AX - The protocol used such as AX25 enabling stations
to communicate with each other.
APRS - Amateur Packet Reporting System.
BAUD - The rate of speed information flows.
common speeds = 300 | 400 | 600 | 1200 | 9600
BEACON - An automatic UNPROTO transmition sent out on
a time schedule which diseminates information.
Usually information pertaining to the station
it is comming from or SERVERE WEATHER ALERTS.
BOOTLEG - a liable falsehood or illegal action.
BOOTLEGGER - Someone who uses a callsign or ALIAS that they are
not allowed to use according to law, or someone using
a frequency that they are not supposed to be on
according to law.
ABAUD - RS232 terminal baud rate.
BBS - Bulletin Board System. Generally used to Diseminate Current Information
which pertains to all amateur radio operators or
operators in specific regions. A BBS is more of a
library for legal amateur radio operators of the
community it is located in, to post bulletins and
to send and recieve messages in other regions of
the world or into other neighboring communities.
When a BBS shares its information with another BBS
the information is usually readable but not defined
in useful information by those who are reading the
transmitions while watching in unproto mode.
The reason for the information to be diseminated in
programming language is so that large quantities of
information can be sent at a faster rate of speed
without having to change the baud rates and to comply
with other BBS standards. Some BBS stations also
have a NODE and sometimes even provide a CHATROOM.
Note: There are many NODE, SWITCH and SYSTEM OPERATORS who do not allow DXing
a distant BBS across their NODE, SWITCH, or NETWORK SYSTEM. This is
usually due to the high rate of traffic and the amounts of information that
most BBS's have to offer, which is usually the same information of other
neighboring community BBS stations. In the event that a neighboring community
does not have its own BBS, it is best to ask permission of the NODE OPERATOR,
SWITCH OPERATOR, BBS OPERATOR and SYSTEM OPERATOR, whichever is used, if it is
ok with them to access a BBS through their station(s). The BBS operator is also
responsible for asking the same permissions if a node or switch is needed to
pass the information across.
CHECKSUM - A program module used to evaluate wheather or not the whole signal
from a connected station is being recieved or lost.
COMMAND MODE - A local command which allows a staion operator control of all menu
functions within the software of a packet program or control of most
of the information within a terminal modem unit connected between a
radio and a computer.
CONVERSE MODE - A local command which permits conversation with another
staion or stations.
CTEXT - The text that a user can see upon connecting
direct to a station. *CONNECT TEXT
Digipeater - Part of a station that works similar to
a repeater by retransmitting the signal
of a different station to either another
station in the distance or to all stations
who are watching in unproto mode. If the
digipeater fails to hear a signal it has no
way to tell if the signal was even sent.
It does not use the checksum module for
for unproto packets. Digipeaters can be
turned on or off by the owner.
DUMMY LOAD - An artificial antenna which has the correct
impedance to transmit signals into so not to
disrupt others with unwanted transmitter
testing over the airways.
DX - Distant.
FIREWALL - A program used to block unwanted users from gaining access
to unauthorized connections.
FPAC - A software program used by some of the TCP/IP
stations in networks such as the Rose Network.
FPAC stations are not compatible
with APRS stations due to some APRS stations using all
8 digipeater fields, which is a conflict of
interest in the amateur packet world. Since there is a
problem with APRS signals being sent on the same
frequency as the switch networks, APRS users have
switched to a frequency that is different
than that of switch frequencies.
HBAUD - The Baud rate used between Station To Station.
HF - High Frequency
HTEXT - Routing text used for packet mail servers.
*HYPERTEXT
IP - Internet Protocol
LEGAL LIMIT - The maximum legal RF POWER LIMIT permitted by
the class license a licensed radio operator
holds and is allowed to use.
LX - Local.
NODE - A program module either software or IC chip
programmed to make it possible for the owner
operator of a station to let other stations
connect to his/her station on a different port
than the stations mailbox or direct connect port.
Usually an independant port with its own menu,
which permits users to connect to it, and lets
them connect to a distant station or another *NODE.
Most nodes use a checksum module to make sure each
packet that it recieves, is recieved and sent complete
to the other station(s).
Notes: *similar to a digipeater.
Nodes can be turned on or off by the owner.
NODE HOPPING - A term used to define a user jumping from
one node to another which is legal and
fun. Although some NODE OPERATORs may
frown at users taking advantage of the
service they provide, it makes sense to
learn where the system can lead to. This
opportunity makes it possible for the
users to learn new routes and how to get
to places where normal transmitions that
are not using nodes cannot normally reach.
It is more commonly frowned upon when a
NODE OPERATOR discriminates against this
method of learning the NODE SYSTEM.
NODE OPERATORS are responsible for the
information that is passed through their
station and even more so when their NODE is
a CROSS-FREQUENCY NODE or CROSS-BAND NODE.
Using a node to disseminate hate mail or
messages that the recipient believes is offensive
in content, holds the node operator partly
responsible but not totally liable for letting the
station sending such disruptive messages.
The station sending such messages is totally
liable for their own actions. Usually resulting
in the node operator and the recipients both
blocking the user that sends such mail from
gaining access to their staions. SWITCH OPERATORS
may notice disruptive content passing through a
node and totally block the node from being accessed
from the SWITCH. NODE OPERATORS may see the content
passing through a SWITCH and decide to block the
SWITCH from gaining access to the NODE. This happens
most often when the stations operating nodes and switches
do not provide a mailbox or a means of communicating
directly with one another. Even leaving a current telephone
number somewhere within the CTEXT of the node or
within the INFO section of the switch where the
node or switch operator can be reached is acceptable.
(also a *working e-Mail address is acceptable).
NODE OPERATOR - A radio station owner who's callsign or alias represents
the name of the node they create.
NODE USER - A legal station using another station operators node.
NOS - Node Operating System. There are lots of kinds
of NOS such as JNOS and TNOS which seem to be
the most popular in the amateur world. Most of
todays NOS is compiled using Bourland C programming
techniques.
PBBS - Private Bulletin Board System. (a private packet mailbox).
PEP - Peak Envelope Power.
PROTO - A connected mode of a station to station information exchange.
If the MCON command is turned it is possible to monitor other
stations, nodes, digipeaters and switches while being connected.
Although sometimes busy frequencies make it not so easy to see
the text being sent by a desired station that is directly connected.
this mode uses an end-to-end checksum.
PTEXT - Text that is seen upon connecting to a mailbox. *PBBS TEXT
QRP - A Q-code signal that represents a station is
using the *lowest output power possible to
establish contact with another station.
Note: *This method of transmitting is
actually not acceptable on packet frequencies
because it causes packet crashes for other
stations sharing the same frequency.
Using the highest legal power setting available
is recomended. (but not a requirement)
If a low power station is to be used, it is acceptable
to use a near by high powered "NODE, DIGIPEATER or SWITCH" to
make a connect to another staion or to send a BEACON
so not to disrupt the signals sent by others using the
same frequency.
RF - Radio Frequency.
RF BURN - Similar to a sunburn but more like being cooked
in a microwave oven. Caused by being over exposed to
to radio signals in the near field of a transmitting
antenna or RF leakage from a transmitter itself.
A very serious threat to humans which in many cases
can cause death.
ROUTE - A path of stations that pass information for
distantstations that cannot connect to each
other direct.
RS232 PORT - A port on a computer or a terminal modem unit.
usually found on the back of a computer.
RTEXT - Text used to gain remote access.
*REMOTE TEXT
RX - Recieve.
SWITCH - Part of a network station that responds similar
to a node but only a switch uses a different
type of software (JNOS) which uses a code similar to
the telephone companies numbers. As each switch is
assigned a different number for the particular
area it is designated in. Most switches can
locate each other by using a domain file.
Users of the switch can connect to other stations
near another switch in a different part of the
world. In most cases a switch is used by a
network that provides a TCP/IP mailbox. But
Not all networks provide a mailbox.
The approximate location of a switch can
usually be found by connecting to INFO via
the switch callsign-#,###### ...
SWITCH OPERATOR - The owner of a switch who's callsign or alias
represents the name of the SWITCH.
TCP - Telnet Control Protocol.
UHF - Ultra High Frequency.
UNPROTO - An unconnected mode that is used for stations to communicate by
exchanging information that every other packet station in the general
area of a group of stations can see if they are also monitoring
unproto on the same frequency.
This is the eyes and ears of packet. Even if two stations
are communicating in PROTO mode, it is still possible for other
users in the same general area to see PROTO information being exchanged
by those who are connected. There is no encryption involved to prohibit
other amateur packet stations from seeing the information being passed
amateurs who's packet units are connected.
this particular mode does not use a checksum.
VHF - Very High Frequency.
WORKING e-Mail ADDRESS - An e-Mail address that corresponds to a person
or persons where they can send and recieve an e-Mail
but NOT a false e-Mail address.
WWCONV - World Wide Converse.
Please send corrections and adittions to:
[email protected]