# Installing YAAC

If you've gotten this far, then you've managed to successfully unpack YAAC from its distribution archive file. YAAC can be unpacked into any directory, but the subdirectory structure must remain the same as originally defined in the archive.

To take full advantage of YAAC you will need one of the following means to connect to other APRS stations:

1. for use on-the-air for radio communications:
   1. a Terminal Node Controller (TNC) compatible with the TAPR TNC-2 in KISS mode. A radio with an embedded TNC, such as the Kenwood TM-D700, TM-D710, or TH-D72, can also be used. Software TNCs working through a PC soundcard, such as AGWPE or Sivan Toledo's soundmodem, may also be used. Non-TNC2-compatible TNCs may also be used if they support standard KISS mode.
   2. a suitable serial port (RS-232C or USB) to connect the TNC to the computer. If a software TNC will be used, a suitable soundcard will be needed to interface to the radio instead. Specialized soundcards with proper DC isolation (such as the Tigertronics SignaLink) are preferred for better RF performance.
   3. a suitable amateur radio transceiver to work with your TNC.
   4. optionally, a NMEA-0183 compliant GPS receiver, and a suitable port on the computer for connecting the GPS.
   5. optionally, a weather station. Peet Bros. weather stations connect directly through a suitable serial port (like hardware TNCs). Other weather stations whose software supports the WXNOW.TXT file interface can also be used.
2. for use over the Internet:
   1. an internet connection with access to an APRS-IS server.

In the top directory containing the unpacked files of the application, click on the file YAAC.jar to invoke YAAC. This will start the application, and allow you to configure it to use the desired ports.