Kenwood TS-2000 Instruction Manual

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49SPECIALIZED COMMUNICATIONSPACKET RADIOPacket is a unit of data transmitted as a whole fromone computer to another, on a network. Packets canbe transmitted on radio waves as well as oncommunications lines. Besides a transceiver and acomputer, all you need is a terminal node controller(TNC) or Multimode Communications Processor(MCP). One of the tasks of TNCs and MCPs is toconvert data packets to audio tones, and vice versa.This transceiver has a built-in TNC which allows youto use basic (not full) packet applications.A variety of packet applications developed by hamsinclude packet bulletin board systems (PBBSs).PBBSs are created and maintained by volunteerscalled System Operators (SysOp). You may accessone of your local PBBSs to send e-mail, downloadfiles, or obtain various useful information. Thousandsof PBBSs, which have formed a worldwide network,relay e-mail to their intended destinations around theworld.When you access a local PBBS for the first time, youoften need to register as a new user. After you aresuccessfully registered, it will then be available asyour home PBBS. E-mail addressed to you will beheld under a directory, called a mailbox, on yourhome PBBS.To send e-mail, you must designate the address of arecipient, using his or her call sign and the call sign ofhis or her home PBBS; ex. KD6NUH@KJ6HC. In thisexample, the e-mail is addressed to KD6NUH whosehome PBBS is KJ6HC. If your home PBBS cannotfind KJ6HC in its address file to forward your mail,you must designate the address in more detail. Youmay enter “KD6NUH@KJ6HC.#ABC.CA”, or“KD6NUH@KJ6HC.#ABC.CA.USA”, or up to“KD6NUH@KJ6HC.#ABC.CA.USA.NA”, asnecessary. The complete address of a recipient livingin the U.S.A., for example, should include anappropriate region code (preceded by a #), state,country, and continent abbreviations, as above.For further information, consult reference bookswhich should be available at any store that handlesAmateur Radio equipment. Web pages relating toPacket will also be helpful. On Internet searchengines, use “Packet Radio” as key words to findthose Web pages.Note:uUnlike a TNC, a Multimode Communications Processor (MCP)serves as a communications interface in several digital modessuch as Packet, RTTY, and AMTOR. You can cause it to switchamong the modes by sending a single command from yourcomputer.uIf there is an amateur radio club in your area, consider becominga member. You can often learn more in an hour fromexperienced hobbyists, than in a month of independent research.Ask on the local repeaters, or contact your national amateur radioorganization (the ARRL in the U.S.A.) for information on localamateur radio clubs. You’ll be glad you did.BUILT-IN TNCThis transceiver has a built-in TNC which conforms tothe AX.25 protocol. This protocol is used forcommunication between TNCs. The TNC accepts datafrom your personal computer and assembles it intopackets. It then converts those packets to audio toneswhich the transceiver can transmit. The TNC also takesaudio tones from the transceiver, converts them to datafor the computer, and checks for errors in the data.In order to activate the built-in TNC, access MenuNo. 55 and select ON. The defulat is OFF. “TNC” willappear to show that the built-in TNC is ON.The TNC mainly functions in Command or Conversemode. First, you should learn the difference betweenthese two modes.• Command modeWhen you select Packet mode, the TNC entersCommand mode. A “cmd:” prompt appears on thecomputer screen. You can type commands fromthe computer keyboard to change the settings ofthe TNC. When in Converse mode, press[Ctrl]+[C] on the keyboard to return to Commandmode.• Converse modeThe TNC enters this mode when a link with thetarget station is established. On the computerkeyboard, type an appropriate command and amessage if necessary, then press [Enter] or[Return]. What you type is converted into packetsand transmitted over the air. When in Commandmode, type CONVERSE, CONV, or K to enterConverse mode.For the commands supported by the built-in TNC, see“TNC COMMANDS LIST” on page XX.Note:uNot all functions available via conventional TNCs are supportedby the TNC built in this transceiver.uThe built-in TNC automatically reinitiates when a malfunction isdetected; this does not designate that the transceiver is defective.PBBS