Packet Radio Setup Part II

By David Fleming -- KG6SQU

tnc

The Computer Connection

The very FIRST thing that has to be done with a packet radio setup is to make a connection from the computer to the TNC. As a mentioned in the introduction page there needs to be a cable from the 25-pin connector on the TNC to the computer's 9-pin serial port. But then what? What program allows a person to type in commands to the TNC ... and later to type out dialog to another user? The answer for most users is a program that almost no one uses anymore that has been there on every Windows system since Windows 3.1 to Windows XP. I know this is true because I have used it myself through every version of Windows from 1987 until today (though the name of the program was slighly different in 1987).

The name of this program is HyperTerminal. It is usually found under Accessories/Communications when looking through the Programs. It is rarely used for anything anymore but is very powerful.

  1. Click on the HyperTerminal program icon. It will ask for a name for the new file. I chose 9600 APRS because that is the typical baud rate setting, and I was using this for APRS the first time I connected. Then click on OK.
  2. A “Connect To” window will now open. Use the drop down menu under “Connect using:” to select COM1 if you know this is the serial port you are on. (you can always change this later if you are wrong). Then click OK.
  3. A “COM1 Properties” window will now appear. Select 9600 bits/s, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, and hardware flow control. Click OK.
  4. You should now be at the main HyperTerminal screen. Click “File”, then “Properties”. In the Properties window, select Settings. “Terminal keys” and “CTRL+H” should already be selected. Use the drop down menu under “Emulation:” to select “TTY”. “Terminal Setup” will allow you to change your cursor; “Use destructive backspace” should be checked. Under “ASCII Setup” the defaults are sufficient (delays of 0 and only “wrap lines” checked). Click OK to close the Property windows.

    The image below (click to open) is linked to the manual for setting this up if more detailed information is needed.

    KPC3+ manual

  5. You should now be back at the main HyperTerminal screen. Click File, then Save. The next time you click Start, Programs, Accessories, Communications, you will see that there is a HyperTerminal menu with a selection for “KPC-3 Plus 9600.ht” (or whatever name you chose). Clicking this will get you immediately to the main HyperTerminal screen already set up for the KPC-3 Plus.

    Later you may wish to change the baud rate or com port you are using with the KPC-3 Plus. Before you can do that in HyperTerminal, you will first have to tell HyperTerminal to “disconnect”; there is a button on the HyperTerminal screen to do that, looking like a phone being hung up. Once disconnected, you can use the Properties menu to change the HyperTerminal configuration.

  6. Now turn on the KPC-3 Plus. Turn on the TNC with the push-button switch in the front of the TNC. When turning on the TNC for the very first time, the TNC will display on the screen to press Shift * to autoset baud rate and set your call sign. This is important! Do not skip this step or there will be a few steps necessary to recover from this. After the very first time it will come up looking like the following, and is ready for your commands:

KPC3+ manual

The Radio Connection and Adjustments

The SECOND thing to do is hook up the radio with the cable discussed on the main page.

The following is copied from the Kantronics manual:

Connecting Your Transceiver Cable Assembly

Now you are ready to use this cable assembly to finish assembling your packet radio station.
  1. Check to be sure all the parts of your completed cable assembly are properly fastened and ready for connection to your transceiver and your KPC-3 Plus.
  2. Turn OFF all power.
  3. Plug the male DB-9 connector on the cable into the female DB-9 connector on the KPC-3 Plus’ “Radio” port,
  4. Secure the male DB-9 connector on the cable to the female DB-9 connector on the KPC-3 Plus’ “Radio” port, by screwing the two long, half-threaded screws into the threaded nuts on each side of the KPC-3 Plus’ “Radio” port,
  5. Plug both the microphone connector and the external speaker jack into your transceiver.

Adjusting the Receive Volume of Your Transceiver

    To adjust the receive volume of your transceiver to the proper level (or to confirm that it is already set at the proper level), do the following:

  1. Turn ON your computer (with your transceiver OFF),
  2. Start your terminal program,
  3. Turn ON your KPC-3 Plus,
  4. If not already done, set the KPC-3 Plus’ baud rate (ABAUD) and CALLSIGN,
  5. Turn ON your transceiver and open the squelch control (turn it fully counter-clockwise),
  6. Slowly turn the transceiver’s receive volume up until the RCV LED (receive indicator) on the KPC-3 Plus lights up (turns ON),
  7. Increase the transceiver’s receive volume control slightly above the point at which the KPC-3 Plus’ RCV LED lit up (turned ON),
  8. Slowly turn the transceiver’s squelch control clockwise until the KPC-3 Plus’ RCV LED goes OUT (turns OFF),

    Now the receive volume control on your transceiver is properly adjusted for sending signals to your KPC-3 Plus.

    Your KPC-3 Plus is now installed and ready to use. You may now go to the “Getting Started” chapter, to learn how to do the basic operations with your KPC-3 Plus.

    If you do not see the receive LED light, check the cabling between the radio and the KPC-3 Plus. Also, until it has been initialized from the computer, the KPC-3 Plus will not show ANY indication of receiving.

    If you connected to a fixed level (unsquelched) receive audio from the radio, the receive LED may remain on all of the time. In this case, set the parameter CD to SOFTWARE. Then, the receive LED will not light until valid packets are heard. (see CD in the commands section)



Transmit Level Adjustment




I did not find this necessary to adjust. See the manual if there are problems.



Other Settings for Your Packet Station




The Personal Mailbox (pbbs) and Network Nodes








David Fleming is the BEARS' packet radio sysop and the contact for issues relating to packet radio!




For more Packet Radio information and/or help contact David Fleming at the following e-mail: 

BEARS-Packet@BurbankCDV.org