02-21-15 08:14 Damon A. Getsman wrote to All about Using AX.25 packet w/olde   
      
    DAG> @MSGID: <54E9104C.749.amtradio@capcity2.synchro.net>   
    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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