Packet Radio on Apple II
Dónal Leader
putting an old Apple Iie to work as a dedicated packet radio terminal. I
need to know how to set up the serial card to work with a TNC. Are there any
hams out there who have done this?
Donal Leader
dle...@mac.com
Bryan Villados
interface to the computer it has (serial, game port, etc.) If it's serial,
you can just simply use terminal software, such as ProTERM, to communicate
with the TNC because, if I remember correctly, packet radio is just simply a
stream of data shooting to a terminal, kind of like dialing up an old
fashion BBS. My dad was a ham radio operator (advanced class) and he used a
PK-80 model with an Apple II, SSC, and ASCII Express Professional. Other
people at the time used Commodore 64's, which were more popular than the
Apple II when used during Field Day.
--- Bryan
"Dónal Leader" <dle...@mac.com> wrote in message
news:BA62E9BA.C45%dle...@mac.com...
ttu...@ecn.ab.ca
: Is anyone familiar with packet radio on the Apple II? I am considering
: putting an old Apple Iie to work as a dedicated packet radio terminal. I
: need to know how to set up the serial card to work with a TNC. Are there any
: hams out there who have done this?
--> I did some checking into this (quite a while back), when I wanted
to set-up communications with my folks living in the Okanagan valley.
I never did go forward with it (too much hassle/expense at the time);
but I did find out that the C=64 crowd had vast amounts of experience,
software, knowledge, hardware that covered packet radio. Not that
this is any help for the Apple 2 line (which is what I used, as well),
but there's probably info in that camp that may be of `generic' use
regarding packet radio and 8-bit computers, that you may find of use.
As well - mayhaps others here on the A2 NG may have more specific
info. Perhaps trying: +"packet radio" +Apple on Google, may help.
--
E.A.G.L.E Librarian A3 BBS:403/481-3133 email:ttu...@ecn.ab.ca
ICS Softy
I'm not a ham, but I happened to remember an Apple II Forum discussion on AOL
a few years back with Jim Merritt, who was an A2 engineer at Apple and a packet
radio fan.
The following is a description of a software package for A2 Packet Radio that
was uploaded to AOL not long afterwards (it's in two archives). It's still
available on AOL (if you have an account, and know to directly access the old
A2 Forum areas). And it might be also available from other sites, as nearly
all the old libraries have been downloaded from AOL and uploaded elsewhere
(likely with the same filenames).
------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Packet Radio on Apple IIs SHK
Author: Fabio Viviani, Et all
Uploaded By: MPSConsult
Date: 12/28/93
File: APGENG1.DISK (56061 bytes)
Part 1 of 2
---------------------------------
Subject: Apple Packet Radio SHK
Author: Fabio Viviani, et all
Uploaded By: MPSConsult
Date: 12/28/93
File: APGENG2.DISK (88225 bytes)
Equipment: A "TNC" connected to a Apple // series computer.
Part 2 of 2
This program has been developed to enable the user to connect its computer to a
TNC for packet radio operations.
Besides the typical terminal emulation functions this programs features the
possibility to up/down-load binary files using the YAPP (tm) protocol.
HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS:
The program can be run on:
- Apple ][+ with lower cases and with a Super Serial Card in
slot 2 and optionally with a VIDEX 80 card in slot 3
- Apple //e (preferably enhanced) with a Super Serial Card in
slot 2 and optionally with an 80 column card in the
auxiliary slot
- Apple //c using the built-in modem port
- Apple IIgs with a Super Serial Card in slot 2
- Apple IIgs using the built-in modem port
- Other machine configurations compatible with the above ones
The program has been developed for use with a TNC-220, a KPC-2 or other
compatible TNC's.
------------------------------------------------
Larry :)
(aka AFC Softy, former Apple II Utilities Forum Consultant)