Getting Started with Packet

Packet is a lot of fun!  With a packet network we can: 

- Do"real time" keyboard to keyboard chats, either one or one or with a group of stations (and that is really fun if you have never tried it). 

- Use it with our contesting group to apprise each other of needed stations.  

- Exchange important information during an emergency situation such as lists of people at a shelter, needed supplies, etc., MUCH more quickly than can be done with voice. 

- Pass general message traffic. 

If you don't have any equipment for packet but would like to set something up, you can very inexpensively.  All you need is a PC with a sound card and to either make or buy a very simple and inexpensive interface.   For those of you who will be setting up a packet station for the first time, we will take this step by step in easy, spoon sized portions.

Step 1. 

A.  Select the rig you plan to use for your packet station.  If you are at a good location with an outdoor antenna you can dedicate to packet, you can probably use an HT connected to the outdoor antenna.  If you think you might need a little more juice to connect to the BBS (which will be at N3UR's QTH in Jarrettsville, at least at first) you can use a mobile or base 2M rig.  

B.  Take a look at the audio output jack of your selected rig and determine the jack size. 

C.  Take a look at your PC's soundcard (you'll need to use a PC that runs at least Win 95 or later and any speed above 75 Mhz should be fine).  Determine the jack size. 

D.  First, we will set up the connections from your rig to your PC.  If want to plug and play, the Rascal interface works great!  You can get a unit that is fully built with all the cables and connectors you'll need for $39.  They have kits for even less.   You can use the interface for other modes such as PSK31, RTTY, etc too.  For more info on the Rascal, click here: http://www.packetradio.com/

For detailed, step by step plans to build your own interface from scratch, click here:

http://www.patmedia.net/ralphmilnes/soundcardpacket/1cablestart.htm

After you complete step 1, you'll have all the hardware and connections that you need.  Step 2 will just be installing the free software.  Once step 2 is complete, you should be up and ruIt able to receive packet transmissions.

Step 2:

 Okay, now it is time to install the software that you will need to operate Packet.  Fortunately, is all free.  Here are the software steps: 

 http://www.elcom.gr/sv2agw/agwpe.zip

- Now the AGW packet engine is configured.  You may want to put a shortcut to the packet engine in you Windows Start folder so it is ready to go whenever you start your packet software. 

http://n3fjp.ky1v.com/PAKETMON.exe

(Upgrade Instructions:  If you have already downloaded a previous version, click here to download the updated .exe file: http://n3fjp.ky1v.com/VBPKEng.exe and save it in c:\program files \ N3FJP Packet Monitor.)