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ARES Packet Manual
This manual was created to provide guidance to an ARES packet operator in Mecklenburg County. This manual will provide the very minimal instructions to be an effective packet operator for an ARES event. This is not to be thought of as a complete instruction manual on all fascists of packet.
This manual is broken into individual sections on the three main TNCs you should encounter with Mecklenburg ARES. These are the Kantronics KPC3 Plus, PacComm Tiny 2, and the MFJ 1270 series. Each section will have station setup instructions. Instructions on how to connect to a node, and how to see a list of stations heard by this node. Additionally instructions on how to send, check for, and read a message via packet are also included.
The Emergency Coordinator will use the NCCLT node on 145.010. This will enable the EC to have easy access to the packet stations used by the Emergency Coordinators of the adjoining counties. The EC will use the tactical callsign of EOC0ME.
All other stations will use the local LAN frequency. This will keep the packet traffic generated to remain within the county. Using the local LAN will make moving this traffic more efficient. Stations on the LAN, which need to leave a message in the EOC0ME mailbox, will use the nodes to connect to the EC as described in this manual.
The state has a plan to use APRS in the case of weather related events. When ARES members are called upon to assist in these events the basic setup procedure for the use of DOSAPRS is provided at end of this manual.
Familiarization with the various packet systems and software will greatly enhance the use of packet in times of need.
KPC3
Steps to setup the radio, computer and KPC3 TNC.
Turn power on the radio and set the frequency to the local LAN frequency as shown in Appendix. The Emergency Coordinator will use the NCCLT node on 145.010. All others use the local LAN frequency for your county. Stations that can not connect to the local LAN will also use 145.010.
Boot the computer and start WinPack on Windows or Paket 6.2 on DOS. Check the Comms Settings under Options. These should be 1200 baud, Data Bits 8, Stops Bits 1, Parity None, Com Ports Com 1.
Turn power on the TNC. The TNCs manufacture and firmware information should scroll up the screen ending with a command prompt (cmd: ). If the information is unreadable change the baud rate in the terminal program.
DA yymmddhhmm i.e.: DA 0307040101 (enter)
yy = two digit year; mm = two digit month; dd = two digit day; hh = two digit hour; mm = two digit minute
MY (your callsign) i.e.: KE4IYH (enter)
MYP (the tactical callsign for your location) i.e.: MYP RCS3ME (enter)
This equals Red Cross Shelter 3 Mecklenburg County
PBBS 10 i.e.: PBBS 10 (enter)
This insures the mailbox is active.
MYN (tactical callsign -7) i.e.: MYN RCS1ME -7 (enter)
NUMNODES 3 i.e.: NUMNODES 3 (enter)
NE on i.e.: NE on (enter)
C (your LANs node) i.e.: C CLT (enter)
If you can NOT connect to your LAN change frequency to 145.010 and try C NCCLT enter.
MH This will show a list of stations the Node has heard. i.e.: MH (enter)
B This disconnects your station from the node. i.e.: B (enter)
These are the commands to check for a message in your mailbox.
The mail indicator LED should be blinking when mail arrives. You may however get mail, which is not address to your tactical callsign.
C (your mailbox callsign. The command MYP (enter) will display it) i.e.: C RCS1ME (enter)
This command puts you into your KPC mailbox.
L This will list all messages currently in the mailbox. i.e.: L (enter)
R (message number) Read message 3 i.e.: R 3 (enter)
B Exit mailbox. i.e.: B (enter)
PacComm
Steps to setup radio, computer and TNC.
Turn power on the radio and set the frequency to the local LAN frequency. The Emergency Coordinator will use the NCCLT node on 145.010. All others use the local LAN frequency for your county. Stations that can not connect to the local LAN will also use 145.010.
Boot the computer and start the WinPack on Windows or Paket 6.2 on DOS. Check the Comms Settings under Options. These should be 1200 baud, Data Bits 8, Stops Bits 1, Parity None, Com Ports Com 1.
Turn power on the TNC. The TNCs manufacture and firmware information should scroll up the screen ending with a command prompt (cmd: ). If the information is unreadable change the baud rate in the terminal program.
At the command prompt enter these command:
DA yymmddhhmm i.e.: DA 0307040101 (enter)
yy = two digit year; mm = two digit month; dd = two digit day; hh = two digit hour; mm = two digit minute
MY (your callsign) i.e.: KE4IYH (enter)
PM on i.e.: PM on
This insures the mailbox is active.
MYP (the tactical callsign for your location) i.e.: MYM RCS2ME (enter)
This equals Red Cross Shelter 2 Mecklenburg County
NE on i.e.: NE on (enter)
C (your LANs node) i.e.: C CLT (enter)
If you can NOT connect to your LAN change frequency to 145.010 and try C NCCLT enter.
MH This will show a list of stations the Node has heard. i.e.: MH (enter)
B This disconnects your station from the node. i.e.: B (enter)
These are the commands to check for a message in your mailbox.
The mail indicator LED should be blinking when mail arrives. You may however get mail, which is not address to your tactical callsign.
L This will list all messages currently in the mailbox. i.e.: L (enter)
R (message number) Read message 2 i.e.: R 2 (enter)
B Exit mailbox. i.e.: B (enter)
MFJ
Steps to setup radio, computer and MFJ TNC.
Turn power on the radio and set the frequency to the local LAN frequency as shown in Appendix. The Emergency Coordinator will use the NCCLT node on 145.010. All others use the local LAN frequency for your county. Stations that can not connect to the local LAN will also use 145.010.
Boot the computer and start WinPack on Windows or Paket 6.2 on DOS. Check the Comms Settings under Options. These should be 1200 baud, Data Bits 8, Stops Bits 1, Parity None, Com Ports Com 1.
Turn power on the TNC. The TNCs manufacture and firmware information should scroll up the screen ending with a command prompt (cmd:). If no information check the dip switches on the back of the TNC. Switches 2 and 7 should be on.
At the command prompt enter these command:
DA yymmddhhmm i.e.: DA 0307040101 (enter)
yy = two digit year; mm = two digit month; dd = two digit day; hh = two digit hour; mm = two digit minute
MYC (your callsign) i.e.: KE4IYH (enter)
MYM (the tactical callsign for your location) i.e.: MYM RCS1ME (enter)
This equals Red Cross Shelter 1 Mecklenburg County
NE on i.e.: NE on (enter)
C (your LANs node) i.e.: C CLT (enter)
If you can NOT connect to your LAN change frequency to 145.010 and try C NCCLT enter.
MH This will show a list of stations the Node has heard. i.e.: MH (enter)
B This disconnects your station from the node. i.e.: B (enter)
These are the commands to check for a message in your mailbox.
The mail indicator LED should be blinking when mail arrives. You may however get mail, which is not address to your tactical callsign.
Sysop This command puts you into your MFJ mailbox. i.e.: SYSOP (enter)
L This will list all messages currently in the mailbox. i.e.: L (enter)
R (message number) Read message 1 i.e.: R 1 (enter)
Ctrl+C Exit mailbox. Ctrl +C
These are the commands to send, check for, and read a message on your LAN.
C (node) i.e.: C CLT (enter)
C (tactical callsign of the station to which the message is going) i.e.: C RC0ME (enter)
You should get a message stating the mailbox is ready.
S (tactical callsign of the station to which the message is going) i.e.: S RC0ME (enter)
The TNC will then ask for a Subject.
(Enter you subject) i.e.: RCS1ME to Bob Hubert (enter)
Start the subject with your tactical call and then to the addressee.
The TNC will now ask for text, stating a "/ex" at the beginning of a new line will end the message.
(Enter the text of your message) i.e.: Supply truck has arrived. John
End message with the signature of the representative of served agency.
/ex i.e.: /ex (enter)
When all text has been sent "/ex" at the beginning of a new line tells the remote TNC to save this message.
The TNC will send "Message number __ saved".
L i.e.: L (enter)
List the messages in the mailbox to see yours is there.
R (message number) i.e.: R 21 (enter)
You may wish to read the message you sent to insure it is correct.
If it is not as it should be use the kill command below and start over at the "S" command above.
Knowing the message is correct skip the kill command.
KILL (message number) To kill a message. i.e.: KILL 21 (enter)
Return to the " S (tactical callsign of the station to which the message is going)" line above and start again.
B i.e.: B (enter)
This will end you session with the mailbox.
B i.e.: B (enter)
This disconnects you from the node.
N i.e.: N (enter)
This will provide you with a list of nodes the node you are connected has access to. You are looking for node NCCLT in the list. Some stations, for which there is no LAN, will be connecting to NCCLT direct.
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These are the commands to send a message to the EOC of your county.
C (node) i.e.: C CLT (enter)
See appendix for nodes in the county.
C ncclt i.e.: C NCCLT (enter)
C (tactical callsign of the station to which the message is going) i.e.: C EOC0ME (enter)
You should get a message stating the mailbox is ready.
S (tactical callsign of the station to which the message is going) i.e.: S EOC0ME (enter)
The TNC will then ask for a Subject.
(Enter you subject) i.e.: RCS4ME to W4OH (enter)
Start the subject with your tactical call and then to the addressee.
The TNC will now ask for text, stating a "/ex" at the beginning of a new line will end the message.
(Enter the text of your message) i.e.: Shelter 4 active. John
Message should end with the signature of the representative of served agency.
/ex i.e.: /ex (enter)
When all text has been sent, "/ex” at the beginning of a new line, tells the remote TNC to save this message.
The TNC will send "Message number __ saved".
L
List all messages in the mailbox to see yours is there.
R (message number) i.e.: R 7 (enter)
You may wish to read the message you sent to insure it is correct.
If it is not as it should be use the kill command below and start over at the "S" command above.
Knowing the message is correct skip the kill command.
K (message number) i.e.: K 7 (enter)
Return to the " S (tactical callsign of the station to which the message is going)" line above and start again.
B i.e.: B (enter)
This will end you session with the mailbox.
B i.e.: B (enter)
This disconnects you from the node.
N i.e.: N (enter)
This will provide you with a list of nodes the node you are connected has access to. You are looking for node NCCLT in the list. Some stations, for which there is no LAN, will be connecting to NCCLT direct.
APRS
You already have the TNC and radio setup from the instructions on your system. You need to change the frequency to 144.390. Exit WinPack and start APRS. The APRS splash screen will appear. Below are the responses you will enter to setup your session.
Radio Callsign [ ] (enter your tactical callsign) i.e.: RCS1ME (enter)
Enter TNC COM port (enter the serial port your using) i.e.: 1
TNC baudrate [4800] i.e.: 1200 (enter)
Band HF or VHF [VHF] i.e.: V
Type of TNC (well what are you using?) i.e.: K (enter)
AEA= aea ,D=dual pico, K=kantronics, P=paccomm, O=other
PC Clock in (Z)ulu or (L)ocal i.e.: L
Time Zone (-5 if EST, -8 if PST etc) [-5] i.e.: -5 (enter)
Will other com port be used? i.e.:N
The system will now load. The US map will appear and the APRS parameters will load. Once this has occurred a new map will appear. Stations will begin to appear if all is correct and there are other stations also playing APRS.
i.e.: IMP
Now if you know you latitude and longitude you may go ahead and enter it by pressing the I for Input, M for Mydata, and P for Position.
Latitude i.e.: 35xx.xxN (enter)
Longitude i.e.: 080xx.xxW (enter)
Enter first letter of symbol name until found. Then enter choice? i.e.: Q
S1=school, R6= Red Cross, E1=EOC, H5=Hospital, etc
Select ... i.e.: 1
Enter new course (enter)
Enter new speed (enter)
Enter Comment (your callsign and location) i.e.:kd4gcf RS1ME Red Cross Shelter 1
Enter Date-Time (enter)
New position report correct and accurate (y/n) [ ] i.e.: y
You are now on the map.
If you do not know you latitude and longitude do this. Use you arrow keys or mouse to move the "yellow O" to your position on the map. You may need to use the "Page Down" key to zoom the map where the "yellow O" to get closer to your actual location. Once you have the "yellow O" where you want it press (enter).
Now go back up to where you enter the "IMP" command above. Lat and Long will be entered to the yellow O. Pressing "F1" and "H" will get you help.
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Appendix A
|
County |
Current LAN Frequency |
Node Alias/Callsign |
Future LAN Frequency |
|
Area 12 |
145.010 |
NCCLT / W4BFB-1 |
|
|
Cabarrus |
145.670 |
CON |
|
|
Gaston |
145.070 |
STHGAS / KD4GCA-1 |
|
|
Lincoln |
None |
|
145.630 |
|
Mecklenburg |
145.050 |
CLT / W4BFB-5 |
|
|
Mecklenburg |
145.050 |
CLTNE / KE4IYH-4 |
|
|
Stanley |
None |
|
145.690 |
|
Union |
145.010 |
MON7NC / |
144.650 |
A tactical location designator is used instead of a callsign for the mailbox callsign. Tactical designators will allow a locations packet tactical callsign to stay the same with different amateur radio operators. The first two letters are for the location. The next two can be a letter and a number, one number, or two numbers. The last two are for the county. Fire Department number 23 in Mecklenburg County would be FD23ME.
Red Cross RC
Red Cross Shelters RCS (Shelter Number)
Emergency Operations Command EOC
Salvation Army SA (Unit Number)
Police Dept PD (Div. Number)
Fire Dept FD (Station Number)
Emergency Medical System MD (Unit Number)
(The EC may establish others as needs develop.)
County Designator
Cabarrus=CA, Gaston=GA, Lincoln=LN, Mecklenburg=ME, Stanly=ST, Union=UN
Numeric Designator
Use the number 0 for primary station of served agency.
ssid to use in AREA 12
User
No ssid
User mail box -1
Telpac Gateway -3
Kam Node -7
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