HOW TO INSTALL FLEXNET
x PACKET 1200 with AUDIO CARD

At first, just a word about FLEXNET; it's a software (better it's more than one) that we can use to "interface" various hardware (TNC,Sound Blaster,Modem Baycom ecc.) to various terminal program (tsthost,tsthwin,winpack ecc.);
it runs both under DOS that under Windows (at start up it automatically know operative system and adapt itself);
On flexnet home page you'll find a lot of file (module to use flexnet with various software and hardware).

• DOS INSTALLATION

• WINDOWS INSTALLATION

DOS INSTALLATION

Let's start from the simplest configuration;

• At first your Audio Card should run OK: you shouldn't have problems before starting, otherwise you'll get nothing;

• Download the software you need:
  FLEXNET (PCF.LZH);
  DRIVER SK AUDIO SM by Thomas Sailer, HB9JNX (SM.LZH o PSADRVR.LZH) (DOWNLOAD PAGE OF FLEXNET);
  Software to extract compressed files (LHA.EXE);

• Make a new directory on your hard disk called FLEX95 (C:\FLEX95) and extract there all compressed files;

• Create a boot disk inserting an empty floppy and giving the command (under DOS prompt): "SYS A:" (you're creating a boot disk not beacause it's really necessary, but because, so doing, you're using a very simple configuration so you'll have less probabilities to have troubles; once all will work fine, you will not need it anymore).

• Create on the floppy a batch file called FLEX95.BAT (Download) with the following lines:
  c:
  cd\flex95
  lh flexnet 20
  lh smsbc -tc:1
  flex
  lh smafsk12
  fset mode 0 1200
  fset txdelay 0 20
  smmixer -i:0 -o:-0 -s:mic
  
  NOTE:
  - lh flexnet 20 :load the Kernel with 20Kb of memory;
  - lh smsbc -tc:1 :load Audio card driver using COM1 for PTT; read carefully file the sm.doc because you should use different drivers for different audio cards: SMSBC.EXE, SMSBCFDX.EXE, SMWSS.EXE, SMWSSFDX.EXE are the 4 possible drivers for standard sound Blaster and WSS;
  - flex :load Kernel;
  - lh smafsk12 :load a 1200bps audio card modem driver; use SMFSK96 for 9600bps;
  - fset mode 0 1200 :configures FLEXNET to use channel 0 at 1200 bps;
  - fset txdelay 0 20 :configure Txdelay of channel 0 at 20 ms;
  - smmixer -i:0 -o:-0 -s:mic :set audio card input level=0, output=0 e source from microphone line; read SM.DOC for more info.
  Audio card driver doesn't set the card, so you need to do that with a tool, (e.g the proper one of your card; so, if your card uses no-standard address or IRQ, you need to set them using some lines in your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS, (remember to define it also in SMSxx.exe's optiones);

• Make a shielded cable (as short as possible) to connect Audio Out in your RTX to MIC IN (or LINE IN) in your Audio Card; usually audio card uses a stereo jack while RTX uses a mono one (see page "Circuit for Transmitting and receving");

• Let's go: connect RTX to audio card (Mic In), insert boot disckette switch off and then on your PC;

• At DOS prompt ("A:>"); call the file "FLEX95"; be sure there aren't error messages (i.e. FLEXNET not loaded ecc.);

Now we can try running a terminal software such as:

• FLEXNET + BCT x PACKET 1200 (suggested for first installation);

• FLEXNET + TSTHOST x PACKET 1200;

If all runs fine, we don't need to use the floppy disk anymore so

• copy FLEX95.BAT in C:\ and don't use the boot diskette any more; now to run FLEXNET you need only to run C:\FLEX95.BAT;
  if you have troubles I suggest you to try again without any card configuration in the autoexec.bat and config.sys putting the word REM at the beggining of each line:
  in AUTOEXEC.BAT
  REM SET SOUND=C:\VIBRA16
  REM SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6
  REM SET MIDI=SYNTH:1 MAP:E
  REM C:\VIBRA16\DIAGNOSE /S
  REM C:\VIBRA16\MIXERSET /P /Q
  
  in CONFIG.SYS
  rem DEVICE=C:\VIBRA16\DRV\VIBRA16.SYS /UNIT=0 /BLASTER=A:220 I:5 D:1 H:5
  rem DEVICE=C:\VIBRA16\DRV\CTMMSYS.SYS
  (make the same to line DEVICE=c:\windows\himem.sys, if there's one);
  (I didn't touch my AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS and all works fine).

Well this first test is finished, you can now enjoy your audio card in packet reception...let's go on with the next step.

FOR ANY PROBLEM SEE TROUBLES PAGE

WINDOWS INSTALLATION

Go on with this test only if the first one was successful;

• Software needed:
  FLEXNET (PCF.LZH, FLEX95.LZH) (DOWNLOAD PAGE OF FLEXNET);
  SM AUDIO DRIVER by Thomas Sailer, HB9JNX (SM.LZH o PSADRVR.LZH);
  Software to extract compressed files (LHA.EXE);
• Run Windows 95 as usual (switch on your PC!) and open the control panel
  START > SETTING > CONTROL PANEL;
• Double click on
  SISTEM > HARDWARE PROFILES; select
  ORIGINAL and double click on
  COPY , then rename it (i.e.) FLEXNET;
  deactive your audio card in the
  FLEXNET configuration ,by double clicking on
  AUDIO CARD ICON and selecting
  DEACTIVE IN THIS HARDWARE PROFILE;
• Save all and reset the PC; will appear the following window
  "WINDOWS 95 IS STARTING....
  WINDOWS CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT CONFIGURATION YOUR COMPUTER IS IN.
  SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
  1. ORIGINAL CONFIGURATION
  2. FLEXNET
  3. NONE OF THE ABOVE
  ENTER YOUR CHOICE: 2"
• Choice 2;
• Now you want FLEXNET starts automatically , so copy FLEX95.BAT (Download) in C:\ and add the following lines to your AUTOEXEC.BAT (always in C:\):
  SET PATH=%PATH%;C:\FLEX95
  CALL FLEX95.BAT;
• I suggest you to deactive temporarily all about your Audio Card in your CONFIG.SYS (i.e. my file):
  rem DEVICE=C:\VIBRA16\DRV\VIBRA16.SYS /UNIT=0 /BLASTER=A:220 I:5 D:1 H:5
  rem DEVICE=C:\VIBRA16\DRV\CTMMSYS.SYS
  (try to deactive also the line DEVICE=c:\windows\himem.sys, if there's one);
  putting the word "REM" at the beginning of each line;
  (in AUTOEXEC.BAT):
  REM SET SOUND=C:\VIBRA16
  REM SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6
  REM SET MIDI=SYNTH:1 MAP:E
  REM C:\VIBRA16\DIAGNOSE /S
  REM C:\VIBRA16\MIXERSET /P /Q
  (I didn't touch my AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS and all works fine).
  NOTE: Audio card driver doesn't set the card, so you need to do that with a tool, (e.g the proper one of your card); so, if your card uses no-standard address or IRQ, you need to set them using some lines in your AUTOEXEC.BAT, (remember to define it also in SMSxx.exe's optiones);
• Reset your PC; will appear a new FLEXNET WINDOW; select
  TOOLS > TRACE: if there are packet signales and all is working fine, you'll see all on the monitor;

Now we can try running a terminal software such as:

• FLEXNET + TSTHWIN x PACKET 1200;

• FLEXNET + WINPACK x PACKET 1200;

• FLEXNET + WINHN x PACKET 1200;

• FLEXNET + WINFBB x PACKET 1200 ;

If you want Windows knowing how to make a TCP/IP connection via radio (that's not necessary for normal operation):

• go in
  START > SETTING > CONTROL PANEL then
  NETWORK > ADD ADAPTER > DISK DRIVER ; write
  C:\FLEX95 : will appear
  FLEXNETIP->AX25 > OK;
• Now active TCP/IP services:
  ADD > MANUFACTURING > MICROSOFT > NETWORK PROTOCOLL -> TCP/IP;
  Configure it, in the network window:
  TCP/IP > FLEXNETIP->AX25 > PROPERTES >
  > IP ADDRESS (if you don't know it write 127.0.0.1);
  > SUBMASK NET (255.0.0.0);
  > GATEWAY (nothing);
  > OK e reset PC;
• I don't know if that is really important, anyway I report: run
  REGEDIT.EXE (C:\WINDOWS); double click on
  HKEY LOCAL MACHIN e find SYSTEM CURRENTCONTOLSET, then
  SERVICES - CLASS - NETTRANS; between
  0000, 0001 etc. find
  TCP/IP in DRIVERDESCNAME; if where is TCP/IP there isn't a variable
  MaxMTU then go on menù, select
  MODIFY > NEW > STRING; and write
  MaxMTU (CaSe SeNsItIve); then
  ENTER and as VALUE specify
  256;
  

But this will be explaned later..

..done !!

FOR ANY PROBLEM SEE TROUBLES PAGE

73 de iz7ath, Talino