Fox Valley Packet Radio Node / BBS

All things ax.25 -- APRS, Winlink, BBS, etc.
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kc9uhi
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Fox Valley Packet Radio Node / BBS

Post by kc9uhi » Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:59 pm

Working on building up a vhf packet node running linBPQ.

Got a handful of NinoTNC (http://tarpn.net/t/nino-tnc/n9600a/n9600a_info.html).

Current plans involve using a Maxtrac, however I'm considering finding a Syntor of some kind.

More to come...

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kb9mwr
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Re: Fox Valley Packet Radio Node / BBS

Post by kb9mwr » Thu Jul 09, 2020 5:47 pm

Handful? One for each band, then channel bond them?

I might be interested in putting something on the air at some point.

kc9uhi
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Re: Fox Valley Packet Radio Node / BBS

Post by kc9uhi » Fri Jul 10, 2020 10:55 am

System is 'functional' on the test bench.

Local AXIP/UDP (internet) links to Racine and La Crosse. Those remote nodes offer multiple IP/RF connections elsewhere. Full service local BBS, Winlink RMS gateway functionality as well.

Syntor X should be here next week. Need to tune and program, build interface cable, and build TNC. Haven't decided if it'll go on the X300NA at the top of the tower, or the X50NA just below.

Initially RF will only be on VHF/1200. Might add UHF/9600 in the future, but UHF coverage from here kinda sucks.

kc9uhi
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Packet Node On-Air

Post by kc9uhi » Fri Jul 31, 2020 7:17 pm

The KC9UHI-6 packet node is on-air.

Connect with 1200 baud ax.25 to KC9UHI-6 or the node alias of WIKAUK on 145.030 MHz.
(Common syntax of node alias and node callsign looks like ALIAS:CALL, for example WIKAUK:KC9UHI-6. Typically sending a connect request to either the node alias or callsign results in the same thing)

Once connected to WIKAUK:KC9UHI-6, connect to KAUNOD:KC9UHI-7. From here, connections to nodes worldwide, the full service BBS, and a local chat server are available.

Image
[click picture for larger]


KAUBBS:KC9UHI-3 hosts a full-service BBS with worldwide bulletins and message forwarding/delivery. I'd be happy to help you set up forwarding for your BBS if you'd like to configure your own. The BBS HA is KC9UHI.#ECWI.WI.USA.NOAM. (more on Hierarchical Addressing can be found here -- http://www.choisser.com/packet/part07.html)

KAUCHT:KC9UHI-11 hosts a local chat server - allows for keyboard<->keyboard communications between all connected stations.

Both the WIKAUK:KC9UHI-6 and KAUNOD:KC9UHI-7 nodes run the BPQ32 software. A breakdown of all the commands is available here -- https://cheatography.com/gcremerius/che ... -commands/

Direct connection to KC9UHI-12 for Winlink is also available.


Hardware:
WIKAUK is using a raspberry pi B (really old) with a NinoTNC (http://tarpn.net/t/nino-tnc/nino-tnc.html) interfaced to a Motorola Radius M120 set to 42W with a cooling fan mounted to the rear. After N connectors, RG-8 coax, polyphaser IS-50-NX-C0 lightning arrestor, and DIamond x300NA antenna are taken into account, the system has approximately 115W EIRP. Antenna is mounted about 38' AGL.
KAUNOD is inside an Ubuntu 16.04 virtual machine, with AMPRNet access (https://www.ampr.org/). This system has several AXUDP connections to nodes worldwide.

Drop me a message at KC9UHI@KC9UHI.#ECWI.WI.USA.NOAM

KC9YGK
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Re: Fox Valley Packet Radio Node / BBS

Post by KC9YGK » Fri Jan 29, 2021 3:43 pm

Is this still active? I'm getting my shack setup in the next week or so and would like to see if I can connect this this.

kc9uhi
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Re: Fox Valley Packet Radio Node / BBS

Post by kc9uhi » Fri Jan 29, 2021 4:41 pm

Yes, it's up and running.

Drop me an email (callsign at gmail) if you run into issues.

kc9uhi
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Re: Fox Valley Packet Radio Node / BBS

Post by kc9uhi » Thu Mar 04, 2021 4:40 pm

Anticipated coverage map, calculated based on a home station using a simple vertical omni antenna at about 20 feet elevation. Actual results may vary.

Image

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