telpac and paclink… streamlined ax.25 packet radio server and client for a full service ham radio...
TRANSCRIPT
Telpac and Paclink…Streamlined AX.25 Packet Radio
Server and Client for a Full Service Ham Radio Messaging
NetworkVictor Poor, W5SMM
Rick Muething, KN6KB
DCC 2003
Introduction and Overview
Background on Winlink 2000 (WL2K)Motivation for Telpac and PaclinkDevelopment Approach Telpac ….The TELnet - PACket bridge for WL2K Simple setup examplesPaclink …. A Radio client for E-mail Configuration and operation examples Using the AGW Packet EngineApplicationsSummary/QuestionsDemo of Paclink and Telpac (time permitting)
DCC 2003
Winlink 2000 SystemWhat is WL2K?
• Introduced in 2000 (DCC 2000) WL2K is a modern Introduced in 2000 (DCC 2000) WL2K is a modern software implementation of a Global ham message system software implementation of a Global ham message system capable of conventional BBS functions with significant capable of conventional BBS functions with significant extensions for the Mobile user. extensions for the Mobile user.
• Biased toward the mobilemobile user.– Conventional BBS functions with routing and store and forward
for radio and E-mail messages.
– No “Home BBS” designation required (global message mirroring)
– Optimized to capitalize on Internet forwarding when possible
– On demand WX products and other Web information.
– E-mail with text/compressed binary attachments
– Position reporting and request from radio and Internet
• Currently 4300 Users (HF Pactor, Packet, Telnet, Web) delivering over 150,000 messages per month by 36 PMBOs.
DCC 2003
Telpac node
AX.25 Packet
Telnet
Internet
Radio(Pactor 1-3, AX.25 packet)
TelnetWL2K PMBO WL2K PMBO
(Telnet Server)
NPMBO BBSUSERS AirMail BBS Programs Keyboard Terminals
WL2K Central Server (CMBO)
Winlink 2000 System
User Client
DCC 2003
Motivation for Telpac and Paclink
WL2K has been very well accepted by the mobile HF communityMany requests to expand local WL2K coverage (VHF/UHF)
Emergency communicationsSmall portable terminals
Two obstacles for widespread VHF/UHF expansion: The standard PBMO setup requires a considerable computer, radio equipment and synchronized data base.
Telpac provides a simple Telnet to Packet bridge
The user client program has to work with most available TNCs and interface with existing E-mail clients. Paclink provides a user client that meets these objectives
DCC 2003
Development Approach
Leverage existing standardized interfaces & protocols: Existing WL2K Telnet Servers via Internet/TelnetStandard TCP communication between componentsStandard mail format and server protocols:
MIME message storagePOP3 and SMTP servers
Capture TNC drivers using a standardized TCP interfaceAGW Packet Engine
Use modern development environment and tools for improvedproductivity and reduced support
Telpac: VB6, Paclink: VB.NET
DCC 2003
Telpac…WL2K’s Telnet <> Packet Bridge
TelpacTelnet
TCP
AGWPacket Engine
TNCs/Packet Radios
or
TELnet PACket Bridge
RS232
WL2KTelnetServer
Paclink
AirMail
Terminal
Radio Client
Programs
AX.25
AX.25
AX.25
Key Features:
Easy set upNo local databaseMultiple active connectionsSupports all WL2K functionsAGW Packet Engine support
DCC 2003
Telpac…15 Minute Setup…Step 1
Install the AGW Packet Engine…
These 2 menus setup the TNC
DCC 2003
Telpac…15 Minute Setup…Step 2
These 2 menus set up the Telpac bridge.
Customize your log-on banner and beacon...
You’re a WL2K Telpac node!
Install Telpac…
DCC 2003
Paclink… A Windows Radio E-mail Client
PaclinkRadioClient
SMTPServer
POP3Server
Standard E-mailClient:
(Outlook,Netscape, Eudora, etc)
Address Book:E-mail addressesRadio addresses
TCP
TCP
Channel Layers
Telnet Pactor AX.25 Others
BBS Protocol Layers
WL2K FBB MBL/RLI Keyboard
AGWPacket Engine
TCPTelnet
PactorTNC
RS232
WL2K Or
FBB Servers
Setup:Call signs,User accts,Channel assignment, Connect
scripts
Key features:
WL2K, FBB or MBL BBSs E-mail user interfaceMixed radio/E-mailPacket Engine support
DCC 2003
[AGWPE 1] [ W4MLB via COA1 ] [KN6KB] [MLB_BBS/****]
PACTOR
PACKET 1AGW 2ENGINE 3
TELNET
Mail Acct:MLB_BBS
POP3
SMTP
[AGWPE 3] [ N0IA-1] [KN6KB-1] [BUD_DIRECT/******] Mail Acct:BUD_DIRECT
POP3
SMTP
[PACTOR] [ N8PGR ] [W5SMM] [ WL2K_PACTOR/*****] Mail Acct:WL2K_PACTOR
POP3
SMTP
[TELNET] [ K4CJX Telnet ] [KN6KB-1] [WL2K_TELNET/****] Mail Acct:WL2K_TELNET
POP3
SMTP
Paclink channel setupPaclink ports setup
E-mail client accounts
One-to-One E-mail Account to Paclink Channel Concept
Each account on the E-Mail client (e.g. Outlook) handles traffic for one Paclink channel
DCC 2003
Paclink Channel Setup
Channel Properties Port Properties
Each Paclink channelcorresponds to one E-mail client account
Name and password match E-mail client
DCC 2003
Paclink’s User Interfaces Paclink’s own simpleterminal window forkeyboard interfaces
Your favorite E-mailclient for normal BBS messages.
DCC 2003
The AGW Packet Engine with Telpac and Paclink
AGW PacketEngine
TNCSoundCardTNC
TCPIP
…
By George Rossopoulos, SV2AGW
Standardized TCP interface supports most TNCs Using KISS mode.
Supports sound card TNCs (1200 & 9600 baud)
Shares TNCs across applications Paclink, Telpac, BBS, APRS, Terminal, Monitor
Allows remote operation via TCP link TNC’s may be separated from application
DCC 2003
Telpac and Paclink Applications
Telpac as a conventional BBS for “Last Mile” wireless connectivity
Paclink as an end user client for BBS access (WL2K, FBB etc)
Paclink as the an emergency radio link for Internet E-mail Paclink provides the radio connection to a WL2K Telpac node Emergency field operators use their existing E-mail client but with a “radio” account instead of default account Multiple operators can share a single Paclink and its TNCs/radios
Paclink <> Paclink transfers (keyboard or via E-mail clients)
DCC 2003
Demo (time permitting
or in the demo room)
1) Connection to a WL2K Telpac node:Send request via E-mail for a text WX report Outlook Express > Paclink (local TCP) Paclink > Telpac node (AX.25 packet) Telpac node > WL2K Telnet server (Internet Telnet) Telnet Server > WL2K Bulletin Processor
…..and return….
2) Paclink to Paclink (keyboard and message via Outlook Express)
DCC 2003
Summary/Questions
Telpac and Paclink are examples of rapidly developed modern Ham software that leverage standard protocolsand existing user and TNC interfaces.
Simplified setup and minimal equipment requirements meanexpanding the wireless infrastructure can be done quicklywith minimum expense.
Your feedback and comments are appreciated to help us expand these programs to new applications.
DCC 2003