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  • Synchronet BBS on AX.25,

    From Fakeshemp@VERT/BTTFBBS to ALL on Mon May 30 15:24:00 2022
    Hello, grabbed a couple TNC's at Dayton this year and wanting to get a Synchronet BBS connected up for Telnet and HF radio (VHF in the future.) I have the Kantronics KAMPlus up and I can communicate with it, and I can TX with it (no independent confirmation, though.) My understanding is that this TNC can be put into host-mode and then can have Telnet run over packet. I also have an MFJ-1270C (just need to build the interface cable) and a PK-232. Anyone else working on such a project or have any insight?
    ---
    * QWK2WWIV * Back to the Future (bttfbbs.com)
  • From Xerxes@VERT/KN6Q to Fakeshemp on Tue May 31 10:51:00 2022
    Re: Synchronet BBS on AX.25,
    By: Fakeshemp to ALL on Mon May 30 2022 03:24 pm

    Synchronet BBS connected up for Telnet and HF radio (VHF in the future.) I have the Kantronics KAMPlus up and I can communicate with it, and I can TX with it (no independent confirmation, though.) My understanding is that this TNC can be put into host-mode and then can have Telnet run over packet. I also have an MFJ-1270C (just need to build the interface cable) and a PK-232. Anyone else working on such a project or have any insight?

    I wish you luck, particularly at HF speeds - VHF is enough of a challenge.

    I've heard people talk about it before, but I haven't seen it done yet. All of the BBSs I know that run over the air run on BPQ32: https://www.cantab.net/users/john.wiseman/Documents/BPQ32.html

    Not trying to discourage you, I think it would be really cool, it's just that the reality of speeds you can get over the air lend themselves to very stripped down ascii implentations that are simple -certainly you can do that with Synchronet, but it's not the default. As someone who remembers what 1200 baud modems dialing into BBSs was like (and 300 baud, which is what you would get over HF - was largely before my time) - it's painful just for loading menus.

    Also, if you haven't seen VARA and VARA-FM it's worth looking into as you can get faster speeds than with AX.25 TNCs.

    73,

    Tom KN6Q
    ---------------------------------------------------------
    Sysop of Desert Rats Sanctuary --- https://bbs.kn6q.org

    ---
    ■ Synchronet ■ Desert Rats Sanctuary --- https://bbs.kn6q.org
  • From Daryl Stout@VERT/TBOLT to Fakeshemp on Tue May 31 16:20:00 2022
    Hello, grabbed a couple TNC's at Dayton this year and wanting to get a Synchronet BBS connected up for Telnet and HF radio (VHF in the
    future.) I have the Kantronics KAMPlus up and I can communicate with
    it, and I can TX with it (no independent confirmation, though.) My understanding is that this TNC can be put into host-mode and then can
    have Telnet run over packet. I also have an MFJ-1270C (just need to
    build the interface cable) and a PK-232. Anyone else working on such a project or have any insight?

    The late Dave Perry, W4KGU (SK) had a series of freeware ham radio doors that were done without a fossil driver, and ran with a DORINFO1.DEF dropfile. They included:

    1) ARPD - a packet radio interface door (worked best with the MFJ 1270C
    TNC, a connecting RS232 cable to the computer, and a rig).

    The packet door would change the callsign of the TNC from the Sysop to
    the user (a special control file only allowed licensed hams to enter the
    door), then opened a capture buffer to record everything. When the user
    exited the door, the TNC was reset back to the values with the Sysop's
    info. The door even had a small mailbox for hams to leave messasges to
    the Sysop, if they weren't a user on the BBS.

    2) QRZDOOR - a door that could look up callsigns from QRZ (data CD's are no longer made, but you can use it for nostalgia if you still had a data CD).
    But, there are quicker ways and sites to get callsign data.

    3) WASPORT - A door to track ones progress in the ARRL Worked All States Competition. It includes a special sysop configurable mode.

    4) REGSCAN - A door to view and search Part 97 of the FCC Rules

    5) BULLET - a door for 26 different items (that could be used for categories besides ham radio).

    With Synchronet's DOSXTRN feature that allows non-fossil doors to run
    under telnet, these doors work perfectly.

    I have them available for download in my files area. Only the WASPORT door and the ARPD door require the Sysop to have a ham radio license.

    Daryl, WX4QZ

    ... Upgrade: Remove old bugs, insert new ones.
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    ■ Synchronet ■ The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas