Packet Radio

[Tom VA3TS]

The software Packet-Radio TNC  http://uz7.ho.ua/packetradio.htm

http://uz7.ho.ua/modem_beta/user_guide_v105_EN.pdf

Years ago, it was fun to tinker with packet radio, I liked 300 baud on 80m, I had many qso's keyboard to keyboard, and the great thing about AX.25 is forward error correction or FEC. This means that what you send is retried till the checksum matches and your message is correct and complete. Gene VE3IJD had a packet BBS at his qth in Keady, we were on 2 meters so 1200 baud was used, and the system had a 9600 baud UHF link to Barrie VE3LSR via Bon VY2NX's place in Woodford. It brings back some fond memories.

At the time I had a Kantronics KAM dual port TNC which means I could use an HF rig and an VHF rig at the same time... it could even digipeat from one band to the other and it had a built in mailbox so others could leave messages. 144.390 simplex on vhf.

https://privat.bahnhof.se/wb758759/

Soundmodem

[*]AFSK 300, 600, 1200, 2400 bps
[*](D)BPSK 300, 600, 1200, 2400 bps
[*](D)QPSK 2400, 3600, 4800 bps
[*](D)8PSK 4800 bps

High-Speed Soundmodem

[*]G3RUH 4800, 9600, 19200 bps
[*]Manchester 1200, 2400, 3600, 7200 bps
[*]HAPN 4800 bps
[*]GOMX-1/3, Mobitex-NX (BeeSAT-2/4), AAUSAT-4, LilacSat-2 decoders

[Marvin VE3VCG]

Thanks for sharing this information about Packet-Radio. I've been very keen to establish a local packet network since I first began reading about packet several years ago. I was especially excited to learn the Canadians were largely responsible for the development of packet radio back in the day. I think it is still an invaluable part of emergency communications and something our club should promote and use as part of our daily radio practice. Aside from the practical application for EmComm work it would just be a ton of fun.

Regards
Marvin VE3VCG

[VA3KOT John]

Nah! Packet (aka AX.25) is a very old technology - oh wait ... just like my favourite mode, Morse Code! Last time I checked, the International Space Station still uses AX.25. And, of course, the APRS network uses AX.25. A few years ago I checked into the packet BBS on ISS quite regularly. Nowadays there are other technologies that leave AX.25 looking like the electric telegraph. Thinking of it that way makes me think oh maybe it's not so bad after all.