PACKET

What is Packet?

Packet is a digital mode where you can transfer files, send text messages or talk using text to people all over the world.
You can also send BBS messages to anyone, anywhere just like e-mails but they just take a bit longer.
You can also send files using many methods. One way is to compress the file then brake it up into small messages then sends it. This way it dosen't all have to be done at once. The programe that does this is called 7PLUS and can be downloaded with winpak from the link at the bottom of the page.


Above is a picture of winpack in use with AGW.

Wormholes

A wormhole is a connection between the internet and the radio so that people cal connect to nodes all over the world. You can also Telnet when there is no path between nodes and this can be done on the internet the same way as on packet. you just type telnet then the address of the node you would like to connect to. This is either a IP address or a .ampr.org address such as vk3mni.ampr.org

Nodes

A node is a packet system that is usually on a hill somewhere so it has a large service area. It links stations, BBS's and Wormholes together so it can handle many connects at once.

What is a BBS?

A BBS, or Bullitin Board System, is a system that sends and recieves messages and also does all of the message forwarding. That is it will send the messages onto the next BBS so that they got to where they need to go. For a list of BBS commands and what they mean click here

TNC's

A TNC, or Terminal node controller is a interface between the computer and the radio. Some examples of these are MFJ's, TINY 2's and the TH-D7 also has a inbuilt TNC. Some of these can run without a computer, such as the MFJ which has a mailbox that will recieve messages from anyone and you can get the message when you are home next.
A word that is common to BBS's and home station is a SysOp, this is a system operator, which is the owner of the equipment.

The least that you will need

The bare minimum that you will need is a Computer and a Radio. You can download a programe called AGW (see the link at the bottom). This programe can send and recieve packets using a sound card and the transmitter is keyed off the comm port so no TNC is needed, but if you are planning on being away alot and would like people to be able to leave messages while you are away then a TNC is better.

Links