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- ** ** ** **|| Packet GOLD 1.2 Test Drive Cmd Reference ||** ** ** ** ** **
- **************|| ||*****************
- \\=========================================//
-
- Quick Start:
-
- 1. Be sure you know which serial port is attached to your TNC.
-
- 2. Serial Cable must include hardware handshaking lines (standard
- cable, or be sure to wire pins 2,3,4,5,6,7,20).
-
- 3. Turn on the TNC.
-
- 4. If this is the FIRST time you've run the Test Drive version:
-
- Please turn down volume on the radio until program starts.
- The program will attempt to "talk" to the TNC without
- resetting it. Extra received frames heard during this startup
- phase may delay startup.
-
- Note: This is not required after the first time running the
- program, and may not be necessary if the channel is fairly quiet.
-
- 5. Type PKTDEMO [Enter] to startup the program.
-
- The program will not RESET the tnc unless it has no other way
- to establish communication. Therefore, it MAY take some time
- to initially startup. One the TBAUD rate (Computer to TNC rate)
- is set, the program turns on HOST mode and commences to load
- the parameters found in STARTUP.TNC. You will see the parameters
- being set as the TNC is configured.
-
- If the startup FAILS, try turning off the TNC, and turning it
- back on again. Then rerun the program. You will see the LEDs
- change state if the configuration is proceeding.
-
- 6. Set the radio volume and squelch (if appropriate) according to
- the instructions in your AEA manual. The objective is to have
- the DCD (Data Carrier Detect) LED (Light Emitting Diode) "track"
- the presence of a decodeable signal present at the receiver.
-
- For FM, VHF operation, setup your radio volume with the squelch
- OPEN, until the DCD LED is lit (if your TNC has true carrier detect,
- you will run with open squelch at all times). Then turn the
- squelch up until the DCD light is extinguished.
-
- The Threshold control on the PK232 is used to adjust the TNC
- to follow the presence of signal. Turn it up until the DCD light
- is ON, then turn it down until the DCD goes off with no signal
- present.
-
-
- Once the program is running
-
- Connecting:
-
- 1. Type the callsign of the "target" station on the command entry line.
- Don't type "C CALLSIGN" just type the callsign by itself.
-
- 2. Push the connect key, [F7]
-
- 3. When connected, enter the remote station operator's name using
- the [Alt-N] key. Now, each time you connect to that station, the
- operator's name will appear.
-
- 4. After you have tried a few connects, use the Setup [Alt-S] menu
- to add a "quick connect" name and path. Enter a few of the
- names and paths of stations you might call routinely. Then
- leave this submenu, return to the main program, and depress
- the connect key [F7], highlight a "quick connect" and hit
- the [Enter] key.
-
- Advanced NET/ROM connect:
-
- 1. Type NODE_ALIAS | NEXT_NODE_ALIAS | etc. etc. | DESTINATION_CALLSIGN
-
- 2. Hit the connect key [F7]. Program will establish a connect to each
- NET/ROM type node and continue until final DESTination callsign is
- reached.
-
- Note: Some nodes (KAnodes for example) aren't really NET/ROM
- type nodes. They will not allow connecting to an ALIAS-ssid as will
- NET/ROM. A true NET/ROM or clone will permit multiple connects to
- the node ALIAS using SSID's. For example, the BGBEAR node (a real
- NET/ROM node) will allow you to connect to:
-
- BGBEAR-1, BGBEAR-2, .... BGBEAR-15.
-
- With Packet-GOLD, the SSID is appended automatically, depending on
- which "stream" is used to establish the connect. This means you can
- setup QUICK CONNECTS to several stations, all using the same starting
- NODE ALIAS, and have multiple connects going, all using the same
- NET/ROM node. Think about this feature for a while, it's very
- useful.
-
- Packet-GOLD allows you to setup a large list of Quick-Connects,
- storing the NET/ROM path, digipeaters, etc. When you want to connect,
- just hit [F7] without ANY text on the command/text entry line.
- The program will display a "pick list" of Quick-Connect stations.
-
- Emergency Communications: Using Tactical Callsigns
-
- The Quick-Connects list allows you to "name" the station and path.
- For emergency work, set the "name" to the tactical callsign. This
- means you use an FCC licensed callsign for the actual communication,
- but refer to the Tactical Callsign in your Quick-Connects list.
-
- Disconnecting:
-
- 1. Use [F4] key to display the appropriate session screen.
-
- 2. Hit [Alt-F7] key combination. Use the Normal Disconnect unless
- you have a reason to abruptly disconnect with a higher priority
- disconnect.
-
- Multiple Connects:
-
- 1. Type in another callsign, and hit [F7], the connect key.
-
- 2. Use the NEXT session key [F4] to switch between connects.
-
- Monitoring while connected:
-
- 1. This is automatic.
-
- 2. You can ZOOM in/out on a connect screen with Alt-Z toggle.
-
- 3. Go to the Network View screen using [F2] key if you wish
- to scroll back or see a larger Network View.
-
- 4. Try the Text Search [F9] key. Enter a portion of the text
- you might want to find. Entering "c,p" or "[c,p]" will cause
- a search for connect requests. Or enter "CQ" (note, case is
- not important) to find CQ. Entering "[UI]" is sometimes
- interesting, as it will seek out all unproto info frames, such
- as CQ or ID frames. To continue a search, finding additional
- occurrances of the target string, use Search Again [Alt-F9].
-
- Sending CQ:
-
- 1. Go to the Network View screen.
-
- 2. Go into Unproto mode, using ALT-U
-
- 3. Type your CQ message and hit [Enter] key.
-
- 4. You may wish to alter your UNPROTO path/id. To do this, type
- UNPROTO CQ [F10] or UNPROTO CQ VIA W1AW [F10].
-
- 5. Note: When you leave Network View screen with Next [F4] or
- Previous Sessions [F3] key, you are taken out of Unproto Mode.
- To reenter Unproto CQ mode, use [Alt-U]. This feature guards
- against text being sent out in error.
-
- Viewing a parameter:
-
- 1. Type the parameter or abbreviated version of parameter on
- the command line.
-
- 2. Hit the CMD key, [F10] to read the parameter value from the TNC.
-
- Changing a parameter:
-
- 1. Type the parameter (or abbreviation) and a value on the
- command line.
-
- 2. Hit the CMD key, [F10] to store the value in the TNC.
-
- Changing a parameter group:
-
- 1. Type DISPLAY (or just DISP) on the command line.
-
- 2. Hit the CMD key, [F10].
-
- 3. Point at the parameter group you wish to view/change.
-
- 4. Make your changes.
-
- 5. Return to the program with [Alt-X] or [ESC] key.
-
- Changing Program Setup Options:
-
- 1. Use [Alt-S] key (setup) to enter pulldown menu area.
- Note: [ESC] or multiple [ESC] keystrokes will return you to the
- program.
-
- 2. Explore the menu system.
-
- You can change a number of things in the TEST DRIVE version,
- but they will not "stick" or be saved when time runs out.
-
- 3. If you have a Color display, try changing the monitor settings
- shown under the Setup/Monitor. You can switch to 43/50 lines
- if you have an EGA or VGA monitor. The color settings can be
- changed as well, or switched back to the defaults.
-
- Under the Other parameters option, you will find a number of
- other interesting things to change.
-
- There's much more in Packet-GOLD that we can explain in a brief file.
- When you purchase the program, a 75-page manual is included, along with
- other information. Additionally, you get telephone support for your
- questions.
-
- Here is a brief listing of some of the command areas in Packet-GOLD.
- Some of the functions may not be available in the "test drive" version.
-
-
- Subject Area Command Format Comment
- -------------------------------------- ---------------------- --------------
-
- Change Mode (PK232 only, no effect on PK88):
-
- Enter Mode name (e.g. baudot) BAUDOT [F10] Changes Mode
- Use .TNC file [F10] Pick List
- Key Down/Up (Non Packet) [ESC] When text sent
-
- Parameters and Program Options:
-
- View Parameter Parm [F10] Shows Param
- Set Parameter Parm Setting [F10]
- View/Set Groups of Params DISPLAY [F10]
- Example DISPLAY M [F10] Monitor Parms
- Load Parameter File (.TNC) [F10] From Pick List
- Setup Options [Alt-S] Menu
-
- Note: One or more [ESC] key
- puts away menu system.
-
- CQ, Connecting and Disconnecting:
-
- CQ : NetView Screen Only [Alt-U] Unproto Mode
- Connect & Quick Connect [F7] Pick List
- Next Session (if multiple) [F4] Smart Queue
- Setup Quick Connect [Alt-S] From Menu
- Connected station Name [Alt-N] Fill in
- Change Displayed Callsign [Alt-C] Fill in
- Station Information Edit [Alt-E] "QSL" card
- Disconnect [Alt-F7] Pick List
- Previous Session Text [F3] Switch Window
- Jump to session [Ctrl-Fn] On stream "n"
-
- Monitoring:
-
- Net View Full screen [F2] Switch Window
- Zoom in/out on Connect Scrn [Alt-Z] Zoom
- Mheard [Alt-F2] Shows List
- Binary Filter On/Off [Alt-B] Toggle
- Checking Connect List [Ctrl] Hold down key
- Display Monitor Params: DISPLAY M [F10]
-
- Conferencing:
-
- Conference Mode Window [Alt-F1] Need 2 or more
- Conference Info [Alt-V] sessions to do
- Previous Sessions Log [F3] a conference.
- Network View Screen [F2]
- Disconnect [Alt-F7] After removing
- from Confer
- Maildrop:
-
- Maildrop [Alt-F8] See AEA Docs
- Leave Maildrop [B] Bye
-
- Files and Text:
-
- Send Brag Tape [Alt-F6] .BRG files
- Start/Check File Transfer [F6]
- Find Text [F9] Fill in blank
- Find Next Text Occurrance [Alt-F9]
- Copy & Paste [F5] Sub menu
- Edit Clipboard, File [F5] Sub menu
-
- Memory Functions:
-
- Wipe Window (Erase Screen) [Alt-W] Current view
- Check Memory Usage [Alt-M] All views
-
- Printing/Saving to Disk:
-
- Turn On/Off Save Session [Alt-Y] Popup window
- Turn On/Off Print/Capt [Ctrl-PtrSc] To LPT/FILE
-
- Entry Line Editing:
-
- Erase Text Entry Line [Alt-X] Delete line
- Retrieve erased line [Alt-R] Restore
- Insert Date [Alt-D]
- Insert Time [Alt-T]
- Insert Alt-n text [Alt-0..9]
- Show ASCII special char [Alt-A] Popup Table
- Use Alt-S, Setup, Alt-n msgs to edit these Menu
-
- Calibrate, Reset, from DIrect Terminal:
-
- Enter Direct terminal [Alt-F3] For tests
- Leave Direct Terminal [Alt-F3]
-
- While in Direct Terminal (after Alt-F3):
-
- Use RESET to clear TNC then hit * until you get a "cmd:"
- prompt. Then Leave Direct Terminal. Not normally required.
-
- Calibrate functions (when in Direct Terminal Mode ONLY):
-
- Entering the Calibrate mode CALIBRATE [Enter]
- Key Down/Up (Toggle) [K]
- Change to Mark/Space tone [Space]
- Send Dual Tone [D]
- Quit Calibrate Mode [Q]
-
- Note: Useful to check levels, tones, etc.
- See AEA docs for more information.
-
- Execute a DOS command:
-
- ExecDOS [cmdname params] [F10]
- To Format a Disk Execdos Format A:/S [F10]
-
- Leaving/Quitting Packet-GOLD
-
- Quit to DOS (terminate) [Alt-F10]
- Shell to DOS (temporary) [Alt-F4]
- Return from DOS Shell Type EXIT
-
- For ordering information, read ORDER.DOC.