02-21-15 08:14 Damon A. Getsman wrote to All about Using AX.25 packet w/olde

 DAG> @MSGID: 
 DAG>   Forgive my naivety in the area, I'm still definitely learning
 DAG> the basics in this area (don't even have a rig yet, obviously).
 DAG>   I was shopping around on Ebay trying to see what might be a
 DAG> good set of price ranges to start looking for a used
 DAG> transceiver that can work with AX.25.  I noticed a whole lot of
 DAG> older, more vintage equipment, that appears to be analog, that
 DAG> is within the outskirts of my [current] price limitations.

Howdy! Damon,

My only experience with Packet on Ham Radio was by using Digicom with
a circuit connected to my Commodore 64 pc's Cassette Port.

The Ham that helped me get started in Packet used a TNC and the Baycom
program on his 386 pc.

I know that doesn't help You any with OpenBSD but I just had to make
a comment here in case no one else was trying to help You.

 DAG>   Assuming that the mic in is matched with a line or audio out
 DAG> jack (and not just a built in speaker-- though that could be
 DAG> worked around easily on this older & bigger equipment), that is
 DAG> really all I'd need to work with for AX.25, no?  At least if
 DAG> it's handled at the kernel level of my machine; I understand
 DAG> that for OpenBSD I might need to actually get a modem that'll
 DAG> dump the in/out to my serial port.
 DAG>   Can anybody tell me if there are any inherent limitations of
 DAG> this analog equipment that I'm not aware of that'll keep me
 DAG> from being able to utilize AX.25 from it?  I don't know any,
 DAG> but obviously I haven't even taken my test yet; I want to make
 DAG> sure that my first system is capable of packet as well as voice
 DAG> xmission.

Before I ran Packet, I used a Netronics ASCII/Video board with their
Keyboard connected to a 555 Audio Oscillator circuit going to the Mike
Connector of either my 2M VHF FM rig or my HF SSB rig, and a circuit
for a RTTY Demodulator that I found in a Popular Electronics magazine
that was connected to the Earphone Jack of either rig.

I had 10 turn POTS to make Audio Frequency changes to the Demodulator
Mark and Space settings that I used for RTTY on VHF so I could change
it when I used it on the HF rig.

I had two POTS on the 555 circuit board to adjust the Mark and Space
settings for either VHF or HF use.

I used the Standard Mark and Space frequencies when I was on the 2M rig
but learned that I could use my own frequency settings on the HF SSB rig.

After I built the circuits I tuned my HF radio to the frequency that
W1AW's RTTY broadcasts were made on.
When the broadcast started I turned the Mark POT on my Demodulator to
get the Mark LED blinking, and did the same for the Space POT until
I could see the broadcast plainly on my TV Set.

After the broadcast was over, and before I keyed the transmitter to
send a CQ, I turned the POTS on the 555 circuit - while either pressing
my telegraph key or releasing it - to get the LEDs on the Demodulator
to light up.

Then I keyed up the HF rig and typed CQ on that frequency and another
station answered me.

That is how I had my first RTTY QSO.

 DAG>   The one I was just looking at, for instance, was a National
 DAG> NCX-200 w/matching power supply.
 DAG>   Thanks for your time!

I'm not familiar with that rig, sorry can't help You with that.
Although I know National made some very fine equipment.

The High School I went to had a Ham Shack that used a National NC-183d
Receiver.
After I got interested in Amateur Radio I got a Hallicrafter S-38E.

There isn't Any Comparison between what I had at home and the Schools
National Receiver, all I could do was drool wishing I could afford
something better than what I had.

Years later I got a used Hallicrafter SX-42 for my shack.
73 and wish You well with what You choose.

... To excel at what you do, you must love doing it.
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