Packet Engine Pro Help

General Information
   
Introduction
   Features
   Supported TNCs
   
User Interface
   Registration
   Copyright
Program Setup

   Radio Port Mgr
    . Edit TNC/modem Port
    . Edit Sound Card Port
       - Tuning Aid
       - Volume Settings
    . Edit Parameters
    New Port Setup
    Network TCP/IP Settings
   Radioport Sharing
   
Auto Start Clients
   Other Settings
Views
   Program Status
   Port Activity Status
   Shared Radio Ports
   AX.25 Status (Stations)
   Connected Programs
   Heard Stations List 
   Monitor
Other Features
   TCP/IP Over Radio
     . Driver Install
     . PE Pro Settings
     . Windows Settings
   Registration
   HTTP Interface
   Live Update
   Launch IE Browser
   Go to AGWsoft web site
   Send Error Report
Tips, Tricks, & Trouble
   Tips and Tricks
   Problems?
   
Sound Card Use
     . Sound Card Interface
     . HF Operations
     . 9600 Operations
     . Receive Problems
     . Transmit Problems

 

Help Date: 21 June 2004

 

 

Supported Devices

TNCs (Terminal Node Connectors), External Modems & Sound Cards

Note: For simplicity, the program and Help files may use the term 'TNC' to refer to TNCs, external packet modems (modems), and sound cards.

A TNC is the more full-featured device. It takes a data string to be sent, adds in addressing and error correction symbols per the AX.25 packet protocol (packet assembly), and then coverts this expanded string -- a packet --  into tones to be sent by the radio. It does the reverse for a received packet, decoding the tones and stripping out any AX.25 symbols to leave the original data string (packet disassembly). A TNC also handles other functions, such as the timing of the radio transmissions and negotiating any error corrections with the TNC at the distant radio station.

PE Pro works with TNCs in KISS mode. It uses just the TNC's modem, packet assembler/dis-assembler (PAD), and some channel access and timing functions. PE Pro handles all other processing of the data, including routing, error correction, control decisions, and other aspects of the AX.25 protocol.

An External modem (or packet modem or modem) is simpler device that can only convert packet characters into radio tones and vice versa. It needs a companion computer program, such as PE Pro, to handle the other functions of a TNC.

The computer's sound card can also be used as if it were an external modem. As with an external modem, Packet Engine Pro handles the other functions of a TNC.    

Packet Engine Pro is compatible with the TNCs and modems below. It also should be compatible with sound cards listed as Sound Blaster©–compatible (most 16 bit or higher sound cards).

On WIN2000/XP Systems

  Kantronics
©: all models
  AEA
/Time Wave©: all models
  TNC-2 compatibles with a TAPR eprom.
  TNC-2 with TF by Nord-Link eprom.
  MCB512 external TNC.
  Any External TNC with a KISS mode.
  G4XYW 9600b serial modem.
  YAM serial modem
  Baycom, BP-2/M,  but only for non-ACPI / legacy serial ports. (Note: ACPI, a power management protocol, has been the standard on computers for many years now. If you have a ACPI-compliant motherboard/serial port, one possible workaround is to install an additional serial port card. Any ISA card should work because it will be non-ACPI compliant.)

If you want to run Windows 2000/XP and your TNC/modem is not listed above (not supported), consider using PE Pro's sound card modem option as an inexpensive alternative. The only additional cost will be for a sound card-to-radio interface cable.

On WIN98/ME Systems

All of the models listed above for Windows 2000/XP plus:

  Baycom serial port dummy modem.
  Picpar & BP96 9600b parallel port modem
  OE5DXL 9600b serial port modem
  DRSI ISA cards: all models
  USCC ISA cards: all models
  PetScc ISA card
  OSCC ISA card

Copyright 2004 SV2AGW George Rossopoulos . All rights reserved.