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- +----------------------------------------------------------------+
- | WDCG -- Wake Digital Communications Group |
- | presents |
- | PTP -- Packet Terminal Program Version 2.20 |
- | with XPACKET binary transfer protocol |
- | |
- | BY N4PY .... PUBLIC DOMAIN |
- | Split screen routine complements of AA4L |
- | Documentation by AB4S |
- | |
- +----------------------------------------------------------------+
-
-
- PTP is a terminal program written for the application layer of a packet radio
- station. This program was developed specifically for use with the IBM PCjr and
- the TAPR TNC, but it works with other versions of the IBM PC. PTP requires IBM
- DOS 2.1 or later, and will work with the monochrome adapter or the CGA adapter.
- 256K of RAM minimum is required to run this program. Very little testing has
- been done on any other combinations. It was developed originally for private
- use by Carl, N4PY, but at the urging of Ed, AB4S, Carl agreed to allow this one
- out of his basement. For use with the IBM PCjr, see the note in the Appendix.
-
- Three modes of file transfer are supported:
-
- 1. ASCII file transfer using hardware flow control
-
- 2. XMODEM protocol (with application error correction)
-
- 3. XPACKET protocol (with AX.25 error correction)
-
- There will be no discussion of the first two, as they are both well documented
- elsewhere. XPACKET, however, is the invention of N4PY, and therefore not too
- widely known, so far. XPACKET is a binary transfer method using speeds that
- are the same as ASCII dumb transfers.
-
- XPACKET, simply put, is nothing more than a binary transfer in transparent mode
- so that all eight bits of each byte can be sent, and the TNC will not mistake
- certain characters as commands to itself. What is the reason for XPACKET if
- that's all there is to it? Well, the justification is to allow the orderly
- start and end of a file transfer. Without XPACKET, each operator has to enter
- TNC transparent mode and coordinate the start of the transfer. This can be
- awkward, as you may know. Also, without XPACKET, there is no way for the
- receiver to cancel the operation when he realizes that he didn't get something
- right. XPACKET tries to account for the coordination problem, and allow the
- "reverse channel interrupt" function to occur.
-
- When the transfer is begun, the receiving station will automatically send a NAK
- character every ten seconds until it has received some data from the sender.
- At this time, the only character the receiver can send is a CAN (cancel) which
- will cause the sending station to abort the transfer. The CAN may be sent one
- of two ways:
-
- Automatically -- if a block is received which does not agree with the byte
- count which was sent at the beginning.
-
- Manually -- if the receiving operator presses the Ctrl-N key.
-
- The sending station operator can also cause the transfer to abort by pressing
- Ctrl-N while the transfer is taking place. You should rarely encounter the
- automatic abort, but if you do, you should try starting the transfer over
- again. It is likely that one of the two stations involved in the transfer has
- his TNC set up wrong or a PCjr is being used at the receiving station and is
- attempting to write his file directly to a physical diskette. See the "Must
- be" list and the PCjr note in the Appendix.
-
-
- USER INSTRUCTIONS:
- First of all, the only thing you should have to remember is to press the Home
- key when you can't remember anything else about PTP options. This will bring
- up a help screen which you can customize to help with your own selections.
- (See PTP.HLP in the FILES section of this document.)
-
- Use a text editor (such as IBM Personal Editor II, or Professional Editor) to
- create a file named PTP.DEF. This file will consist of the numbers 11 through
- 40 and the information you want to be sent to the TNC when the appropriate
- F-Key is pressed. It will also contain information about how to route traffic
- listed on the WDCG PBBS and whether or not to add line feed characters after
- each CR during ASCII uploads. All information in PTP.DEF is in pairs of lines
- with the first of each pair describing an option, and the next defining your
- choice for that option.
-
- PTP.DEF might look like:
-
- 11
- c wa5szl-1+cr +----------------------------------------------+
- | This file is optional. The usage |
- 12 | of the F-keys is: 11-20 = Shift - F1 - F10 |
- c k4iww+cr | 21-30 = Ctrl - F1 - F10 |
- | 31-40 = Alt - F1 - F10 |
- . +----------------------------------------------+
- .
- .
-
- 39
- My name is Carl and the QTH is Cary, NC.+cr
-
- 40
- 73 and good luck on packet radio.+cr
-
- CONNECT TEXT Default text for Alt-M connect message. This can be
- xxxxx up to 255 characters of text.
-
- AUTOTIME TNC-2 or Kantronics 1.6 only. Sets TNC clock time from
- YES the system clock. Default NO.
-
- AUTOMSG TNC-2 only. If YES, sets CMSG off at
- YES program startup and on at exit. Default NO.
-
- HOLDBUF This describes the size of the retrieve buffer lines.
- 128 (10 - 256) default is 128
-
- CONNECT BELL Connect alarm bell. If YES, alarm will sound when connection
- YES is dectected.
-
- FOREGROUND This describes the color choice for text on the screen.
- 15 (0 to 15 -- See your BASIC manual for color numbers)
-
- BACKGROUND This describes the background color for text screen.
- 0
-
- STATE This should be the 2-letter Postal Code for the state
- NC in which you are located.
-
- NEAR _____________
- VA |
- |
- NEAR |____ These are the nearby states that might be expected
- SC | to access the PBBS upon which you are placing the
- | NTS traffic generated with PTP.
- NEAR _____________|
- GA
-
- SENDLF This will determine whether or not you want PTP to add
- NO LF characters after CR's during an ASCII upload.
-
- DCD This will determine whether or not you want PTP to use the DCD
- YES line to determine when a connection occurs. If NO, receipt of
- *** CONNECTED will be used to detect connection.
-
- CONNECT FILE The full filename to which you want connected text to be
- B:MYMSGS.TXT saved when Qsave is enabled. DCD YES is required.
-
- NOTE: All "keywords" used in this file (STATE, NEAR, etc.) must be in upper
- case. There must not be any blank lines in this file.
-
- NOTE: If you do not specify FOREGROUND and BACKGROUND, they will be set to 7
- and 0 respectively. Also, if FOREGROUND and BACKGROUND are set to the same
- value, the defaults of 7 and 0 will be used.
-
- NOTE: There is no order dependence to the keyword pairs used in PTP.DEF. You
- may put those in any order you like as long as you keep the pairs together.
-
- You do not have to define every possible F-key, but be sure that the number for
- the key you want to use precedes the text for that key. Also, if you do not
- desire to set the other parameters, you do not need to include them in your
- PTP.DEF file. There is no order dependence on these pairs of lines.
-
- If you assign a string of characters to an Fkey, whether it is Alt-Fkey,
- Ctrl-Fkey, Shift-Fkey, or just Fkey 7 through 10, you have complete control of
- the string. If you desire a CR character to follow your string you simply type
- "+cr" at the end of it. If you desire an imbedded CR character, use "+cr+" at
- the place where you desire the CR. To start a string with the CR character,
- you must put "cr+" before the string to be sent. Also, if you want to have the
- Ctrl-C character as a part of the Fkey definiton, you can do that by using
- "cmd+", "+cmd+" or "+cmd" at the point where the Ctrl-C is to appear.
-
- Also, you may want to create a file to be used as setup information for your
- TNC. This file is optional, and may have any name you like. It is a command
- list for the TNC and will be sent to the TNC when you press Alt-L from the
- terminal communications screen. An example of this file would look like:
-
- MYCALL N4PY +----------------------------------------------+
- SCREENL 0 | This file is optional. The commands are |
- . | the ones listed in the owner's manual for |
- . | your TNC. Be sure they are set the way you |
- . | want your TNC to be configured. |
- PACTIME 1 +----------------------------------------------+
-
- A suggested method of building this file is to enable capture (via Qsave or
- ASCII rcv mode) and enter DISP. Your TNC should give you a list of all the
- commands and the present settings for these commands.
-
- PTP will be updated from time to time. Check the source from which you
- received this copy for updated versions. The author does not plan to release
- the source code, but comments and suggestions about future releases will be
- appreciated.
-
- When you first RUN the program, you will be given a menu screen that will allow
- you to set up several operating parameters. The numbered parameters are:
-
- 1 Line bit rate [1200] (300..9600)
- 2 Data bits [8] (7 or 8)
- 3 Parity type [n] (e,o, or n)
- 4 Split Screen [y] (y or n)
- 5 Comm Port [1] (1 or 2)
- 6 QSave File Name [B:CAPTURE.TXT]
- 7 User Defined []
- 8 User Defined []
- 9 User Defined []
- 10 User Defined []
- 11 Save Setup [PTP]
- 12 Load Setup [PTP]
-
- These parameters can all be set by the user. The procedure for each follows:
-
- Line bit rate --- Type 1,9600<CR> if the desired baud rate is not shown.
- The 1200 (or any other ABAUD speed you select) will become
- the operating speed for the terminal program. Must match
- TNC.
-
- Data bits ------- type 2,8<CR> if the desired word length is not shown.
- Must match TNC.
-
- Parity type ----- type 3,n<CR> if desired parity is not shown.
- Even parity, Odd parity, or No parity. Must match TNC.
-
- Split Screen ---- type 4,y<CR> if you desire a split screen. If you do not
- select the split screen, a full screen mode will be used
- with no keyboard buffer, and the TNC will provide echoing.
-
- Comm Port ------- type 5,2<CR> if you need to use com2 port for TNC connection.
- Use the comm port (1 or 2) to which you connected your TNC.
-
- QSave File Name - type 6,c:message.sav<CR> if you want to have the Quick Save
- buffer saved under a different name when you use it. See the
- explanation of CAPTURE.TXT under "FILES USED BY PTP
- TERMINAL PROGRAM:."
-
- User Defined ---- type 7,XXX<CR> if you want to use the F keys for frequently
- sent commands, or sequences. Note that items 8, 9 and 10 are
- also used in the same way. In addition to entering the se-
- quence to be sent, you can type 7,,XXXX<CR> where XXXX will
- be displayed on the terminal screen as a reminder of what you
- have attributed to that key. This is true for keys 8, 9 and
- 10 also. Try it; you'll like it.
-
- Save Setup ------ type 11,c:whatever<CR> to select the file name for this
- parameter file. If you type only "11," your parameter file
- will be saved as "PTP.MOD" All parameter files are .MOD
- so don't try to assign an extender to them -- the pgm will do
- that for you. The file PTP.MOD will be automatically
- loaded for you when the program is started.
-
- Load Setup ------ type 12,c:whatever<CR> to select the file name of the
- parameter file you wish to use. The rules are the same as
- for 11 (Save Setup).
-
- After the menu is written to the screen, you will see a list of all .MOD files
- present on your default disk. You may make as many of these files (with
- different names) as you like. Each can have a different personality.
-
- You will notice that when you type nothing and simply press the Enter key, you
- will be placed in terminal mode and the previously selected commands will be
- issued. Take a few minutes to set up your parameters the way you like to
- operate, then save the .MOD file before going into terminal mode. The only
- prompt shown on the main menu screen is F2=Exit. When F2 is pressed, you must
- also press the Enter key from this screen.
-
- If you have selected the split-screen mode for terminal communications, you
- will have an inverse video bar across the screen near the bottom. This bar
- contains some reference information about the status of the connect message and
- status of the bell action. If you use F5 to return to DOS, depending on what
- you do while in DOS, this line might be gone when you return via EXIT. If this
- is the case, simply press Alt-C to restore the screen divider line.
- The Alt-key definitions are:
-
- Alt-A = Abort the sending of NTS traffic. This key will also halt the loading
- of TNC parameters via Alt-L.
-
- Alt-B = Toggles the BEL character action. This affects only whether or not the
- BEL will cause the alarm to sound when received. This has nothing to
- do with the Connect alarm in PTP.DEF.
-
- Alt-C = Clears all text from the communications screen.
-
- Alt-D = Display the definitions for the extra 30 F-keys. This only works if
- you have the PTP.DEF file on your disk.
-
- Alt-L = Load the TNC parameters. You must make a file (using a text editor or
- by capturing the results of DISP) which contains the setup you desire
- for your TNC. This option allows you to send the entire file of
- commands to the TNC.
-
- Alt-M = Connect message screen. You are able to edit or remove the connect
- message you have selected or set up via the PTP.DEF file.
-
- Alt-S = Send traffic file(s). (See Alt-W.) When logged onto the WDCG PBBS
- system, and when you are in the message section, you may send your NTS
- traffic files automatically by pressing this key. When the message is
- entirely sent, the program will cause the message to be saved on the
- PBBS.
-
- Alt-T = Escape from transparent mode. When you are in the split screen mode,
- you cannot go back to command mode because the characters are buffered
- until Enter is pressed. This key will cause a one-second delay, send 3
- ^C characters, and delay for one more second.
-
- Alt-W = Write traffic. This key will take you to a full-screen editor which
- has a template for message traffic. The last message which was written
- will be displayed again, and you can overwrite the message with a new
- one. If you want to enter a field that is completely different from the
- one shown, you may press Alt-E to erase the field before typing.
- See "NTS TRAFFIC GENERATION:."
-
- In addition to the Alt-keys, from either communications screen you may enter
- the following:
-
- F1 = [Menu] This key will immediately take you to the main menu.
-
- F2 = [Exit] This key will cause an end to the program. When you press
- F2, you will be asked if you are sure you want to exit.
-
- F3 = [Rcvf] This key will allow you to receive a file from the PBBS or
- from another packet station. You are asked for the transfer
- protocol desired, and the drive to store the file on. Also
- you are asked to provide a name for the file, unless it is
- an XPACKET file. You may optionally provide a name for the
- XPACKET file to be received. When you are receiving an
- ASCII file, you will use F3 again to close the file. Note
- that the definition changes on the bottom of the screen when
- you are receiving an ASCII file or using Qsave.
-
- F4 = [Xmtf] This key will allow you to upload (send) a file from any
- disk drive on your system. When you are asked for the drive
- be sure to include the colon (i.e. A:). The protocol
- choices are the same as for F3.
-
- F5 = [DOS ] This key causes an immediate exit from the terminal program
- and you will get the DOS prompt. An XOFF is sent to the TNC
- when you go to DOS via F5, and an XON is sent when you re-
- turn. You may do any DOS functions that your amount of mem-
- ory will support. Remember that the terminal program stays
- in memory, so the usable memory available to you is reduced
- by the amount required by the program. When you are ready
- to return to the terminal program, Enter "exit" at the DOS
- prompt.
-
- NOTE: If you leave the program altogether while you are in
- DOS, you will have to send a CTRL-Q to the TNC to restore
- normal operation. If you return to PTP via "exit", it will
- be done for you. Each time PTP is started it issues an XON
- to your TNC on the selected comm port.
-
- NOTE: You must be running IBM PC DOS version 2.1 or higher to use F5.
- Additionally, you must have COMMAND.COM somewhere that DOS can find it
- or the program will abort.
-
- F6 = [Qsve] This key will enable the "Quick Save" option. On the main
- menu you selected a file name for Quick Save. When F6 is
- pressed, the file will be appended with all that is received
- until you press F6 again, or F3 to close the file.
- The F6=[Qsve] will flash to let you know that the file is open.
- You can, if you desire, capture any messages or monitored packets
- which are being held in your TNC due to either XOFF or because of
- the DTR line not being raised until the comm port is opened by
- pressing F6 immediately after you do the null enter to go to the
- communications screen.
-
- F7 - F0 These keys are user defined. See the main menu to set up
- the definition and the 4-character description for these
- keys. Don't forget the rules for insertion of the CR character.
- (See information under PTP.DEF for rules concerning CR character
- and Ctrl-C character.)
-
- Home This key will cause the PTP.HLP file to be displayed, even
- if you no longer have the PTP diskette installed. When the
- program is loaded, PTP.HLP is read from the diskette and
- kept in storage for use when Home is pressed.
-
- Cursor Up These keys are used to recall previously entered text. The
- and PTP.DEF file has an entry with the keyword HOLDBUF. This
- Cursor Dn determines the length of the recall line. You should set
- this to the same length of your PACL in the TNC. When you
- press Cursor Up, you will step through the ten-step buffer
- in one direction, and pressing Cursor Dn will step the
- other direction. Experiment with this and set the length
- so it is proper for your operation. This is most useful
- for correcting typographical errors in connect attempts, or
- for CQ messages when in CONVERSE mode. This function is not
- available in single screen mode.
-
- NTS TRAFFIC GENERATION:
- While in communications mode, if you desire to write a piece (or more) of
- traffic, you can simply swap screens (by pressing Alt-W) and enter the traffic
- on a full screen template. The fields are defined and you can type the
- required information in the highlighted fields. There are several keys which
- are used for NTS traffic entry. They are:
-
- Enter Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next line, if multi-
- line field. If you are on the last line of a multi-line field
- or if the field is a single line field, the cursor will move
- to the beginning of the next field.
-
- Tab Moves cursor to the next field.
-
- Shft-Tab Moves cursor to beginning of the previous field.
-
- Alt-E Erases to the end of the current field.
-
- Alt-C Returns to communications mode.
-
- Esc Saves the message under the name MSGnnn.MSG.
- The nnn in the message name is the number field from the
- message itself. When this message has been uploaded to
- the WDCG PBBS, the message file will be renamed to
- MSGnnn.LOG.
-
- Note that the check is not required in the message outline. It will be
- automatically generated when the message is saved.
-
- The TIME field is special. It is not usual that this field be used and it will
- normally be left blank. If you desire to use the time field, there are two
- options:
-
- * Put an "A" in the first position of the time field. This will
- cause PTP to enter the current time from the system clock. There
- will be a "Z" appended to the time. Be sure your system clock is
- set to UTC if you use this option.
-
- * You may enter the time directly in the time field. This time will
- not be changed by PTP.
-
- The DATE field will be automatically filled in for you from the system clock so
- be sure that your clock is set correctly.
-
- Later, when logged on the WDCG PBBS system, you can send your accrued traffic
- by going to the <M>essage menu. After the message menu prompt, you can send
- messages from diskette by pressing Alt-S. You will be shown all the unsent
- messages from your default diskette, and you simply enter the number of the
- message to be sent. The rest is automatic (including the <S>ave function after
- the message is complete. You may now send another message by pressing Alt-S
- again if desired. Note that the sending of NTS message traffic can be halted
- (aborted) at any time by pressing Alt-A. When each MSGnnn.MSG file is sent to
- the WDCG PBBS, it will be renamed to MSGnnn.LOG on your disk.
-
- FILES USED BY PTP TERMINAL PROGRAM:
- PTP.EXE The terminal emulator program. This file can be loaded with a
- .bat file, or directly from the DOS prompt by typing "PTP".
-
- PTP.MOD This file is used to store your main menu data. It contains the
- the personality you assigned when you configured your PTP
- program. You may have as many .MOD files as your diskette space
- allows, and each can be a new personality.
-
- PTP.DEF This file is the only one which requires a separate editor to
- create. There is a skeleton PTP.DEF file provided with PTP which
- you may use to make your own PTP.DEF. 30 additional F-KEYs are
- defined by this file (Alt-Fn, Ctrl-Fn, and Shift-Fn). This is
- an optional file. If you do not create a PTP.DEF, your F-keys
- will be usable, but the extra 30 definitions will not exist.
- In addition, there is information included in the PTP.DEF file
- which defines screen color and routing information for NTS
- traffic to be uploaded to WDCG PBBS. See PTP.DEF under "USER
- INSTRUCTIONS:" for details on this file.
-
- MSGnnn.MSG These files are NTS messages which have been written and are
- and ready to be sent (.MSG) and logged messages which have already
- MSGnnn.LOG been sent (.LOG). These files are generated as a part of the
- NTS message process.
-
- PTP.CKP This file is automatically generated and contains information
- about the last NTS message sent. It is used as the default
- text for beginning the next message. Do not alter or erase this
- file if you expect NTS message writing to work properly.
-
- CAPTURE.TXT This file is the default name which is used for QSAVE and may
- be renamed at a later time, or may be changed in the main
- menu. From either full-screen terminal mode or split-screen
- terminal mode, you can press F6 and this file (or other specified
- file) will be opened for capture. The file will continue to be
- updated with everything received until F3 (Close file) or F6 is
- again pressed. NOTE: This file is appended each time it is
- opened and the previous contents will remain.
-
- PTP.SET (Or other file name as desired.) This file is used to prime your
- TNC whenever you desire. When used via Alt-L from the commun-
- ications screen, the contents of this file will be sent to the
- TNC in cmd: mode. It is useful for setting, or restoring any
- set of parameters you desire. A suggested use is to capture (via
- Qsave) the results of "disp" and use an editor to change this
- file so that it will restore your TNC in the event of a loss of
- data due to any unforeseen event.
-
- PTP.HLP This file is required if you desire to use the Home key for
- online help. You may, at your option, use a text editor to add
- your own key definitions to the lower half of the .HLP screen.
- NOTE: This file must remain the same size -- 23 lines.
-
- PTP.SCN This file MUST be present and MUST be unaltered in order for
- PTP to run. It must be on the default disk(ette) drive.
-
- PTP.DOC The documentation file (this file). Print this file on your
- system printer if you desire to have hard copy. This file MUST
- be copied along with PTP if you desire to share this program with
- another Amateur Radio operator.
-
- PTP.WRK This is a temporary file which is generated by PTP when
- downloading. If you break, or end the program, before the down-
- load is completed, you might see this file on the selected disk
- drive. You may erase it, or rename it if you desire.
-
- MYMSGS.TXT Or other name to your liking. This is the file which you cause
- to be created when you have CONNECT FILE in the PTP.DEF list.
- This file will contain only messages that were received by you
- while you were connected and F6 (Qsave) was active. All
- monitored traffic will be saved in CAPTURE.TXT.
-
- When you are receiving an ASCII file via F3, the file will be automatically
- closed when a BEL character is received. The WDCG PBBS always ends downloads
- with the BEL character. Also, when PTP uploads a file, it will put a BEL
- character as the last byte of the file. This can be very handy when you are
- transfering a file to a friend. If he is not using PTP, have him to send you a
- Ctrl-G when he has finished sending the file, and it will close your disk file,
- thus ending the transfer.
-
- SPLIT SCREEN CONSIDERATIONS:
- For the most part, split screen operation is as simple as typing on the bottom
- of the screen and seeing what is received on the upper part of the screen.
- There are, however, a few things to be considered.
- Because the split screen code is an assembly code routine, the BIOS calls are
- not handled through DOS and are not the same as the single screen mode. The
- characters from the keyboard are buffered in PTP until you press the Enter key,
- reach the size of your buffer (which you established in .DEF file). Since you
- sometimes want to send a character to the TNC without the CR, a function is
- provided to allow this. If you press the Tab key, the buffer will be sent to
- the TNC without a trailing CR. This is useful for entering command mode by
- pressing Ctrl-C and following this with a Tab. You will be unable to send the
- HT character in split screen mode but this will be a very rare inconvenience.
- If you desire to send the Tab character it will be necessary to use the single
- screen mode.
- Also, since characters will not normally be sent to the TNC until Enter is
- pressed, a special key is defined to allow you to exit transparent mode from
- the split screen. See the description of Alt-T for this procedure.
- Split-screen operation will seem a little unusual to you until you get used to
- the benefits. For instance, you can be typing to someone and he might send a
- packet to you before you are finished. You should see this information appear
- on the upper part of your screen even as you type. Additionally, it is very
- nice to have all of your text on the lower part of the screen and the received
- information above the divider line. It will not scroll off your screen nearly
- as fast this way.
- APPENDIX:
-
- XPACKET FLOW DIAGRAM
-
- Example of an unsuccessful transfer.
-
- SENDER RECEIVER
- ------ --------
-
- Ready to send file.
- <---------------------------------------------- NAK (repeated every
- 10 seconds un-
- til data trans-
- fer begins)
- filename -------------------------------------------->
- 128 bytes data -------------------------------------->
- (listens)
- 128 bytes data -------------------------------------->
- (listens)
- 128 bytes data -------------------------------------->
- (listens)
- 128 bytes data -------------------------------------->
- (listens)
- <---------------------------------------------- CAN
-
- < Both stations abort transfer and return to terminal mode. >
-
-
- Example of a successful transfer:
-
- SENDER RECEIVER
- ------ --------
-
- Ready to send file.
- <---------------------------------------------- NAK (repeated every
- 10 seconds un-
- til data trans-
- fer begins)
- filename -------------------------------------------->
- 128 bytes data -------------------------------------->
- (listens)
- 128 bytes data -------------------------------------->
- (listens)
- 128 bytes data -------------------------------------->
- (listens)
- 128 bytes data -------------------------------------->
- (listens)
- 128 bytes data -------------------------------------->
- (listens)
- 128 bytes data -------------------------------------->
- (listens)
- 128 bytes data -------------------------------------->
- (listens)
- 109 bytes data -------------------------------------->
- (listens)
- End Of File ----------------------------------------->
- < ----- Both stations return to terminal mode.------ >
-
- NOTE: If nothing is received by the receiving station after 10 seconds, another
- NAK is sent. This is repeated every 10 seconds until the file transfer is
- started.
-
- NOTE: For details about the XPACKET protocol, see XPACKET.PRO, a brief
- description of the protocol.
-
- What's all this about "filename"? Well, the XPACKET protocol sends the file
- name in its first burst of data. The receiving station can do with this what
- he will. The PTP program shows how this can be handled by allowing the file to
- be saved under the name received, or under the name specified by the operator.
- This program gives the receiver a chance to select a name under which he wants
- the received file to be stored, or if you choose to let the sender provide the
- name, you simply press Enter at the prompt for a file name.
-
- The PTP program uses "hardware flow control" which means that it does not honor
- XON or XOFF from the TNC. Instead, it relies on the asynchronous port hardware
- to control the sending of data to the TNC. When the TNC buffer becomes full,
- the TNC will drop CTS (Clear To Send) and the terminal will halt in its tracks
- until CTS is again raised. This is how the TNC keeps from being overrun with
- data when the flow is otherwise continuous.
-
- When the receiver XPACKET station is waiting to receive the first packet of
- data it will send NAK every 10 seconds until the first packet is received. The
- last block of data will not necessarily be 128 bytes, but it will be followed
- by an EOF character to signify the end of the transfer. The receiving station
- will then save the file according to the filespec received, or the one entered
- by the operator.
-
- TNC SETUP:
- There are two catagories for the TNC command setup. They are:
-
- o Must be (for PTP to work as intended)
- o Recommended (Local area determined)
-
- Must Be list:
- ============================================================================
- AWLEN 8 DELETE OFF PARITY 0 (TNC2) CR ON
- AX25 ON FLOW ON SENDPAC $0D COMMAND $03
- BKONDEL ON PACTIME EVERY 1 XFLOW ON 8BITCONV ON (TNC2)
- CMDTIME 1 PARITY 4 (TNC1,Kan) XMITOK ON TRFLOW OFF (TNC2)
- CONMODE CONVERS START $11 STOP $13 TXFLOW OFF
- ============================================================================
-
-
- Recommended list:
- ============================================================================
- AUTOLF ON BEACON EVERY 0 CONOK ON LCOK ON
- CWID OFF HBAUD 1200 (TNC1,Kan) LFADD OFF NEWMODE ON (TNC2,Kan)
- MCON OFF RETRY 10 SCREENL 0 TXDELAY 6 (TNC1,Kan)
- TXDELAY 24 (TNC2)
- ============================================================================
- FINAL COMMENTS FROM WDCG:
-
- The PCjr cannot write directly to a physical disk file during file reception.
- If you have enough RAM installed to define a ramdisk, you can use this as the
- target drive and should have no problems.
-
- If you are using an IBM PCjr without the internal modem, you will need to run
- COMPCJR.COM program which is included on this diskette. The PCjr's RS232 port
- is normally referred to as COM1 when the internal modem is not installed, and
- as COM2 when the internal modem is there. The hardware addresses are not
- changed. Be sure to select COM2 from the main menu screen if you use
- COMPCJR.COM.
-
- We hope you find the Packet Terminal Program as useful and as much fun as we
- have. Please feel free to pass this program along to other Amateur Radio
- operators and Packeteers, but please DO NOT attempt to sell this program, or to
- use it in any commercial way whatsoever. This program is intended for the
- private use of Radio Amateurs and your cooperation is greatly appreciated in
- keeping it just as the author intended. If you give a copy of PTP to someone
- please be sure to include this document file also.
-
- The author of PTP assumes no responsibility for the use of this program and no
- guarantees are implied or intended.
-
- Comments and suggestions are welcome, especially about the binary transfer
- protocols. Send comments to:
- Carl Moreschi,N4PY
- 702 Madison Ave.
- Cary, NC 27511
- 919-467-8146
- or via K4IWW PBBS (145.010) in Cary, NC.