FYV-2 Net/ROM Node, KR4FYV-7 KA-Node